EU and Spain Population: Demographics, Migration, and Culture

1. Population of the EU: Slow Growth and Aging

Almost 500 million people live in the countries that make up the EU. The population grows very little. The low birth rate, an average fertility rate of 1.5 children per woman, means that natural population growth is slow. The population over 65 years represents 16% of the total and has increased for two reasons: the adult population is very large, and life expectancy is high. The percentage of the population under 15 years is decreasing. The European population is aging.

High Percentage of Immigrants

The EU increasingly welcomes immigrants. In 2004, the population increased. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom were the 21 main host countries for immigrants. Later, Italy and Spain became priority targets. Immigrants came from Turkey and Africa, as well as many Asian migrants. In recent decades, many have come from Latin America (Ecuador and Colombia), seeking to improve their families' conditions. The EU works to create laws that regulate the admission of immigrants and integration programs, focusing on language education, standards, and basic societal values that everyone should respect. However, there are racist and xenophobic reactions.

A Densely Populated Area

The EU territory is densely populated. Malta has the highest population density, while Finland and Sweden have low population densities.

Range of Cultures

Cultural diversity is reflected in the rich language, traditions, customs, cuisine, art, etc. The EU benefits from significant contributions from immigrants. Many languages are spoken; 20 are official languages. English is widely spoken. Christianity is the majority religion: Protestantism in northern countries, Orthodoxy in eastern countries, and Catholicism in central, southern, and western Europe. Other religions include Judaism and Islam.

2. Population of Spain: Evolution and Structure

In 2005, Spain's population was about 44 million inhabitants, making it the 5th most populous country in the EU. In the 19th century, the population increased slowly; the birth rate was high, but so was the mortality rate. Growth accelerated in the 20th century.

Birth and Mortality Rates

Up to the 1970s, the birth rate was high. Currently, Spain's birth rate is one of the lowest in the world, at 1.3 children per woman. Mortality is low, so natural population growth is very weak.

Population Structure

The Spanish population is aging. The average age is over 40 years, and the proportion of people aged 65 and over has increased. Spain's life expectancy is one of the world's highest: 77 for men and 83 for women. This represents significant growth, as 100 years ago, the average life expectancy was 35 years.

Economic Activity of Spaniards

Over the past century, Spain has transitioned from a primarily rural country to a service-based economy: Services account for 65%, industry 18.1%, construction 12.1%, and agriculture, fishing, and livestock 5.2%. Women have increasingly joined the workforce, although they generally have lower wages than their male counterparts (17% less).

3. Migration in Spain

Internal Migration

People moved to cities, leaving the countryside. At the end of the 19th century, mechanization in agriculture reduced the need for manual labor, leading farmers to seek work in cities. This rural exodus to industrial areas and cities with more economic activity was massive. Most emigrants came from areas with a stagnant economy and high population growth. Improved transportation, such as railways, aided migratory currents. From 1975, the economic crisis and the closure of many factories reduced these movements.

External Migration

In the late 19th century, migration of Spaniards abroad intensified. People sought to escape poverty. They were joined by political refugees during the Civil War (1936-1939) and the dictatorship of General Franco (1939-1975). Emigrants went to Central and South America (Argentina, Cuba), and to a lesser extent, Algeria and other European countries (Germany, Switzerland, and France). By the end of 1973, 2 million Spaniards were living abroad. The global economic crisis caused a reduction in work opportunities in countries that had welcomed Spanish immigrants, leading many to return. Today, few Spaniards emigrate, mostly highly skilled workers seeking to improve their professional prospects, mainly within the EU. Immigration to Spain has increased extraordinarily in recent years. Immigrants come from Morocco, South America, Eastern Europe (jobseekers), and Western countries (retirees seeking the coastal climate).

4. Population Distribution

The population distribution is unequal. More than half of the population is concentrated in four autonomous communities: Andalusia, Catalonia, Madrid, and Valencia. Other communities, such as Aragon, Extremadura, and Castile and León, have low population densities. These differences are even larger on a global scale. Within provinces, the population is concentrated in cities, while the countryside is sparsely populated. Most immigrants live in the Mediterranean islands and Madrid.