malaga
The municipalities most affected by depopulation and low birthrates are in the Serranía de Ronda and the Axarquía
01.06.10 - 10:57 -
Cortes de la Frontera, one of the villages in decline
A group of nearly 30 inland villages in the province of Malaga could have their years numbered. Located in mountainous areas, mainly in the Serranía de Ronda and the Axarquía, they are literally in danger of extinction as the population gradually leaves or dies.
For statistical proof you only have to compare the natural growth figure (births minus deaths) and the real growth figure (arrivals minus departures from the population census). When these are negative the diagnosis is clear: depopulation.
This is what is happening in villages such as Algatocín, Alpandeire, Benaoján, Cortes de la Frontera or Faraján in the Serranía, or Alfarnate, Arenas, Colmenar or Totalán in the Axarquía. In the Guadalhorce and Sierra de las Nieves areas places such as Álora,_El Burgo and Carratraca are also suffering from negative population growth.
According to Carmen Carvajal, a lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Malaga, all these areas have a historical factor in common. “The mountainous regions suffered emigration throughout the 20th century because the local economies were the first to suffer. Due to their location these villages are not viable in a market economy”. Younger generations started to move out of rural areas. “When there are no young adults, there are no children, or schools, or doctors. It’s a vicious circle”, points out Carvajal.
“These places are only attractive for those who don’t have to work and don’t have children but are at an age when they still don’t have serious health problems”, argues the sociologist, José Fernando Troyano.
Neither are these municipalities attractive to the majority of foreign residents, explains Felisa Becerra of Analistas Económicas: “the foreign population also go where there is economic development”, she explains.
But will these villages really disappear? Experts don’t rule out this possibility. “It’s a very long process, but it could happen”, says Becerra. “If there is no boost to the economy the villages are gradually abandoned”, warns Carvajal. Troyano, however is more optimistic: “They could recover; it’s not impossible”.
Another 30 villages and towns in the same areas maintain their population figures for the time being thanks to the arrival of foreign residents, mainly pensioners, or the return of locals who once emigrated and have now retired. This however provides no promise of future generations, point out the experts.
Meanwhile the youngest populations can be found on the coast and in the larger inland towns.
The population growth in the city of Malaga has suffered a decrease due to fall in the arrival of foreigners now that the economic climate and job prospects are not so healthy. Before the exodus of local people to commuter towns in the metropolitan areas was made up for by the arrival of immigrants. Now those moving out of the city outnumber the new arrivals.
At risk of depopulation
Municipalities with negative natural and real growth figures:
Serranía de Ronda: Algatocín, Alpandeire, Atajate, Benaoján, Benarrabá, Cortes de la Frontera, Faraján, Genalguacil, Igualeja, Jubrique, Parauta.
Axarquía: Almáchar, Alfarnate, Arenas, Benamargosa, Benamocarra, Colmenar, Totalán.
Guadalhorce / Sierra de las Nieves: Álora, Valle de Abdalajís, Carratraca, El Burgo, Yunquera.
Guadalteba / North-east: Almargen, Villanueva de Algaidas.
