Recent Demographic Trends in Spanish Rural Areas: Poverty and Inequality with Gender Perspective (1999–2020)

Abstract

From the 1960s to the present day, Spanish rural areas have undergone a process of population reduction and a change in their demographic structure. This demographic change is not exclusive to Spanish rural areas, but also applies to the European context. The chapter aims to provide a response to a twofold study objective. The first is to check whether the demographic and inequality trend has been reversed in Spanish rural areas. The second is to carry out a diagnosis of the state of rural areas over the last 20 years, linked to the achievement of SDGs 5 and 10. In order to achieve these objectives, the methodology used was based on the collection of statistical data on the resident population through the INE. A statistical study has been carried out using SPSS software and the graphic representation has been worked on using ARGIS 10.6 software. Moreover, the territorial scale responds to the classification by Goerlich et al. in J Region Res 35:151–173 (2016). In short, the most relevant results include the statistical relationship between population loss, sex ratio, average income, and the type of territory where the population is located. Territorial differences lead to inequalities that must be avoided and SDGs 5 and 10, which are currently difficult to achieve, must be attained.KeywordsDepopulationGenderInequalitiesRuralSpanish