Dinámicas poblacionales en la provincia de AlmeríaUna aproximación a la despoblación rural en la costa mediterránea

Resum

Rural depopulation has been the subject of growing scientific interest in recent years. In the case of Spain, since the mid-20th century there has been a growing duality. On the one hand, an increase in population in the capitals and coastal areas, and, on the other hand, a decline in the interior of the country. However, even in coastal areas that have apparently seen an increase in population, processes of rural depopulation can be identified, as is the case in the province of Almería. The main objective of this research is to study and explain the processes of rural depopulation in the province of Almería, which has experienced uneven growth in recent decades. This province is distinguished from others in southern Spain by its history of emigration and depopulation prior to the 1950s. In order to achieve the research objectives, a demographic study has been carried out starting on the mid-19th century, together with an analysis of variables used in previous research on depopulation since the end of the 20th century. The methodology employed includes exploratory-descriptive analyses, correlations, case studies of two municipalities, maps, parametric and non-parametric analyses, cluster analysis and linear regression analysis. The results show Almeria's historical dependence on international markets and their impact on demographic behavior. In addition, several variables are identified that show significant differences between Almeria municipalities that have gained or lost population in the period 1998-2019. It is concluded that, among other measures, improving interprovincial public transport could be a key action to reverse or diminish the processes of rural depopulation and the growing provincial demographic disparities