Demographic distribution, along with the aging of the population, is one of the biggest problems that Spain will face in the coming years. According to INE data, in 2022, 79.8% of the Spanish population lives in cities with more than 10,000 inhabitants, and 39.9% of the population lives in large cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants.

This trend towards population concentration leads to increased demand for employment, housing, healthcare, etc. due to high demand in the most populated areas. creates tension in the availability of resources. However, this balance is also unbalanced in the opposite direction. The decrease in population causes the provision of these services in rural areas to stop.

Demographic movement of evacuated Spain. Evacuated Spain accounts for 61.32% of the 8,131 municipalities registered in Spain with a population of less than 1,000. According to data from the Ministry of Land Policy and Public Functions, between 2011 and 2018, 87% of municipalities with a population of less than 1,000 lost population, 78% of those with a population of less than 5,000, and 70% of those with a population of up to 20,000. .

In contrast, 61.4% of cities with a population of up to 100,000 and 45.2% of large cities with a population of more than 100,000 gained population. In other words, the transfer of population to big cities is a reality, and due to the high housing prices there, this population displaced from rural areas is met by neighboring cities with less population.

Three million empty houses but in the villages. The urban housing market is at the limit of its capacity and tourist housing is backed into a corner. The problem is not that there is no housing, it is that most of the available housing is not in big cities. It is the same in the districts.

The electricity consumption survey allowed INE to analyze the location of vacant homes in the 2021 Population and Housing Census. This data reveals that 45% of vacant homes are located in towns with fewer than 10,000 people, where 20% of the population lives. of Spain.

Solution: Fixing the population to rural areas. Those under 35 are most affected by the tight housing market and the greater difficulty of finding work in big cities. The Government is therefore encouraging this population group to return to the town their parents or grandparents left in search of new work and life opportunities. Purpose: to repopulate towns.

To combat the depopulation of rural Spain, the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge has created subsidies totaling 20 million euros:

• 16.2 million euros will be allocated to local organizations to finance initiatives to revitalize socioeconomic activities in rural areas and combat population decline.
• 2.6 million euros to stimulate economic activity by promoting rural entrepreneurship for women and young entrepreneurs.
• €1.2 million in aid to non-profit organizations to promote business projects aimed at promoting the economic revitalization of regions with specific demographic challenges.

Living assistance in villages. Promoting economic and labor opportunities in rural areas is only one pillar of encouraging the return of the population to smaller municipalities. The other leg is housing.

The State Housing Plan 2022-2025 includes assistance for young people under 35 years of age who want to buy a house for customary use in a municipality with a population of less than 10,000 people. The amount of aid can reach 10,800 euros if this amount does not exceed the limit of 20% of the purchase price and the purchase price of the house does not exceed 120,000 euros.

Not just the State: Autonomies also act together. The demographic problem is not just a state-level problem. Autonomous regions such as Castilla y León, Asturias, Galicia or La Rioja are experiencing a serious population loss and therefore also offer additional assistance for the acquisition of permanent residence in their territory.

• Asturias: Tax assistance for the acquisition or rehabilitation of habitual residence in areas at risk of depopulation. Valid for people under 35, large families or single-parent families.
• Castilla y León: Relocation assistance from other communities of 1,000 euros for families without children, and 2,000 euros if they have children. They also offer people under 36 a tax deduction of 15% of personal income tax for the purchase of a primary home.
• La Rioja: The Revitalization Plan promoted by La Rioja is one of the most ambitious plans. This regulation extends the age range to 45 for those who establish their habitual residence in towns with a population of 5,000 or less and do not have another home or usufruct. The cost of purchasing, building or renovating the house cannot exceed 180 thousand euros, and the amount of aid varies inversely with the population size. From 40% of the purchase price in municipalities with a population of less than 500, to 20% in municipalities with a population of up to 5,000, not exceeding 40,000 euros and 20,000 euros respectively.

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Picture | Unsplash (Melissa Askew)