Key Demographic and Settlement Concepts
Dispersed Settlement Patterns
Dispersed settlement refers to a distribution of human settlements in space characterized by houses surrounded by agricultural terraces and separated from other houses. This pattern is characteristic of the mainland periphery, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands. Types include:
- Fully scattered: No pooled population centers exist.
- Loosely concentrated: Small groups of houses form villages or parishes.
- Interspersed dispersed: Houses are scattered among primitive concentrated cores.
Birth Rate Explained
The birth rate is the ratio between the number of live births occurring in a year and the total population, typically expressed per mille (‰ or per 1,000 people).
Defining a City
Defining a city precisely can be challenging. Different criteria are often used, and considering them jointly provides a more complete understanding of the urban phenomenon:
Quantitative Criteria
These criteria are based on population figures. For instance, the National Statistics Institute in Spain considers municipalities with 10,000 or more inhabitants as urban.
Qualitative Criteria
These standards define a city based on various aspects:
- Morphological Criteria: Focus on the formal aspect – the physical form, structure, and appearance of the city (e.g., building density, street layout).
- Functional Approach: Based on the predominant economic activities, typically non-agricultural sectors like industry, commerce, and services.
- Sociological Approach: Defines the city by its distinct urban culture, social interactions, and way of life, often characterized by diversity and anonymity.
- Spatial Approach: Considers the city’s ability to organize the surrounding space, exert influence over neighboring towns (central place functions), and interact with other cities within a network.
Population Census Details
A population census is a systematic, individual count of a country’s population conducted at a specific time. It gathers comprehensive demographic, economic, and social data, including:
- Total population size
- Sex and age distribution
- Marital status
- Place of birth
- Nationality
- Language spoken
- Education level
- Economic characteristics (employment status, occupation)
- Fertility of women
- Housing conditions
The census serves as a static snapshot for statistical purposes. Data is typically published in aggregate form to protect individual privacy. In Spain, the census is conducted every ten years.
Understanding Fertility
Fertility refers to the actual reproductive performance or the generation of children per woman or group of women within a population. It is commonly measured using:
- The General Fertility Rate (GFR): The ratio between the number of live births in a year and the number of women of childbearing age (usually defined as 15-49 years).
- The Total Fertility Rate (TFR): The average number of children a woman would be expected to bear throughout her childbearing years, assuming current age-specific fertility rates remain constant.
Pendular Movements (Commuting)
Pendular movements describe repetitive population displacements of moderate duration, occurring regularly (often daily). The most common form is commuting between the place of residence and the place of work, frequently observed between suburbs or surrounding rural areas and central cities. These movements are often a consequence of suburbanization – the trend of people moving their residences to suburban or peripheral areas, which may offer advantages like lower housing costs and perceived better environmental conditions.