GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF THE PRESENT-DAY EXTERNAL MIGRATION OF POPULATION IN SPAIN

Abstract

The article deals with the integrated study of the present-day external migration of population in Spain. For a long time in its history it has been a country of emigration. Since the late XX century Spain attracted a large number of migrants, becoming a country of immigration. At present, however, there is a mass emigration from Spain due to 2008 economic crisis and the growth of unemployment. The main geographical areas of migrants’ inflow and outflow are considered at various territorial levels. Both inflows and outflows of foreign citizens come from the same countries. Recently the geography of migration to Spain is becoming narrower. Regional differences in migration processes are identified. Active migration occurs in several most developed autonomous communities along the coast of Spain, while the rest of the country doesn’t admit foreign citizens. Changes of the national composition of migrants and their distribution over the country are examined. After the expansion of the EU to the east, immigrants from Romania hold the leading position among those coming in Spain, and Moroccan citizens maintain traditionally high proportion. The percentage of other EU countries and Latin America is declining. Migration of the population in Spain is very dynamic and heterogeneous. The situation changes rapidly, depending on the internal and external factors. This leads to the fact that the state and society face very different aspects of the process.