Regions in demographic decline
For the first time since statistics were first recorded in 1971, the number of inhabitants living in Spain had fallen over the course of 2012 until 2015, when the number of inhabitants began to rise again significantly, according to figures published by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), in January 2018, even reaching 84 in 2018 according to the same source. This negative figure (around minus 46,000 people) reflects both the negative balance of births and emigration. For the most part, this return of emigration to the country's life has been driven by the 25-44 age group, who mainly went to the UK, France and Germany, and are now gradually returning. This has also affected Galicia, which in 2012 posted a net outflow of around 1,000 people, a trend that has already been underway for a number of years and has already resulted in the "desertification" of some Galician countryside. What's more, the rural exodus of young people and precarious workers is increasing across the country, with many moving to the capital Madrid or to towns along the Spanish coast, particularly in the south. In isolated villages, particularly in the mountains, the population is becoming increasingly ageing. In the provinces of Salamanca, Zamora, Ourense and Lugo, over-75s already accounted for more than 30% of the population in 2018. In the coming years, mortality rates in these provinces are likely to rise sharply, with many localities losing a large part of their population. Some provinces are already on the verge of the third great depopulation, notably the municipalities between Soria and A Coruña. According to INE projections, the province of Zamora could lose up to 16% of its population by 2033, those of León and Ávila around 12% and Palencia around 10%. These north-western provinces could therefore see their total population shrink by more than 400,000 over the next 15 years. To curb this depopulation, a number of localities have put in place tempting offers to attract new residents, following the example of other foreign countries. Depending on the locality, future residents may be offered a job, a house and sometimes even a sum of money. In Ponga, Asturias, for example, a €3,000 subsidy is granted to couples moving in, while in Xesta, in the province of Pontevedra, the locality guarantees rents of €100 per month for new arrivals.
A long service life
Although the population in these northern regions of Spain is aging, the fact remains that Spain's life expectancy is one of the highest in Europe, with the population expected to reach 83.2 years of age in 2024. After the regions of Madrid and Navarre, according to the INE, Castilla y León has the third highest life expectancy at birth in the country, at 84.5 years. Although ranked 9th out of the 17 communities, Cantabria is slightly above the national average, with a longevity of 84.2 years in 2023. For women, this figure is 86.9 years, while for men it is lower, at 81.37 years. Although significantly below the national average, Galicia has nonetheless broken its life expectancy record, reaching 83.62 years in 2023. The city of Lugo has the longest life expectancy, with an average of 84.1 years, while Ferrol has the shortest, at around 81.1 years. Since the beginning of the 21st century, it is estimated that the inhabitants of Lugo, Vigo and Pontevedra have lived four years longer. Asturias, on the other hand, has one of the shortest life expectancies in Spain, at around 83.11 years. However, this is still higher than in France.
Languages, a regional identity
As in the rest of Spain, the official language is Spanish, also called Castilian. However, other local dialects have spread throughout the territory over the course of history, and today other languages are spoken in these regions, although only one has official status: Galician, like Basque and Catalan. This Romance language, which is quite similar to Portuguese and Asturian-Leonese, is spoken by more than 80% of Galicians, the majority of whom are bilingual. Although it has not enjoyed the same promotion as the Basque and Catalan languages, the trend is somewhat reversing. Because of the linguistic policy carried out in schools for several years. Thus, it is now taught in primary schools and is still used quite a bit in secondary schools as well as in the three Galician universities (Santiago, A Coruña and Vigo). As a result, its use is increasing among young people. A Royal Academy, Real academia gallega, has laid the foundations for its use and it is estimated that it is spoken by more than 4 million people worldwide, due to Galician emigration. Its status as a co-official language obliges Spain to translate certain documents into Galician, such as the draft treaty of the European Union, before submitting it to a referendum of its population. In the media, it is used by the Galician television and radio. In Asturias, the local dialect is Asturian, also called Bable. This Romance language is spoken by less than a million people and enjoys special protection through the agreement of the Statute of Autonomy of Asturias. Nevertheless, it is a little spoken language, with almost 90% of the population of Asturias speaking Spanish. Asturian has a few variants within the principality, includingEonaviego, which is spoken in the region between the rivers Eo and Navia. In 1981, an Academy of the Asturian language was created with the aim of studying, promoting and defending Asturian. Cantabrian, the native Romance dialect of Cantabria, has been recognized as a minority language by the European Union. It originated in the mountains and is spoken mainly in the valleys of Pas and Soba, in the east of the region, being a variant of Asturian-Leonese, close to Castilian.
