8. Spain's demographic problems WORK WITH THE IMAGES Explain the evolution of the rate of natural increase and the net migration rate in Spain. Where does most of Spain's foreign population come from? Discuss the expected evolution of the demographic structure. Which regions of Spain are experiencing the greatest depopulation? A negative rate of natural increase At the beginning of 2021, Spain had a population of 47.3 million. 88.6 % (41.9 million) were Spaniards, and 11.4 % (5.4 million) were foreigners. Demographic growth is weak because the rate of natural increase is negative. (21) In the last decade births have fallen by more than 30 %. The birth rate in 2020 was ver y low (7.2 ‰). This rate is due to: The number of women of childbearing age is decreasing. Women are starting a family later (at 32.3 years old in 2020). The low fertility rate (1.18 births per woman) is the lowest figure since the year 2000. This rate prevents generational replacement. The death rate (10.4 ‰) is higher than the birth rate. This causes a negative rate of natural increase: -153,167 people in 2020, the most negative rate since records began in 1941. This is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased deaths by 17.7 % compared to 2019. (21) Only the Región de Murcia , Illes Balears, Melilla and Ceuta recorded a positive rate of natural increase. In the next few years, births are expected to continue to decline, while deaths are expected to rise due to the increase in the elderly population . As a result, the rate of natural increase will continue to be negative. The population is growing due to immigration Spain has traditionally been a countr y of emigrants. However, since the end of the 20th centur y, it has been a recipient of immigrants, who are attracted by Spain's economic growth and rising standard of living. (22) Between 2010 and 2016, as a result of the economic crisis, immigration slowed and many immigrants returned to their countries of origin . In that period , the foreign population fell by over 1 million . The number of Spaniards emigrating in search of work (mainly young skilled people) also increased. As a result, the net migration rate was negative. However, since 2017 the net migration rate has remained positive (+216,244 people in 2020). Immigration has reduced the effects of the stationar y Spanish-born population figure (around 42 million for several years). The average age of the foreign population is lower, and their birth rate is more than double that of the Spanish population (14.2 ‰ compared with 6.3 ‰ in 2020). Almost one in four childbirths in 2020 were to foreign women . However, the fertility rate is also falling among foreign women , and the age at which they have their first child is rising. 21. Evolution of the rate of natural increase and the net migration rate in Spain 22. Origins of the foreign population living in Spain - 6 - 4 - 2 0 2 4 6 8 10 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 I n ‰ SOURC E : I NE , 2 0 2 1 . Ne t m i g ra t i o n ra t e Na t u ra l i n c r e a s e 959143_02_p070_h01_evol_saldo_veget_saldo_migra 959143_02_p70_h02_llegada_inmigrantes United Kingdom Romania Italy France Algeria Colombia Senegal Morocco Germany Venezuela Argentina Peru Honduras Ecuador USA Brazil Nicaragua Pakistan China Oceania 1,135 Asia 36,487 Africa 66,687 America 237,958 Europe 149,271 SOURCE: INE, 2021. Other Other Other Other Number of people 44
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