Demographic Transition in Spain: A Comprehensive Analysis
Demographic Terms
Vegetative Growth
Balance between births and deaths in a year.
Total Growth
Considers both vegetative growth and net migration.
Net Migration
The difference between immigrants and emigrants.
Total Fertility Rate
Number of children per 1,000 women aged 15 to 49 years.
Mortality Rate
Number of deaths per 1,000 inhabitants in a specific period or year; it is expressed as x per thousand.
Infant Mortality
Number of deaths before one year of life per 1,000 live births.
Birth Rate
Number of live births per 1,000 inhabitants.
Stages of the Demographic Transition Model
Stage 1: Old Demographic Regime
Characterized by very high birth and mortality rates. Each woman had an average of five children. Infant mortality was rampant during the first year of life and remained high until seven years of age.
Stage 2: Population Explosion
A slow but steady decline in mortality due to improved nutrition and hygiene. Improvements in agriculture included the introduction of new crops, the use of new techniques, and improved storage systems. The extraction of crop roots and charcoal for domestic use remained high. The birth rate also remained high, leading to significant population growth. Europe experienced this unprecedented population explosion, sometimes called the “white explosion,” during the late 18th and 19th centuries.
Stage 3: Declining Birth Rate
Mortality continued to decline due to improvements in hygiene and medicine, particularly through the use of vaccines. The birth rate gradually declined, approaching mortality rates and closing the population boom cycle. The causes of fertility control were primarily socioeconomic. Families still relied on children for help and old-age insurance. Compulsory education coincided with the prohibition of child labor and low infant mortality. Increased consumption, improved housing conditions, and urban living also contributed. After Franco’s death, the birth rate declined, marking the phase of economic and demographic maturity.
Stage 4: Low Growth
Very low birth and mortality rates result in almost no vegetative growth. Life expectancy reaches around 80 years.
Demographic Transition in Spain
Spain’s population history follows the demographic transition model. It is currently in a phase characterized by low birth rates and a long life expectancy. Spain has transitioned from being a country of emigrants to a country of immigrants. Immigrants of African origin or from Central and South America can mitigate the effects of very low natural growth, but mass immigration poses legal and social integration challenges.
In the 21st century, mortality began to decline steadily, interrupted by sporadic crises like the 1918 influenza pandemic, the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), and the difficult postwar recovery. Meanwhile, the birth rate fell slightly but remained much higher than mortality, resulting in significant population growth.
After 1975, Spain’s birth rate dropped dramatically, approaching mortality rates. The country entered a phase corresponding to the fourth stage of the demographic transition model, characterized by very low vegetative growth.
Mortality and Fertility in Spain
Low Mortality Rate
- Reduction of infant mortality due to improved hygiene and nutrition.
- The discovery of pathogenic agents as the cause of infectious diseases and the role of personal and domestic hygiene in their prevention.
- Improvements in domestic hygiene practices.
- Improvements in nutrition linked to economic growth in the second half of the century.
- The extension of the public health system to the entire population.
Low Birth Rate
The birth rate began to decline in Spain since 1914, when the death rate had already started to fall. This decrease is related to the growth of cities. Today, Spain has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe. The main causes are:
- The difficulty of finding stable employment.
- Children no longer represent financial security for elderly parents but impact the family budget.
- The high cost of housing in urban areas.
- The incorporation of women into the workforce, necessitating childcare or family support.
The Aging of the Spanish Population
Life expectancy has increased significantly. Half of the population born in 1900 died before reaching 35. Those born in 1995 have a life expectancy of 78 years, more than double that of Spaniards born a century earlier. Spain boasts one of the highest life expectancies globally, surpassing even the European Union average. Only the female population of France and the male population of the Netherlands, Italy, and Greece have higher life expectancies. This increase is partly due to advances in medicine, although progress has been slower in treating cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Women Live Longer than Men
This is due to:
- The decrease in maternal mortality during childbirth.
- Greater occupational hazards for men.
- Higher rates of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use among men.
- Men’s more frequent participation in risky activities, such as driving and certain leisure activities.
Population Pyramids
Stage 1: Expansive
High birth rate, sharp decline in older age groups, short life expectancy.
Stage 2: Expansive
High birth rate, declining mortality, increasing life expectancy.
Stage 3: Stationary
Decreasing birth rate, low death rate, longer life expectancy.
Stage 4: Contractive
Low birth rate, low death rate, long life expectancy.
Spain’s Pyramid
The widest part of the pyramid corresponds to the baby boom generation born during the economic expansion of 1960-1975.