Regions in demographic decline
For the first time since the recording of statistics in 1971, the number of inhabitants residing in Spain had decreased during the year 2012 until 2015, from which year the number of inhabitants rises significantly, according to figures published by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), in January 2018. A negative figure (about minus 46,000 people) reflecting both the negative balance of births and emigration. For the most part, this return of emigration in the life of the country has been the 25-44 year olds who have gone mainly to the United Kingdom, France and Germany, and are gradually returning today. A fact that has also affected Galicia, which in 2012 showed a negative balance of about 1,000 people, a movement already begun in recent years that has already resulted in the "desertification" of some Galician countryside. In addition, the rural exodus of young people and precarious workers is increasing throughout the country, and many of them are moving to the capital Madrid or to the cities along the Spanish coast, especially in the south. In the isolated villages, especially in the mountains, the population is becoming more and more aged. For example, in the provinces of Salamanca, Zamora, Ourense and Lugo, people over 75 years of age already represented more than 30% of the inhabitants in 2018. In the next few years, the mortality rate in these provinces is likely to rise sharply, causing many localities to lose a large part of their population. Some provinces are already on the verge of the third great depopulation, especially 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 northwestern provinces could therefore see their total population shrink by more than 400,000 inhabitants in the next 15 years. In order to stop this depopulation, several localities have put in place attractive offers to attract new residents, following the example of other foreign countries. Depending on the community, future residents may be offered a job, a house and sometimes even a sum of money. For example, in Ponga, Asturias, a subsidy of €3,000 is given to couples who move there, or in Xesta, Pontevedra, the locality guarantees rents of €100 per month for newcomers.
A long service life
Although the population in these northern regions of Spain is aging, Spain's life expectancy is one of the highest in Europe, with a population longevity of 83.58 years in 2019. After the regions of Madrid and Navarre, according to the INE, Castilla y León records the third highest life expectancy at birth in the country, with 84.2 years. Although ranked 9th out of the 17 communities, Cantabria is slightly above the national average, with a longevity of 83.6 years in 2019. For women, it reaches 86.14 years, while for men it is lower, standing at 80.93 years. Significantly lower than the national average, Galicia has, however, broken its life expectancy record, amounting in 2019 to 83.51 years. In fact, the city of Lugo has the longest life, with an average longevity of 84.1 years and in Ferrol, where life is shorter, 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. As for Asturias, it is among the populations of Spain that live the least, around 82.83 years. However, it 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.
