Demographic Structure Analysis: Population Characteristics

Population Demographic Structure

The census, the population census, and the Labor Force Survey (LFS) provide crucial insights into the structural characteristics of a population. This information enables a comprehensive structural analysis, characterizing the population by its:

• Demographic characteristics: such as gender distribution.
• Social characteristics: including marital status and education levels.
• Economic characteristics: covering occupation, activity rates, and unemployment.
• Geographic characteristics: like place of residence.

Sex Ratio: Understanding Gender Distribution

The relationship of femininity, also known as the sex ratio, measures the number of women per hundred men. Spain's sex ratio is currently below the European average. The most striking feature of this indicator is its distribution by age. Until approximately age 50, the number of women is slightly higher than that of men. However, it is from that age that an imbalance begins, becoming more pronounced by age 85. This difference between the sexes is primarily explained by a common reason observed in many other countries: male supermortality, which results in a higher proportion of women than men in older age groups.

Age Composition: A Key Demographic Variable

Age is a fundamental demographic variable. The age composition of a population significantly influences various aspects, including:

• The progress of fertility rates.
• Planning for educational facilities and care services.
• Voter registration.
• The size of the working-age population.
• Future demographic forecasts.

The Spanish population shows a clear tendency towards aging and a significant reduction in its young population. This trend is a direct consequence of the falling birth rates observed since the 1990s.

Population Composition by Sex and Age: Pyramid Analysis

Population pyramids visually represent the composition of a population by sex and age, offering historical insights:

• The 1900 pyramid: Reflects the behavior of a population characterized by high birth rates and a relatively low life expectancy due to high mortality rates.
• The 1950 pyramid: Shows a reduction in the base, indicating a decrease in births caused by the Civil War. The excess mortality resulting from the war is evident in the age groups between 25 and 39 years.
• The 1991 pyramid: The mortality impact of the war is still reflected in the age groups between 72 and 82 years.
• The 2008 pyramid: Highlights several key aspects: a slight recovery in the 0-4 age group, a noticeable decrease in the 5-15 age group, and a thickening of the population groups between 25 and 34 years.