Birth rates continue to decline. Especially among the indigenous community, which is shrinking while the general population increases due to the arrival of foreigners seeking opportunities or the pleasant qualities of our country: good climate, affordable economy, and good travel connections. This situation is a consolidated trend.
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The case of Barcelona is a clear example. According to the latest data known this weekend, the Catalan capital has recorded a historic low in births. Despite this, the population comfortably exceeds 1.7 million inhabitants thanks to the arrival of foreigners who already make up 26.6% of the population, a record figure. In some districts, such as Ciutat Vella, they are the majority. One third have obtained Spanish nationality and can vote. The number of people born outside Barcelona exceeds that of native-born locals, and 182 nationalities coexist in the city.
Furthermore, the social configuration is changing. There are fewer children; in one third of households, only one person lives, and most of these are women. The population is aging. The segment over 65 years old is increasing while that under 40 is decreasing. The number of residents over 84 years old has tripled and now represents 18%. Finally, the educational level is high, also among newcomers. This new reality is reflected in the urban landscape. Bakeries are now called brunch spots, and shops change their appearance to accommodate imported specialties. Catalan is receding in favor of Spanish and English.
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All this will impact local politics. The first consequence is that the City Council resulting from next year’s elections will have two more councilors than now (from 41 to 43). But the most important thing is that the parties will have to attend to the interests and needs of this new citizenship. For this reason, a balance must be found between preserving the historical essence of a two-thousand-year-old city and preventing it from becoming a city without personality because its residents do not feel rooted. At the same time, the aging and increasingly numerous population requires services and a more appropriate urban configuration. The challenge is complicated and does not wait.
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