Understanding Key Demographic and Urban Development Concepts
Life Expectancy
Life expectancy is an indicator expressing the average number of years a person can expect to live after a certain age, based on mortality conditions. “Life expectancy at birth” is used for comparisons, revealing mortality differences between regions. It represents the average lifespan an infant can expect, given the mortality intensity of the reference population.
Real Growth
Real population growth adds natural increase to net migration. Since 2001, Spanish population growth accelerated compared to 1975-2001, primarily due to increased foreign immigration and a higher birth rate. High real growth corresponds to Mediterranean coastal provinces, the Ebro Valley, both islands, Madrid, and its three neighboring provinces, all receiving more immigrants.
Population Pyramid
A horizontal bar chart representing the absolute or relative number of people in each age group, with men on the left and women on the right. It shows demographic structure by sex and age at a given time, reflecting events impacting recent population. The 2008 Spanish pyramid shows an aging population (16.57% elderly), high life expectancy, and low birth rates.
Unemployment Rate
The unemployment rate is the percentage of unemployed (those seeking work, including previously employed and first-time job seekers) within the total active population. It can be calculated by gender, age group, and sector. The 2008 economic crisis increased unemployment.
Urban System
The set of cities and their interrelationships. Cities have characteristics (size and functions) influencing areas of varying extents (local, regional, national, or global), giving them a hierarchical position.
Historical Center
Also known as the Old Town, it’s the oldest part of a city, encompassing developments from its origin to industrialization’s start in the mid-19th century. Occupying a small area today, it holds great cultural value. Many are designated as historical or artistic centers or UNESCO World Heritage sites (Santiago de Compostela, Toledo, Mérida, Segovia, etc.). Their Islamic-Moorish character attracts tourists.
Metropolitan Area
A large urban area encompassing a major city and surrounding municipalities with significant economic and social ties, requiring joint planning and service coordination. In Spain, their creation began in the early 20th century in Madrid, Barcelona, and Bilbao. Today, almost all large cities form metropolitan areas.
Ensanche
In mid-19th century Spain, modern industries brought large populations, expanding cities beyond pre-industrial walls. These extensions, influenced by the bourgeoisie, adopted regular rectilinear grid plans with wider streets than the old town. Low-density plots, regular blocks with courtyards, gardens, palaces, villas, and mid-rise buildings characterized them. Residential use predominated due to high real estate prices. The first Ensanches were in Barcelona (designed by Ildefonso Cerdá in 1859) and Madrid (by Carlos María de Castro in 1860), later spreading to other major cities.
Local Development
A strategic development approach leveraging local resources (natural, human, traditional activities) to boost the local economy and improve quality of life. It emphasizes local businesses and institutions, participatory decision-making, and support from autonomous communities. Measures include land development, business support, local pacts, training, and Local Agenda 21 for environmental management.
General Urban Plan (GUP)
The document guiding city growth. It’s the basic tool for integrated urban management, projecting land use, zoning (urban, urbanizable, non-developable), building density, road networks, infrastructure, and environmental protection over a period. Partial Plans detail specific urban areas, while Special Plans address degraded areas and the old town.