Essential Demographic Concepts and Spanish Population Data

Essential Demographic Concepts and Population Statistics

Census of Population Definition

The Census of Population is a count of the population of a country at a specific time. It collects demographic, economic, and social data on the population and housing characteristics. It is a state statistical operation that provides a snapshot of people at a given moment. Its information can only be published in numerical form, without individual references. In Spain, the census is typically conducted every ten years.

Understanding Natural Growth

Natural Growth is the change (increase or decrease) in the number of people in a population during a specified period, resulting from the balance between births and deaths.

Migration and Emigration Dynamics

An Emigrant is a person who abandons their habitual residence for another place, either within the country or abroad.

Historically, regions of agricultural emigration in Spain included the Atlantic and the interior peninsula. These areas saw significant movement overseas, to the most developed countries of Western Europe, and to the urban-industrial areas and holiday resorts within Spain between the mid-nineteenth century and the 1970s.

Life Expectancy: Key Demographic Indicator

Life Expectancy is an indicator that expresses the average number of years a person can expect to live after a certain age, according to the mortality conditions at that moment.

The "Life Expectancy at Birth" is the standard indicator used for comparative purposes, as it reveals differences in mortality between territories. It is equivalent to the average number of years a newborn can expect to live, based on the intensity of mortality in the reference population.

Causes and Peak of Rural Depopulation in Spain

Rural Depopulation is a migratory movement from rural to urban areas, either permanently or for a long duration. In Spain, this peaked between 1950 and 1975, linked to the crisis of traditional agriculture and the industrial development that offered jobs in urban centers.

Defining an Immigrant

An Immigrant is a person arriving from another place (either within their own country or from abroad) to establish residence.

The Municipal Register (Padrón Municipal)

The Municipal Register (or Padrón Municipal) is an official administrative register, managed by the municipality, aimed at recording the number and main characteristics of its inhabitants. In Spain, it has been updated annually since 1996.

Understanding the Labor Force

The Labor Force (or Active Population) is the group consisting of:

• Those who are employed (producing goods and services).
• Those who are unemployed but seeking work or available to join the workforce.

Who is the Inactive Population?

The Inactive Population is composed of people aged 16 years and older who are not part of the labor force (i.e., they are neither employed nor unemployed).

Defining the Unemployed Population

The Unemployed Population consists of all those people who are without work, are seeking work, and are available for work.

Calculating Net Migration

Net Migration is the difference between population inputs (immigration) and outputs (emigration). If the result is positive, it indicates a net gain in population.