Population Growth Trends in Spain: 1960-2001 Analysis
Option C / F
2. Analyze the maps that follow and answer the following questions:
a) In the decade from 1960 to 1970, which provinces had a population increase of more than 25%?
Which annual ‰ was between 15 and 24.99%? Please differentiate each group and list them.
Increasing Population + 25% per annum (Provinces): Guipúzcoa, Vizcaya, Álava,
Barcelona, Alicante, Madrid, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Increasing Population 15% to 24.99% (Provinces): Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Valencia,
Palma de Mallorca, Tarragona, Gerona.
b) Explain the main causes that produced the results shown in the map of 1960-70.
The result shows that the map corresponds to the growth rates of intercensal
population by provinces in annual values in % during the decade of 1960-1970:
We note first that most of the provinces that experienced positive growth
are coastal provinces, the valley of the Ebro, the islands, and Madrid, while
the provinces with negative intercensal population growth correspond mostly to the interior
of the peninsula. Causes:
Historical: From the Modern Age (15th-18th centuries), the highest densities were in the northern area of the peninsula and
Levante, motivated by economic and demographic crises in Castile, leading to population movements
towards the periphery, where coastal regions and island densities were higher, and
the less densely populated interior (except Madrid). During the Modern Age (19th-21st centuries)
s reinforced the imbalance with the increase of Madrid (capital) and the peripheral regions
natural increase (Galicia, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, and Andalusia) and the establishment of industries that attracted
inland population (Asturias, Basque Country, and Catalonia). The interior regions (Castilla-León, …)
continued to lose population. During the decade of 1960-1970 contrasts sharpened with
growth in industrial regions (Cataluña, Basque Country, Madrid, and Valencia) and tourist areas
and Mediterranean islands (Comunidad Valenciana, Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, and Canary Islands) due to
migration into them from the hinterland.
Territorial imbalances between provinces:
Population growth:
The birth rate increased (between 1956 and 1970) due to the delayed post-war baby boom.
(End of autarky and international isolation —- economic development).
Franco’s pronatalist policy (birth prizes, prohibition of contraceptives).
Mortality was dramatically reduced by advances in healthcare.
Traditional behavior regarding birth rates. Young population, aging
population emigration regions (with the consequent decline in birth and
increased mortality) and the rejuvenation of immigration regions (increase
in birth rates and decreased mortality).
Due to the different age structure (degree of youth or aging
population). The provinces that provide a number of younger (higher birth rates
and lower mortality) are those belonging to the Communities
traditional natalist (Andalusia, Murcia, Baleares, Canarias, Ceuta, and Melilla) and
economic development generating strong immigration processes in the past
recent (Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia, and Navarra). Provinces
with low birth rates and high death rates have above-average aging
the oldest population, with a strong migration deficit, reflected in
Communities such as Galicia, Castilla-León, Aragón, Castilla La Mancha, Extremadura.
Relocations rural-urban migration (rural exodus)
Between the interior agricultural regions (Galicia, Castilla-León, Castilla la Mancha,
Extremadura (interior peninsular) and eastern Andalusia) and the urban-industrial
periphery and tertiary services (Catalonia, the Basque Country, Valencia, Balearic
Canary Islands, and Madrid). Emigration long-term or permanently. Causes:
. Population growth.
. Crisis in agriculture due to mechanization.
. Industrial boom in industrial cities (Development Plans).
.