Spanish Population: Demographics, Immigration & Economy
The Natural Movement of the Spanish Population
Natural Growth
The natural growth or population decrease of a place due to natural causes can be studied through various demographic rates. These stages are the old demographic regime, the demographic transition, and the modern demographic regime.
Old Demographic Regime (Until the Early 20th Century)
The old demographic regime remained in Spain until the early twentieth century. Births showed elevated levels due to two main causes:
- The predominance of a
Transformation of Spanish Agriculture: A Modern Overview
The Scope of Agriculture and Rural Activities
The term “agriculture” refers specifically to agricultural activities. The broader term “agriculture” encompasses all primary sector activities. The term “rural” is the most inclusive, encompassing any activity in non-urban areas.
Diversity in Spanish Agriculture
The diversity of Spanish agriculture stems from physical factors (climate, soil type) and human influences. This creates regional differences:
- Atlantic Coast: Predominantly livestock, especially
The Tertiary and Primary Sectors of the Spanish Economy
The Growth of the Tertiary Sector
The Infrastructure Sector
This activity consists of providing tertiary services to society. The service sector includes many different activities such as transport, trade, etc. The process of outsourcing gained traction in Spain in the 1970s, though not uniformly across the country. The most significant outsourcing occurred in Catalonia, Madrid, the Balearic Islands, Valencia, and Andalusia.
Transport
Transport is a key factor in the spatial, social, and economic organization
Read MoreSpanish Industrial Structure, Policies, and Areas
Spanish Industrial Structure
Current Situation
Mature sectors such as metallurgy (steel, transformed metal), appliances, shipbuilding, textiles, and clothing are facing declining competitiveness and reduced demand. These sectors are undergoing a necessary conversion process.
Dynamic, high-productivity sectors like automotive, chemicals (petrochemical, chemical transformation), and food industry benefit from specialization, secured demand, and foreign capital.
High-technology sectors, including electrical
Read MoreSpain’s Economic Transformation in the 19th Century: From Agrarian Reform to Industrialization
Economic Change in 19th Century Spain
Agrarian Changes and Confiscation
The liberal revolution brought significant legal changes that transformed Spain’s agricultural landscape. These included:
- Elimination of tied land
- Abolition of the judicial system
- Freedom of land enclosure, crop marketing, and pricing
- Ending tithes to the Church, replaced by state aid
A striking development was the confiscation of Church lands. Driven by enormous debt, the Crown issued the 1836 decree of confiscation of regular clergy
Read MoreGlossary of Geography, Cartography, and Geopolitics Terms
Geography, Cartography, and Geopolitics Glossary
Cartography and Geography
Contour (Isohipsas)
Solid lines used in the representation of relief on topographic maps. The equidistance (difference in altitude between two successive curves) is 20 meters in the National Topographic Map scale 1/50000. Master curves are thicker and represent elevations that are multiples of equidistance.
Geographic Area
Understood as a social product (i.e., a result of human activity on nature), its objective is the study of
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