Spain’s Population: Density, Distribution, and Immigration

Posted on Dec 5, 2024 in Geography

Population Density and Distribution in Spain

Spain’s population has grown, fueled by immigration, resulting in a balanced gender ratio. However, distribution is uneven, with an average density of 89 inhabitants/km2. Madrid boasts the highest density, while Aragon, Extremadura, and Castile-La Mancha have the lowest.

Geographic Distribution

  1. Immigration Areas: Coastal regions and areas with strong economic and social development, such as the Galician Rías, Basque Country, Barcelona, Valencia, the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria), Madrid, Zaragoza, Valladolid, and Seville, are the most densely populated.
  2. Emigration Areas: Rural exodus affects mountainous areas (Iberian System, Cantabrian Mountains) and rural areas of Sierra Morena, Castile-La Mancha, Extremadura, and inland Galicia. This is driven by industrialization, dependence on foreign raw materials, 20th-century urban industrialization, coastal tourism, centralized administration in Madrid, and the concentration of academic and religious institutions.

Natural Population Growth

Natural growth, the difference between births and deaths, is near zero in Spain. While births have recently surpassed deaths, some northern regions experience negative growth due to an aging population.

Birth Rate

The crude birth rate has declined due to factors like delayed marriages, female employment, economic instability, the cost of raising children, contraception, secularization, and limited family planning programs. Ceuta, Melilla, Murcia, Madrid, Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencia, Navarra, and the Balearic Islands have above-average birth rates. La Rioja, Aragon, and Castile-La Mancha are slightly higher, while the Basque Country, Galicia, and Extremadura have lower rates.

Mortality Rate

The mortality rate has plateaued due to the aging population. Life expectancy is 77 for men and 84 for women, placing Spain among the top 5 countries for longevity. Factors include job security, higher living standards, improved healthcare, vaccines, preventive measures, and medical advancements. Asturias, Galicia, and Aragon have higher mortality rates, while Extremadura, La Rioja, and the Basque Country are slightly higher. The Canary Islands, Melilla, Madrid, and Murcia have lower rates.

Population Structure

Sex Composition

The sex ratio is balanced between men and women.

Age Composition

Spain’s population is divided into three age groups:

  1. Young (0-15): This group has shrunk due to declining birth rates, with Ceuta and Melilla having the highest percentage and Murcia the lowest.
  2. Adults (16-64): This group is further divided into young adults (16-29), adults (30-44), and older adults (45-64).
  3. Seniors (65+): This group represents 17% of the population, with the highest percentages in northern regions and the lowest in Ceuta, Melilla, Valencia, Andalusia, and Murcia. Aging is caused by declining birth rates, improved sanitation, and increased life expectancy. This impacts pension funding, healthcare resource consumption, and living arrangements, with seniors often preferring residences over family homes.

Other relevant metrics include the dependency ratio and infant mortality rate.

Socio-Professional Structure

The population is divided into inactive (pensioners, students, investors, homemakers) and active (working age, employed or seeking employment). Madrid has the highest activity rate. Unemployment, particularly among women, remains high, with the highest rates in Extremadura and Andalusia and the lowest in Aragon, Catalonia, the Basque Country, and La Rioja.

Migration

Internal Migration

Internal migration peaked in the mid-20th century, driven by industrialization and urbanization. Key periods include:

  1. 1960-1975: Significant rural exodus from agricultural provinces to provincial capitals and large cities for manufacturing and tourism jobs.
  2. 1975-1985: Slowdown due to the 1973 economic crisis, with many returning to their regions of origin.
  3. 1986-Present: Fewer inter-provincial movements, with some suburban and major city fluctuations.

The impact includes demographic and spatial imbalances, with 80% of the population in cities and rural areas depopulated, particularly along the coast. Demographic changes include aging populations in rural areas and small towns, declining birth rates and fertility, and increasing mortality. Socioeconomic changes include increased labor force and unemployment in immigration areas, larger average farm sizes due to rural exodus, and urban problems like homelessness, suburban sprawl, and school shortages. Cultural changes include language barriers and cultural exchange challenges.

Immigration to Spain

Immigrants account for 10% of Spain’s population, including naturalized citizens, those retaining their original nationality, and undocumented immigrants. They primarily settle in large cities for construction and service jobs, intensive agricultural areas with seasonal labor demands, mining areas of Leon and Asturias, and Mediterranean coastal regions and archipelagos. Catalonia, Andalusia, Madrid, and Valencia have seen the largest increases in immigrants, with the highest concentrations in the Balearic Islands, Madrid, Valencia, and Murcia.