Spain’s Changing Society: Demographics, Migration & Urbanization
Socioeconomic Changes in Spain
Significant socioeconomic and cultural changes in Spain over recent decades have resulted in a population with characteristics vastly different from those of the early and mid-twentieth century.
Instruction Levels
Key features include:
- Significant increase in the general educational level.
- Incorporation of women into the education system.
Workplace Trends
The labor participation rate has increased by almost 7% in the last 30 years, aligning with the EU average. This is due to:
- The incorporation of women into the workplace.
- The increased presence of immigrants.
The highest activity rates in the country territorially coincide with the provinces most populated by immigrants: the Mediterranean coast, the two archipelagos (Canary and Balearic Islands), Madrid, and the Ebro axis. Conversely, the most aged regions exhibit the lowest activity rates.
Activity Sectors
The most important features are:
- A sharp decrease in employment within the primary sector.
- A small increase in industrial sector employment in absolute numbers, but a decrease in its percentage share.
- Significant employment growth in the tertiary sector, reinforcing Spain’s role as a service-based economy.
Population Growth and Components in Spain
The Spanish population has grown since the early twentieth century, alternating between periods of high and low growth. While the growth rate increased initially, real growth became less intense after the 1970s. However, starting in the 1990s, Spain experienced the most significant demographic progression in its history. Only Lugo, Ourense, Zamora, and Palencia have lost population over the last century. Conversely, the Mediterranean area concentrates the largest demographic increase. A primary driver of this population increase is significant foreign immigration.
Spanish Population Dynamics
Spain’s birth rate is currently among the lowest in developed countries, marked by a uniquely sharp decline in fertility over a few years. Regionally, birth and fertility rates vary: younger populations and higher fertility rates are found in southern regions (Andalusia, Murcia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha) and the islands (Canary and Balearic Islands). In contrast, most northern regions (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country, Aragon) have the lowest fertility rates and notably low birth rates. Unlike many European countries, mortality rates in Spain began to decline later, attributed to slower economic development.
Internal Migration Movements in Spain
Significant internal migration began in the mid-nineteenth century with the onset of industrialization in Spain, continuing in various stages until the economic crisis of the late 1970s. Key features of contemporary internal migration include: a change in the origin of migrants, a sharp decrease in migration between autonomous communities, and, conversely, a significant increase in intra-provincial or intra-regional migration.
Internal Structure of Spanish Cities
Spanish cities typically feature the following distinct areas:
The Historic Center
Often originating in the Middle Ages, historic centers deteriorated significantly during the twentieth century. Since the 1980s, public intervention has focused on rehabilitation and preventing depopulation.
Planned Bourgeois Neighborhoods
Urban growth driven by industrialization required city expansion through planned neighborhoods. In Spain, two main types developed: the ensanche (widening) and the garden city.
Workers’ Districts
The wave of immigration during the industrial revolution often led to settlement in shantytowns that grew rapidly and often haphazardly on the city outskirts.
The Periphery
From the 1970s onwards, the rural exodus fueled dramatic urban growth, expanding the periphery of most Spanish cities.