Population and Demographics Overview
Environmental Concerns
Treatment and Recycling
Treatment – Cleans wastewater and addresses urban environmental problems.
Recycling – Cleans solid waste and addresses urban environmental problems.
Regional Demographics
Barcelona-Metropolitan Area
Heavily industrialized and contributes 70% of Catalan GDP.
North-West Area (Girona)
Girona and the coast are the two most influential areas.
Metropolitan South (Tarragona)
Includes Reus and Valls, with numerous industrial estates, refineries, food processing, and commercial activities.
Central Catalonia
Regional capital and industrial centers with high affinity.
Lleida
Focus on agribusiness and influence from surrounding cities.
Population Concepts
Demographics
The quantitative study of populations for fiscal or military reasons.
Census
National count to quantify the population every 10 years.
Register
Records residence of municipality.
Civil Registry
Registers births, deaths, marriages, and divorces.
Parish Register
Historically recorded baptisms, marriages, and burials, but less important now due to decreased church influence.
Surveys
Gather data from a sample of the population.
Volume of Population
Number of people living in a particular territory at a particular time.
Population Dynamics
Study of population evolution over a given period.
Natural Motion
Tracks changes in population based on the difference between births and deaths.
Marriage
Number of marriages at a particular time.
Fruitfulness (Fertility)
Average number of children per woman.
Infant Mortality
Number of children who die during their first year or up to 5 years of age.
Life Expectancy
Average number of years a person can expect to live at birth.
Vegetative Growth
Difference between birth rates and mortality rates.
Population Theories
Anti-Populationism (Malthusianism)
Based on Thomas Robert Malthus’s theory that overpopulation is a problem because population grows geometrically while resources grow arithmetically, and the Earth has limits.
Populationists
Argue that population increase is not the problem, but rather the distribution of resources and wealth.
Demographic Transition Model
Old Demographic Regime
First phase of the demographic transition model, characterized by slow population growth.
Catastrophic Mortality
Mortality due to epidemic diseases and infections.
Time of Transition I
Demographic boom with high birth rates and declining mortality.
Period of Transition II
Mortality continues to fall but at a slower rate, and birth rates decline.
Modern Demographic Regime
Population growth is very low or stagnant, with an aging population.
Migration
Migration Movements
- Expulsion of the Moors (1492)
- Towards the colonies (20th century)
- Spain’s Interior to the city (1960s)
- Spain becomes a state of immigrants from the Maghreb, Latin America, Eastern Europe… (1980s)
Internal Migration
Movements within the State.
Foreign Migration
Migratory movements between different states.
Seasonal Migrations
Migrations involving a change of residence and job.
Causes of Migration
- Economic: Escaping poverty, brain drain.
- Political: Wars, persecutions, forced exiles.
- Environmental: Natural disasters, poor harvests, floods, earthquakes.
- Socio-cultural: Consumables, weather, love.
Population Structure Models
For the Sun (Pyramid)
Indicates population growth, characteristic of the 2nd stage of the demographic transition model.
Bell
Indicates growth deceleration, characteristic of the 3rd phase of the demographic transition model.
Warhead (Guardiola or Bulb)
Characteristic of developing countries.
Urn
Indicates population stagnation (3rd/4th phase).
Ace of Spades
Indicates a period of war, pandemic, or other significant population decline.
Workforce and Family
Workforce
People of working age who are employed or seeking employment.
Unemployed Population
Population not employed or unemployed.
Inactive/Passive Population
Includes the sick, pensioners, students, stay-at-home parents, renters, and people outside the working age.
Family Structures
- Nuclear Family: Father, mother, and children.
- Single-Parent Family: One parent and children.
- Extended Family: Includes grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc. Typical of agricultural societies.
- Serial Monogamy: Divorced couples who form new couples.
- Communal Family: Hippies, squatters, sects, convent life, etc.
Family Functions
- Reproductive Function: Historically essential but now questioned.
- Socializing Function: Instills societal norms and standards of conduct.
- Protective Function: Provides material and emotional protection, especially important in poor societies.
- Economic Function: Historically the basic unit of production and currently the consumer base.