Demographic Sources and Population Distribution in Spain

Demographic Sources of Population

Population geography studies the relationships between people and space. It relies on analyzing the demographics of the population based on data obtained from:

  • Census: Counting an individual country’s population at a given time. It is conducted every ten years (years ending in 1).
  • Municipal Register: Registration of inhabitants of a town. Collects demographic, economic, and social data. It is updated on January 1st of each year.
  • Registration: Notes births, marriages, and deaths. With these data, the National Statistics Institute (INE) creates statistics on the Natural Movement of the Population. Other sources are statistics and surveys.

Distribution of Population

1. Distribution Characteristics

The spatial distribution is analyzed by population density.

D = Population / Surface Area (km2)

Spanish density has increased over time but has strong spatial imbalances, with areas clearly exceeding the national average and areas of depopulation.

  • Areas of high density: Madrid, suburbs of the Peninsula, Balearic Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla.
  • Areas of low density: The peninsular interior.

2. Factors Explaining the Distribution

a) Pre-industrial Era

The economy was basically agricultural. The highest densities were located in areas with coastal plain relief. The discovery of America gave Castile economic prosperity, and the area became more populated. Finally, the highest densities occurred in the Mediterranean coastal areas due to maritime trade.

b) Industrial Era

Natural factors lost significance, and contrasts in distribution were consolidated and sharpened. Madrid and peripheral regions increased, in some cases due to their high natural growth and in others due to economic activity (industry).

c) Post-industrial Era

Contrasts tend to be mitigated. The crisis reduced the attractiveness of industrial areas and decreased outward emigration areas. After the crisis, there is a consolidation of the population of Madrid and the axes of the Mediterranean and the Ebro.

Natural Movement of the Population

The growth or decline of the population in a place due to natural causes (births, deaths). Natural increase is the difference between births and deaths.

1. Demographic Regimes

The stages in natural growth, birth rate, and death rate.

1.1 Old Demographic Regime

From the early 20th century, characterized by:

  • Birth Rate: High values due to:
    • Prevalence of a rural economy and society: Children started to work early, helping with fieldwork. The cost to maintain them was cheap.
    • Lack of effective birth control systems: delaying marriage age in times of crisis.
  • Death Rate: High and oscillating. Causes:
    • The diet was poor due to low and unbalanced agricultural productivity.
    • Infectious diseases transmitted through air, food, and water. These were fostered by the backwardness of medicine and the lack of personal and public hygiene.
    • Catastrophic mortality caused by epidemics, wars, and bad harvests.
    • High infant mortality, both neonatal (first 4 weeks) and postnatal (4 weeks – 1 year), due to malnutrition and infections.
    • Life expectancy was low due to high infant and maternal mortality.
  • As a result, the natural growth rate was low.

1.2 Demographic Transition (1900-1975)

The birth rate fell smoothly and discontinuously.

  • 1920s: The birth rate recovered thanks to economic prosperity.
  • Between 1930 and 1956: Due to the economic crisis of 1929 and the Civil War, the decline resumed.
  • Between 1956 and 1965: The birth rate recovered (baby boomers).
  • From 1965 to 1975: The size of families was reduced due to urban and industrial lifestyles.

Mortality declined continuously due to:

  • Increased standard of living.
  • Medical advances: the commercialization of vaccines and antibiotics.
  • Advances in sanitation.
  • Infant mortality decreased thanks to advances in pediatrics.

Life expectancy was raised by the reduction of infant and maternal mortality. High natural growth.

1.3 The Current Demographic Regime (Since 1975)

a) The birth rate declined. We distinguish two phases:

  • Between 1975 and 1998: There is a decline in births due to:
    • The economic situation has delayed the age of marriage, shortening the fertile period.
    • Society’s perception and values have changed.
    • Religious influence has declined.
    • Contraception has been legalized, and abortion (in some cases).
    • Women have begun to work and delay childbearing.
  • Since 1998: The birth rate has experienced a slight recovery due to immigration.

b) The overall mortality remains at low levels. Increase in cardiovascular diseases, cancer, road accidents, and diseases linked to aging. Besides the social ills associated with alcohol, drugs, tobacco, etc.

Infant mortality is now very low.

Life expectancy has increased due to advances in medicine.

  • By gender: Life expectancy is greater for women. Men have had a different lifestyle, with increased risk.
  • By age: The greatest gains in life expectancy have occurred in the elderly and in young children due to road accidents, the emergence and spread of AIDS, and drugs, although the situation has improved; accidents and AIDS have decreased.
  • By social status: Life expectancy is higher for higher professions, with less risk and better health services.

c) The current natural growth declined in 1998 due to low birth and death rates. Since then, it has increased slightly.

2. Regional Imbalances in the Natural Movement of the Population

Today, all communities have low birth rates, mortality, and natural growth. Yet there are contrasts due to the different age structures.

Causes:

  • Legacy: Migration affects young people and causes aging and rejuvenation of the migratory regions of immigration.
  • Current: Economic development factors from the immigration crisis provide young people and raise the birth rate.

A) The most dynamic regions with population above the Spanish average, with high birth rates, low mortality, and high natural growth. By having a young population and more pronatalist (Andalusia, Murcia, Ceuta, and Melilla) and internal migration (Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands).

B) State government in demographic decline, low birth rates, high mortality, and low or negative natural growth. By having an aging population structure or being an emigration zone (Galicia and communities of the peninsular interior).

Migration

Are the movements of the population in space: emigration (departure of the population from their place of origin), immigration (arrival of the population to a place of destination). The net migration is SM = I – E. If positive, it indicates immigration; if negative, emigration.

1. Domestic Migration

(Movements of people within the borders of the country)

1.1 Traditional Internal Migration

Took place between the last third of the 19th century and the crisis of 1975. Features:

  • The motivation was primarily labor-related.
  • Flows were unidirectional between emigration and immigration areas.
  • Migrants came mainly from the countryside and headed to the big industrialized cities.
  • The profile was that of young people with low skill levels.

Types of traditional internal migration:

a) Seasonal and temporary, with the intent to return. In a few cases, these were seasonal movements to other rural areas for agricultural work or temporary trips to the city when there was no work in the countryside, seeking other jobs.

b) Rural exodus, migration between rural and urban areas with permanent or long-term residence. Its motivation was to get a job and income, better standards of living, health, cultural, entertainment, and more freedom.

Stages: