Migratory Movements in Spain & Regional Impact: An Analysis

Posted on Oct 14, 2024 in Geography

Migratory Movements in Spain and Their Regional Impact

Spain: A Country of Immigration

Historically, spatial mobility has been a prominent characteristic of the Spanish population. While in the past, Spain saw large contingents emigrating to Africa, America, and Europe, more recently, internal migration (between regions or from rural to urban areas) and immigration from abroad have become more significant. Economic factors play a major role in these movements.

Migration in Spain can be categorized into three main types: emigration, internal migration, and recent immigration by foreigners.

Emigration

1. Migration to North Africa

   This wave was prominent during the 19th century, primarily directed towards Algeria. Migrants mainly originated from Alicante, Murcia, and Almería, often working as farmers and miners. Spanish language and skills were utilized in public works and agriculture in Algeria.

2. Overseas Migration

   This peaked in the first half of the 20th century. Initially, destinations included Argentina and Cuba, later shifting to the United States and Canada. This wave largely consisted of farmers with limited resources from Galicia, Asturias, and the Canary Islands. Emigration to Latin America persisted into the 1930s due to the international crisis.

3. Migration to Europe

   This reached its peak between 1960 and 1970. Earlier in the 20th century, France was the primary destination, attracting farmers, particularly from the Levantine region. By the start of World War II, an estimated 800,000 Spaniards resided in France. Post-war labor demands in France, Germany, and Switzerland, coupled with Spain’s population surplus, fueled further migration waves. The 1960s saw the highest numbers, exceeding 100,000 emigrants annually in some years. From 1974 onwards, emigration decreased, with Andalusia and Galicia remaining significant source regions.

Effects of Emigration

Positive Impacts

• Reduced pressure on the Spanish labor market (lower unemployment)
• Eased population pressure (estimated two million departures)
• Influx of foreign currency

Negative Impacts

• Demographic costs (loss of young people)
• Social costs (family separation, integration challenges)
• Economic costs (depopulation of origin areas)

Internal Migration

Industrialization and urbanization drove internal migration in Spain, reaching its peak intensity between 1960 and 1970.

Historical Trends

1. From the 19th to the mid-20th century, internal migration was less pronounced. However, industrialization in Barcelona and the Basque Country, the Civil War, and the post-war period triggered some movements. Emigration regions included Galicia, Castile-La Mancha, Castile and León, Aragon, and eastern Andalusia, while destinations were Catalonia, Valencia, the Basque Country, Seville, and Madrid.

2. Between 1960 and 1985, an estimated 12 million people migrated internally. Primary destinations were Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, followed by Vizcaya, Girona, Tarragona, Alicante, and Seville. Extremadura, Castile-La Mancha, and eastern Andalusia were major emigration regions.

New Trends

1. Gradual increase in provinces with positive net migration
2. Shift from rural exodus to inter-urban migration
3. Changes in migrant demographics

Consequences of Internal Migration

1. Destination areas experienced population growth, younger age structures, increased active population, and revitalized birth and fertility rates. Socially, it fostered cultural diversity, and economically, it improved labor supply.

2. Areas of origin faced negative impacts, including population decline, aging, falling fertility, and a loss of human resources. Internal migration contributed to significant population imbalances.

Immigration of Foreigners in Spain

Spain has become a major immigration destination, experiencing the highest net migration volume among EU countries and hosting the second-largest foreign population after Germany. In 2007, the foreign population surpassed 4.5 million.

Composition and Employment of Foreign Residents

Foreign residents in Spain originate from diverse regions, with Europeans comprising 42%, South Americans 32%, and Africans 16%. Among Europeans, Romanians, British, and Germans are prominent, while Ecuadorians and Colombians represent the largest South American groups, and Moroccans are the most numerous African group.

Catalonia (22%), Madrid (19%), and Valencia (14%) are the primary destinations for immigrants.

Foreign residents in Spain hold various statuses:

1. Naturalized citizens (Latin Americans are overrepresented due to preferential treatment in Spanish legislation)
2. Workers (primarily in services (67%), agriculture (13%), and construction/industry (8%))
3. Students (significant numbers in Madrid, Granada, and Salamanca)
4. Exiles and refugees (Spain’s 1984 asylum law resulted in a refugee population about half the size of France’s)
5. Undocumented immigrants (difficult to quantify, characterized by poverty, homelessness, lack of education and training, and social exclusion)

Urban Location Factors

Various factors influence a city’s location. Access to water (rivers, coasts), good communication (navigable rivers, crossroads), fertile land, and defensible terrain are key considerations.

Barcelona

Founded by the Romans as a port city, Barcelona benefits from a flat area at the foot of Tibidabo hill, situated between the Llobregat and Besòs rivers. This facilitated communication with its hinterland and the Mediterranean, establishing it as a major port. The Roman quarter occupied an elevated area east of the historic center. Medieval expansion occurred westward, beyond Las Ramblas, reaching Montjuïc. A new walled city was built in the 14th century. Further expansion, particularly during the 19th-century industrial boom, led to the incorporation of surrounding areas like Sant Andreu, Gràcia, Sants, Sarrià, and Horta, facilitated by the Cerdà Plan.

Pamplona

Located in Navarre, Pamplona occupies a strategic position between the Pyrenees mountains to the north and fertile agricultural land to the south. Situated on a plateau at 449 meters above sea level, bordered by the Arga River, it commands the surrounding watershed. Surrounding mountains (around 1,000 meters) provide protection from harsh weather. This strategic location contributed to its role as a major Christian kingdom capital during the early Middle Ages. A pentagonal citadel was built on a nearby hill in the 16th century. Industrial development led to the removal of city walls and subsequent expansion. A grid-style plan, similar to Cerdà’s, was implemented in the early 20th century, followed by radiocentric expansion in the 1960s and 70s.

Vocabulary

Population Census:

Individual count of a country’s population at a given time, collecting economic and social data. Conducted every 10 years in Spain.

Immigration:

Intense population movement to a specific geographic area over time. Movement from the origin is emigration, and from the destination is immigration.

Population Growth:

Index expressing the difference between births and deaths (birth rate minus death rate).

Population Density:

Ratio of people to the area they occupy, typically measured as persons per square kilometer.

Population Aging:

Increased proportion of people over 65 in a population, often measured as a percentage of the total population (15% indicates significant aging). Caused by declining birth rates, increasing life expectancy, and emigration.

Rural Exodus:

Movement of rural workers (farmers, artisans, merchants) to cities due to rural crises and urban industrial development.

Municipal Register:

Source collecting demographic data on residents of a municipality, providing proof of residence. Updated every five years.

Net Migration:

Difference between immigration and emigration for a territory over a specific period.

Death Rate:

Number of deaths per year divided by the average population for that year.

Infant Mortality Rate:

Number of deaths under one year old per 1,000 live births in a year.

Birth Rate:

Number of births per year divided by the average population for that year.

Fertility Rate:

Average number of children a woman would have if she lived through her reproductive years and had children at each age according to current age-specific fertility rates.

Metropolitan Area:

Rural or semi-urban area surrounding a major city, including nearby towns.

Peri-urban Area:

Transitional zone around a city requiring new infrastructure and services, often including suburban parks.

Historic Quarter:

Area of a city containing buildings of cultural and artistic value.

Urban Center (CBD):

Main business and administrative area of a city. Often characterized by tall office buildings and high land values. Located in the expanded areas of Spanish cities.

Confiscation:

19th-century Spanish laws that put up for sale church and municipal properties.

Urban Location:

Factors influencing a city’s location, including access to water, communication routes, fertile land, and defensible terrain.

Urban Expansion:

Expansion of a city beyond its walls, often following a grid pattern (e.g., Cerdà Plan in Barcelona).

Urban Fringe:

Area surrounding a city containing residential blocks, factories, railways, etc.

Population Pyramid:

Graphical representation of a population’s age and sex structure.

Orthogonal Plan:

Grid or checkerboard street layout with intersections at right angles. Used since antiquity and common in new city constructions and urban expansions (e.g., Cerdà Plan).

Radiocentric Plan:

Street layout with radial streets emanating from a central point, often intersected by concentric rings.

Urban Plan:

Arrangement of streets in a city, including orthogonal, radiocentric, linear, and irregular types.