Spanish Population: Distribution, Natural Movement & Migration

Posted on Nov 13, 2024 in Geography

The Spanish Population

Demographic Sources

Population geography studies the relationships between population and space, building on sciences like demographics, which analyzes quantitative population data.

The Census: An individual count of the population at a given time, collecting demographic, economic, and social information.
The Municipal Register: A register of inhabitants in municipalities, also collecting demographic, economic, and social information.
Civil Registration: Records births, deaths, and marriages. The INE uses this data to produce Natural Population Movement books.
Other Sources: Include statistics compiled from various sources. Surveys provide detailed information on smaller samples.

The Distribution of the Population

Spain’s 43.97 million people are unevenly distributed. Population density, the ratio of population to land area, is used to express this distribution.

This average hides imbalances between areas of concentration, exceeding the national average, and areas of depopulation, with less than 25 inhabitants per square km.

High-density areas are in Madrid, the peninsular periphery, and the Balearic Islands.
Low-density areas are in the peninsular interior, with the lowest densities in some mountain areas.

Origin of this Imbalance (Modern Age):

16th Century: Highest densities were in north-central Spain.
17th Century: Economic and demographic crises, with Castile’s slower recovery, led to population movements towards the periphery. By the 18th century, coastal regions and islands had higher densities, while the interior was less populated.
19th Century: Imbalance consolidated. Madrid’s importance increased, peripheral regions with industries attracted people, and inland regions continued losing population.
20th Century: Contrasts sharpened, with growth in industrial and tourist regions, including Mediterranean islands.

Since 1975, differences have reduced due to deindustrialization and unemployment from the economic crisis.

Current trends, driven by the service sector, industry’s geographical distribution, technological agriculture, and endogenous development, point towards population consolidation.

The Natural Movement of the Population

Natural population movement is the population’s growth or decline due to natural causes (births and deaths). Natural or vegetative growth is the difference between births and deaths.

Demographic Regimes

Several stages are distinguished in the evolution of Spain’s natural population movement: the old demographic regime, the demographic transition, and the modern demographic regime.

The Old Demographic Regime (Until the Early 20th Century)

Characterized by high birth and mortality rates and low natural growth.

Birth Rate: High, with a slight decrease from the late 19th century. Causes included a predominantly rural economy and society and the lack of effective birth control.
Mortality Rate: High due to poor diet, infectious diseases, catastrophic mortality from epidemics, wars, and poor harvests. Infant mortality was also high.
Natural Growth: Low due to high birth and mortality rates.

The Demographic Transition (1900-1975)

The transition between the old and current demographic regimes.

Birth Rate: Declined smoothly and discontinuously. Economic prosperity in the 1920s allowed for a birth rate recovery. The decline resumed between 1930 and 1956 due to the 1929 economic crisis and political instability. A recovery occurred between 1956 and 1965 (baby boom), followed by a further reduction between 1965 and 1975 due to rural-urban migration and housing problems.
Mortality Rate: Decreased significantly, with two moments of catastrophic mortality (1918 flu and Civil War). Medical advances (vaccines and antibiotics), improved living standards and diet, increased education, and reduced unhealthy habits contributed to the decline. Infant mortality, especially postnatal, decreased significantly.
Natural Growth: High, especially when mortality decreased markedly.

The Current Demographic Regime (From 1975)

Characterized by low birth and mortality rates and low natural growth.

Birth Rate: Collapsed since 1975, more belatedly and sharply than in the rest of Europe. Recent recovery due to immigration, but the Spanish population maintains a Malthusian behavior (birth control). Causes include the economic situation after the 1975 crisis, changing mentality, increased living standards, and a different valuation of children.
Mortality Rate: Remains low since 1981, with a slight increase due to population aging. Causes of mortality have changed. Infant mortality is low, mainly neonatal, with room for reduction through medical advances. Life expectancy is higher for women. Mortality is higher in lower-skilled professions.
Natural Growth: Very small due to low birth and mortality rates.

Regional Imbalances in Natural Population Movement

Despite low birth, mortality, and natural growth rates across all regions, contrasts exist due to different age structures, influenced by inherited and current factors:

Different traditional birth behaviors.
Differences in economic development.

Regions with higher birth rates have younger populations, lower mortality rates, and positive natural growth. Regions with lower birth rates have aging populations, higher mortality rates, and negative natural growth.

The Migratory Growth

Migration is the movement of people in space. We distinguish between emigration (leaving a place) and immigration (entering a place).

The migratory balance is the difference between immigration and emigration. A positive balance indicates net immigration, while a negative balance indicates net emigration.

Internal Migration

Population movements within a country’s borders.

Traditional Internal Migration

Seasonal and Temporary Migration: Peaked between the late 19th and late 20th centuries, affecting the rural population.
Rural Exodus (1900-1975): Permanent or long-term migration from rural to urban areas. Migrants came from backward areas of Galicia, the peninsular interior, and eastern Andalusia. Destinations were industrial areas of Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Madrid. Causes included excess rural labor, agricultural crises, industrialization, and tourism. From 1975, rural migration declined, and traditional areas of departure reduced. Industrial development in autonomous regions and regional development policies also played a role. Currently, major migratory balances correspond to the Balearic and Canary Islands and Mediterranean coastal regions due to tourism, export agriculture, and small industry.

Current Internal Migration

Since the 1975 crisis, a new migration system emerged. Migrants are no longer predominantly from rural areas but also from urban municipalities. Migration between communities has slowed down. Migration within provinces or between underdeveloped areas and local economic centers has been identified. Large urban municipalities have lost attractiveness for medium or small-sized ones.

Causes of migration and migrant profiles differ:

Residential Migration: Driven by residential reasons.
Labor Migration: Driven by work opportunities, with skilled workers seeking specific sectors.
Return Migration: Rural population returning to their municipalities of origin, often after retirement.
Pendular Movements: Daily movements between residence and work or leisure activities, causing traffic congestion in large cities.

Consequences of Internal Migration

Traditional and modern internal migrations have had significant impacts:

Traditional Migrations: Caused population distribution imbalances, emptying the interior and increasing densities in the periphery. Influenced age and sex structures, causing aging in rural areas and rejuvenation in urban areas. Created social assimilation problems for migrants moving from rural to urban societies. Initially increased resources in receiving areas but eventually led to diseconomies as younger and educated people left, reducing productivity.
Current Migrations: Residential migration causes aging in central urban areas. Labor migration contributes to economic and demographic balance within provinces and communities. Rural return migration leads to population aging in rural areas due to returning retirees but also creates business opportunities. Pendular movements cause traffic problems in large cities.