Population Dynamics in Spain: Birth, Fertility & Mortality Trends
Population Dynamics: Natural and Immigration
Natural
Birth and Fertility
Birth rates and fertility are concepts used to describe the reproductive capacity of a population, but they are not identical. Birth rate refers to births occurring within a population as a whole, whereas fertility is related to live births from the perspective of women of childbearing age, not the entire population.
Evolution of Birth and Fertility
Until recently, Spain had high birth rates compared to other European countries. However, in a short period, Spanish birth and fertility rates have dropped to among the lowest in the world.
While the birth rate decline began in the 19th century, it remained high in the early 20th century (33.9‰). Values stayed relatively high during the first half of the century, with the Spanish Civil War causing the most significant short-term decline (16.6‰ in 1939). The most dramatic decline occurred in the late 1990s.
Why Have Both Birth and Fertility Rates Decreased?
Today, the reasons are considered to be multiple and complex, including economic factors (cost of parenting, increased income level), sociological, cultural, and institutional reasons, as well as demographic factors. Currently, the development of industrialization, urbanization, and secularization are highlighted, along with other factors such as:
- The emancipation of women and their incorporation into the labor market.
- The cost of education and parenting.
- Self-natalist behavior of each generation, based on life experience.
Birth rates in Spain are intertwined with various historical events: the Civil War, immigration, economic crises, changes in age structure, and the evolution of marriage.
The Spatial Distribution
Birth and fertility rates have declined in all regions, although regional differences persist. Whether using the birth rate or the total fertility rate, the southern and island regions have the highest rates, followed by the more economically developed regions. The central and northern regions have the lowest rates.
In 2001, communities with birth rates over 10‰ were Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Valencia, Madrid, Murcia, and Navarra. The lowest values, below 8‰, were found in Asturias, Castilla-Leon, and Galicia. Regarding the total fertility rate, only the Murcia region slightly exceeded 1.5 children per woman in 2001.
Mortality
Mortality is the phenomenon related to the death of members of a population. Associated with death is life expectancy, the average number of years a population lives in a certain period.
Trends in Mortality
Until the late 19th century, the Spanish population had high mortality rates and low life expectancy. Currently, the crude death rate is around 8.5 per thousand, a level from which further significant reductions are difficult.
Infant mortality has followed a similar path. In the early 20th century, the rate was 181 per thousand. The decline accelerated in the 1940s and 1950s, reaching 24 per thousand in 1970. In recent decades, it has continued to decline and is now around 6.0 per thousand, similar to countries with the lowest mortality rates.
Life expectancy at birth also improved significantly throughout the 20th century due to declining mortality. At the beginning of the century, it was around 35 years and is currently about 78 years.
The increase in women’s average life expectancy has been particularly significant, rising from 35 in 1900 to 82.4 today. The difference with men’s average life expectancy is about 7 years.
Behavioral Causes of Mortality
Exogenous:
In the past, when catastrophic mortality dominated, the causes were subsistence crises, famines, epidemics, and wars, whose cyclical occurrence kept the population stagnant despite high birth rates.
Endogenous Causes:
Currently, the causes of death are related to degenerative diseases in old age and social ills or lifestyle factors. These include circulatory and digestive diseases and violent deaths (traffic accidents, murders, suicides). The predominant causes of death in Spain can be summarized as the “three Cs” (heart disease, cancer, and road accidents). Mortality is concentrated in older age groups and is higher among men than women.