Internal Migration in Spain During the 20th Century

Internal Migration in Spain During the 20th Century

Migratory movements within Spain are a characteristic demographic phenomenon. Internal migration has had a decisive influence on the country’s history, exceeding external migration in quantitative significance. Causes are mainly economic (unemployment, population pressure, labor needs), reflecting national conditions and creating regional imbalances. Various types of internal migration exist, categorized by time and location:

• Seasonal/Short-Term: Often cyclical (e.g., agricultural harvests).
• Permanent/Long-Term: Includes rural-to-urban migration (due to agricultural mechanization), interurban, and suburban/inter-rural movements.
• Center-to-Periphery: Driven by work or leisure, increasing due to urban growth and tourism.

Analyzing the causes requires considering the historical period. Four distinct phases can be identified:

Traditional Movements (until 1960)

From the 18th century, a progressive emptying of the interior and concentration in peripheral areas occurred. This intensified from 1880 with industrial development in Barcelona, the Basque Country, and Madrid. Causes included industrialization, railway development, difficulties in overseas migration (due to World War I), agricultural mechanization, and surplus agricultural population. From 1900-1940, Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville showed strong positive migration balances, while Galicia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Aragon experienced significant losses. In 1941-1950, Galicia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Andalusia intensified population losses, while Bilbao, Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia showed positive balances. The 1930s and 1940s saw reduced migration due to the Civil War and its aftermath.

Rural Exodus (1960-1975)

This mass movement coincided with metropolitan area development. 1964 saw the highest number of migrants. Fifteen provinces showed positive balances, and 35 showed negative balances, reflecting concentrated destinations and diverse origins. Destinations included Barcelona and Mediterranean provinces, along with Madrid, Zaragoza, and Álava—cities with diverse economic activities, including tourism. These were primarily permanent migrations.

Return Movements (1975-1985)

From 1975, rural migration decreased, and a crisis in large cities emerged, while medium-sized cities became more attractive. The 1975 economic crisis reversed migration flows, causing migrants to return to their origins and increasing long-distance migration. Second-generation immigration provinces (Tarragona, Gerona, Alicante, Castellón, Álava, Navarra, and Zaragoza) became attractive. Barcelona, Bilbao, and Guipúzcoa became emigration areas, with Madrid diversifying later.

Generally, a reversal of surplus and negative migration trends occurred. Immigrant characteristics changed. Previously, young, single individuals moved from the primary to the secondary sector. Now, entire families moved, including children, from large cities to provincial capitals.

Intraprovincial Migration (1985-onward)

While interprovincial migration didn’t disappear, intraprovincial migration increased. Causes include professional mobility (from developed areas to cities within the same province), pensioners and early retirees affected by restructuring, and suburban emigration from city centers to peripheries (due to improved transport systems), leading to the development of commuter towns and residential areas. This is significant in cities like Madrid and Barcelona.