Spanish Migration Patterns and Demographic Impacts

Internal Migrations and Historical Trends

Migrations are the movements of the population in space. This includes emigration (the output) and immigration (the arrival).

Traditional Internal Migrations

• Seasonal or Temporary: Seasonal movements were directed toward other rural areas for agricultural purposes, while temporary movements occurred during specific times of the year for work.
• Rural Depopulation: Population was attracted from the north to other areas, looking for work, higher income, better standards of health, and cultural or leisure opportunities.

Historical Stages of Migration

• Early 20th Century: There was an excess of labor in the fields due to mechanization.
• Civil War and Francoism: This period saw stagnation and the promotion of the rural population remaining in the countryside.
• 1950–1975: This era saw increased growth of the rural exodus, population growth, and an agricultural crisis.
• Post-1975: The rural exodus decayed following the major industrial crisis. Currently, migratory balances are concentrated along the Mediterranean coast.

Consequences of Internal Migration

• Demographically: It causes imbalances in the distribution of the population.
• Economic Level: It leads to an increase in population resources.
• Social Level: Problems of assimilation arise when moving from an immense rural community to an urban society.
• Environmental-Cultural: Ecosystems were left abandoned and deteriorated.

Current Internal Migration Patterns

Migrants are currently coming from larger urban municipalities. Changes include:

• Migration between communities has slowed down.
• Migration within the same province or community has intensified.

Causes: These are mainly residential, industrial, or interurban. Work remains a primary factor. Rural return involves returning to rural municipalities. There are also movements of the population for work or leisure.

Consequences of Current Trends

• They increase and cause over-aging.
• Demographic imbalances.
• Circulation problems in the approaches to major cities.

External Migrations and Transoceanic Movements

These are movements outside of the country.

Transoceanic Migration

This was directed toward Latin America and the USA. The stages included:

• The Boom: This spanned from the late 19th century to WWI. Most emigration was Atlantic-based, originating in Spain and destined for Cuba and Brazil. The profile was typically male and dedicated to agriculture.
• Decline: Emigration fell due to insecurity during WWI, the economic crisis of 1929, the Civil War, and the post-war period.
• 1945–1960: Migration levels recovered.
• Post-1960: Emigration decreased due to competition within Europe.

Consequences of External Migration

• Positive: Strong natural growth was eased and unemployment was reduced.
• Negative: Many savings were not invested in productive assets and did not favor social development.
• Departure Areas: People were uprooted, affecting their conditions of life.

Current Immigration and Its Consequences

Causes and Profiles

• Retired Community Immigrants: They appreciate the good climatic conditions of the coast.
• Non-EU Immigrants: They move for economic motives, lack of resources, work, or political reasons.

Demographic and Economic Consequences

• Demographic: They provide a younger demographic structure.
• Economic: Some believe immigrants are competitors in the labor market. However, the aging Spanish population will translate into a future decrease in the working population, which immigration helps to mitigate.