Population
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Due to its privileged location in
the Mediterranean, the Catalan territory is a place of confluence
and exchange of ideas, customs and people, which have helped
shape up Catalan culture and traditions. The Catalan society,
that in the very beginning of the 21st century is composed of
more than 7 millions inhabitants, has been built out of this
exchange, the result of a long history of migrations and commercial
transactions with other cultures and nations.
Catalans have an intense affiliative tradition which constitutes one of the axes of the civil society. There are associations for leisure, the defense of human and social rights, neighbours, parents of school children, gender and also of immigrant groups.
Various waves of immigration have come to Catalonia. In 1900, the population was about two million inhabitants and between the 50's and the 70's there were already more than five millions following the arrival of a large migratory contingent coming from different places in Spain (particularly Andalusia, Murcia and Extremadura).
The second migratory wave gained momentum at the beginning of the 90's and with the arrival of the new century, it is getting stronger. Thus, from 1992 to 2004, the population increased to more than 7 million inhabitants.
Approximately, 60% of the population in Catalonia lives in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The least populated areas are the regions of the Pyrenees. The birth rate was 11,1% and the death rate, 9,1%. On the other hand, the rate of natural increase (difference between births and deaths) is 2%. As to the age structure of the Catalan population, the largest group is the 20 to 50 age bracket; nevertheless, as is the case in most well-off societies, a population aging process is under way, as well as an increase in life expectancy, which is now 80 years (one of the highest in the world).
Catalans have an intense affiliative tradition which constitutes one of the axes of the civil society. There are associations for leisure, the defense of human and social rights, neighbours, parents of school children, gender and also of immigrant groups.
Various waves of immigration have come to Catalonia. In 1900, the population was about two million inhabitants and between the 50's and the 70's there were already more than five millions following the arrival of a large migratory contingent coming from different places in Spain (particularly Andalusia, Murcia and Extremadura).
The second migratory wave gained momentum at the beginning of the 90's and with the arrival of the new century, it is getting stronger. Thus, from 1992 to 2004, the population increased to more than 7 million inhabitants.
Approximately, 60% of the population in Catalonia lives in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The least populated areas are the regions of the Pyrenees. The birth rate was 11,1% and the death rate, 9,1%. On the other hand, the rate of natural increase (difference between births and deaths) is 2%. As to the age structure of the Catalan population, the largest group is the 20 to 50 age bracket; nevertheless, as is the case in most well-off societies, a population aging process is under way, as well as an increase in life expectancy, which is now 80 years (one of the highest in the world).