Spanish and Catalan Population Migration Patterns
The Spanish and Catalan Population
Migration Patterns
Internal Migration
In Spain, the rural exodus to urban areas began in the late 19th century. Industries in cities needed manpower, leading to significant population growth in urban areas and a decline in rural areas. From World War I (1914-1918), the population moved to provincial capitals and then to major cities like Madrid and Barcelona. Since the 1940s, a significant exodus occurred due to poverty, with peasants migrating to cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, Zaragoza, Valladolid, and Seville. This was partly due to the difficulties Spaniards faced in going abroad at the time. Most of these people came from Castile, Murcia, Galicia, and Extremadura.
Major internal migrations occurred in the 1960s, driven by industrial growth and the promise of employment in large industrial centers. The economic crisis of the 1970s halted this flow, resulting in an unequal distribution of the population. Provinces that generated emigration lost population, while others experienced a massive influx of immigrants, leading to housing shortages and inadequate infrastructure. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Madrid, the Basque Country, and Catalonia, which had been major reception areas, experienced a negative migration balance, with many migrants returning to their provinces of origin. These areas have since become receiving areas for immigrants, mainly from abroad.
External Migration
Migration History
The lack of resources and rapid population growth in Spain from the mid-19th century favored external migrations. The preferred destinations in the 19th century were Algeria and Latin American countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, and Mexico. Most migrants were young men from depressed rural areas, especially the Canary Islands, Galicia, and Asturias. These countries had laws that favored the arrival of immigrants and provided facilities for finding employment or housing. This trend restarted in the 1950s, but with less intensity.
Migration in Europe
In the 1950s, Europe saw a south-to-north migration of Italian, Spanish, Greek, Turkish, and North African workers. The peak of this emigration to Europe occurred between 1950 and 1973, with over 2.5 million Spaniards going to Germany, France, and Switzerland. This was driven by the economic growth of these European countries after the Marshall Plan in 1948 and the creation of the Common Market in 1957. Additionally, Spain had a surplus of labor due to mechanization and industrialization. Immigrants came mainly from Andalusia, Galicia, Leon, Valencia, and Extremadura. They often had contracts for a year or more, though many did not return. These emigrants were primarily young, unskilled men working in agriculture, construction, and industry.
This migration had several effects on Spain:
- Declining population.
- A solution to unemployment among young people.
- An important influx of currency, as emigrants sent savings to their families.
- Uprooting of many people who faced harsh living and working conditions in their destination countries.
The economic crisis of 1973 curbed this wave of emigration, and many emigrants returned to Spain due to restructuring in European industries and stricter immigration laws. This return led to a population increase in Spain, particularly in Andalusia and Murcia.
Foreign Immigrants
Spain, a Country of Immigrants
Spain, traditionally a country of emigration, has become a destination for immigrants due to economic development. These immigrants can be grouped into four categories:
- Retirees from central and northern Europe seeking a mild climate, mainly settling on the Mediterranean coast and the Canary Islands.
- Highly trained professionals, managers, technicians, and artists from EU countries seeking better quality of life.
- Political refugees fleeing war or persecution, seeking asylum under United Nations laws.
- People from developing countries seeking work and better living conditions, mainly from Eastern Europe (Romania, Bulgaria), the Maghreb (Morocco), and sub-Saharan Africa (Sudan), working in agriculture, construction, catering, commerce, and domestic service.