Spain's Migration History: From Emigration to Immigration Hub

Spain's Migration History: 20th Century Shifts

During the past two centuries, and especially since the end of the 19th century, Spain experienced a major migration process known as interior-exterior.

The Rural Exodus and Industrialization (Mid-20th Century)

This migration process is closely related to mid-twentieth-century industrialization, leading to the **rural exodus**—the displacement of the population from agricultural areas to industrial and urban centers.

Post-Franco Intensification and Tourism Zones

From the mid-twentieth century, this process intensified, coinciding with the developmental stage of the Franco regime, which targeted not only industrial areas but also emerging tourist zones.

From the mid-1970s, the process slowed down but continued at a lower level, still directed toward the areas mentioned above.

Modern Trends: Pendular Movements

In recent years, the phenomenon of **pendular movements** (daily commuting of the population from their place of origin to a different workplace) has increased.

Historical Emigration Patterns (Pre-1950s)

Mid-twentieth-century migration originated primarily in agricultural regions, tending toward major destinations like France, Argentina, and Uruguay, and to a lesser extent, Cuba.

The Impact of the Spanish Civil War and Exile

The Spanish Civil War created special circumstances, forcing the exile of thousands of people for political reasons. France was their principal place of welcome.

Shifting Destinations and the 1973 Crisis

From the late 1950s, there was a significant shift in emigration abroad, both in direction and volume. European countries became the primary destinations instead of Latin America. The volume itself rose to approximately 2 million.

The **1973 economic crisis** (Oil Crisis) forced the return of much of this emigration, although a portion remained abroad. Within that remaining group, a fixed population consists of the sons and daughters of those who settled there.

Spain as an Immigration Country (Post-1990s)

The most significant external migration shift has occurred in recent years, starting from the 1990s and especially over the last decade:

Demographic Impact and Dual Immigration Streams

• The investment in this process means that Spain has become a country of immigrants, a fact that resulted in a significant increase in population and a rebound in the birth rate.
• This immigration is twofold:
  • One part comes from Western countries, settling after retirement, primarily in the coastal areas of the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands.
  • Populations from various countries and continents have arrived in search of work, settling in capital cities and areas of intensive agriculture.