Urbanization and Population Dynamics in Spain

Metropolitan Areas

Metropolitan areas are urban municipalities centered around a large, complex city (a metropolis). They encompass multiple interconnected municipalities with significant economic and social ties.

Shantytowns

Shantytowns represent the most impoverished forms of urban habitats, particularly in underdeveloped countries. These settlements consist of self-constructed homes using waste materials in marginalized urban areas unsuitable for regular planned urbanization.

Spatial Development Guidelines (DOT)

The Spatial Development Guidelines (DOT) are an instrument for managing the territory of the Balearic Islands. Its goal is to achieve the objectives of the 1987 Territorial Act and define sustainable land management criteria.

Old Towns

Old Towns (or historical centers) are areas within cities that retain pre-industrial characteristics, such as narrow streets and buildings of artistic value.

Conurbation

A conurbation is a densely populated, built-up area formed by multiple municipalities due to urban growth, often with rural areas interspersed. Traffic corridors, like the one between Malaga and Marbella, often drive this merging.

Central Business District (CBD)

The Central Business District (CBD) is the core commercial and business services area of a city. Residential populations in these areas have often declined as businesses take over the space.

Residential Cores

Residential cores are urban conglomerates primarily for housing. Residents typically commute elsewhere for work and major purchases.

Peripheral/Suburban Areas

Peripheral/Suburban areas extend around large cities and are characterized by the reorganization of rural villages into suburbs and the presence of specialized satellite cities (e.g., dormitory towns, industrial centers).

Rururbanization

Rururbanization is the process of urban economic activities, mentalities, and habits penetrating rural areas near cities. This leads to population growth and increased built space as migrants, often commuting to the nearby city, settle in.

Urban Planning

Urban planning is the comprehensive organization of a city based on social science and architectural principles, guiding growth and construction.

Urban Morphology

Urban morphology refers to the physical structure of a city, including its streets, avenues, and squares.

Industrial Estates

Industrial estates are planned areas outside cities designated for industrial activity. They are usually located near major transportation routes for accessibility.

Business Parks

Business parks are designated urban areas for planned commercial activities and services. Like industrial estates, they are often located near major transportation routes and offer ample parking.

Radial Network

A radial network is a transport system where main roads converge on a central point. Spain’s air and land transport networks, centered on Madrid, exemplify this.

Population Census

A population census involves collecting, summarizing, evaluating, analyzing, and publishing demographic, cultural, economic, and social data on all inhabitants of a country at a specific time. In Spain, this occurs every 10 years with revisions every 5.

Real Population Growth

Real population growth measures the change in population size over a period, calculated by adding natural increase (births minus deaths) and net migration.

Emigration

Emigration is the act of leaving one’s country or region to settle elsewhere.

Commuter Migration

Commuter migration is the temporary movement of people between their residence and workplace, often within metropolitan areas, related to suburbanization and improved transport.

Infant Mortality

Infant mortality is the death of children under one year old, measured as the number of deaths per 1,000 live births. It was very high during the historical demographic cycle.

Return Migration

Return migration is the return of migrants to their place of origin. Spain saw many such movements, both internal and external, due to the industrial crises of the 1970s.

Municipal Register (Padrón)

The municipal register (Padrón) records the inhabitants of a municipality, including demographic, economic, and social characteristics. It serves as proof of residence and is updated annually in January in Spain.

Agglomerated Population

Agglomerated population refers to people living in houses grouped into compact urban areas within a municipality, often concentrated around the city hall. This is the predominant population type in Spain.

Scattered Population

Scattered population refers to the population of a municipality living outside of agglomerated areas, either completely dispersed or in small clusters. This is common in some mountainous regions of Spain, such as parts of the Pyrenees.