Population Distribution, Growth, and Dynamics in Europe & Spain

Posted on Mar 27, 2025 in Geography

European Population Distribution Patterns

Population distribution in Europe shows distinct axes. A secondary axis runs from Germany to Switzerland. Another originates in Germany, crossing Poland to the Czech Republic. A more dynamic axis follows the Mediterranean Basin, from Catalonia and Valencia through southern France to Rome. This links to the major population corridor across Northern Europe, connecting more easily to Italy through the Rhone Valley.

Sparsely Populated European Regions

Areas with low population density include:

Scandinavia
Iceland
Northern Scotland
The Alps
The Pyrenees
Parts of the Iberian Peninsula
Vast areas of Russia
Some areas of the Balkans

Population Distribution: Spain and Catalonia

Spain has a relatively low average population density compared to other European states.

Density Patterns Across Spain

The most densely populated areas are:

The west coast of Galicia
The Basque coastal zone
The Valencia, Alicante, and Murcia regions
The Seville-Cadiz-Malaga triangle
The Canary and Balearic Islands

However, the most densely populated areas are the provinces of Madrid and Barcelona, both exceeding 600 people per square kilometer.

Essentially, Spain’s population is concentrated in the periphery, while the interior is largely deserted, with exceptions like Madrid and other cities such as Zaragoza and Valladolid.

This distribution results from historical factors, particularly over the last 200 years. The population shifted towards the periphery due to the concentration of industry and services, especially tourism (prominent from the 1960s onwards).

Catalonia’s Population Concentration

Most of Catalonia’s population resides in the metropolitan region of Barcelona. This region includes the following counties: Barcelona, Vallès Occidental, Vallès Oriental, Maresme, Baix Llobregat, Alt Penedès, and Garraf. These seven counties concentrate over 70% of Catalonia’s total population.

Conversely, the interior of Catalonia forms a demographic vacuum, coinciding with mountainous and agricultural zones. The city of Lleida is the main exception within this sparsely populated area.

World Population Growth Concerns

Historical and Projected Global Population

The Earth’s population has significantly increased. Around the year 1500, it’s estimated there were about 400 million people. This number doubled in 250 years. Just 250 years later, the global population exceeded 6 billion. Projections estimate it could reach 10 billion by the year 2050.

Malthusian Theory on Population

Thomas Robert Malthus (late 18th – early 19th century) was the first prominent figure to warn about the dangers of rapid population growth. In his book, “An Essay on the Principle of Population” (1798), he argued that population tends to grow at a much faster rate than resources (food supply), potentially leading to disaster.

Malthus did not foresee the impact of the Industrial Revolution, which significantly increased resource availability. Those who still believe that population growth is too rapid are known as Neo-Malthusians.

Population Dynamics and Natural Change

Types of Population Movement

There are two main types of population movements:

Natural Movement: This depends on births and deaths. It reflects the change in the number of inhabitants based on the difference between births and deaths within a specific period.
- If Births > Deaths = Positive Growth (+)
- If Births < Deaths = Negative Growth (-)
- If Births = Deaths = Zero Growth (0)
Migration Movement: This depends on immigrants (people moving in) and emigrants (people moving out). It reflects the population change resulting from the difference between immigration and emigration.

Understanding Birth and Mortality Rates

Birth Rate (Tn) Definition and Factors

The Crude Birth Rate (Tn) is the number of live births in a year per 1,000 inhabitants.

Formula: Tn = (Number of births in year X / Total population in year X) * 1000

Thresholds:

High Tn: Above 35‰
Moderate Tn: Between 15‰ and 35‰
Low Tn: Below 15‰

Birth rates are influenced by many factors. In most developed countries, birth rates have fallen due to factors such as delayed marriage age, increased female participation in the workforce, widespread access to contraceptive methods, and the prevalence of urban lifestyles.

Consequently, developed countries typically have very low birth rates, whereas many developing countries have very high rates. In some underdeveloped countries, having many children can be perceived as an economic necessity, contributing to high birth rates.

Mortality Rate (Tm) Definition

The Crude Mortality Rate (Tm) is the number of deaths in a year per 1,000 inhabitants.

Formula: Tm = (Number of deaths in year X / Total population in year X) * 1000