Andalucia has seen a slight improvement in its fight against depopulation after 21 municipalities left the danger zone – but hundreds of towns remain at risk of fading away.
New figures from the Junta show the number of municipalities considered at risk has fallen from 480 to 470 over the past year.
A total of 21 towns have come off the list, while 11 new municipalities have entered it, and dozens more have seen their risk level change.
Where things are improving
The biggest progress has been recorded in Granada, where seven municipalities, including Capileira and Illora, are no longer considered at risk.
Huelva follows with four towns removed from the list, while Almeria (Alhabia, Pechina and Rioja) and Malaga (Ardales and Moclinejo) have also seen improvements.
Several municipalities in Sevilla, Cadiz, Cordoba and Jaen have also moved out of the danger zone.
New areas under pressure
However, the picture is far from positive across the board.
Eleven towns have newly entered the risk category, including Huecija and Tíjola (Almería), Trebujena (Cadiz), Santaella (Cordoba), and Totalan (Malaga), among others.
How risk is measured
The regional government classifies municipalities based on a range of demographic and economic indicators, including:
- Low population density
- Negative population growth
- Ageing population
- High unemployment
- Migration trends
Towns meeting seven or more of these criteria are considered high priority, while others fall into medium or low-risk categories.
The bigger picture
There are now 73 high-risk municipalities (down from 78), 221 medium-risk towns (unchanged) and 176 low-risk areas (down from 181).
Meanwhile, the number of municipalities not considered at risk has risen from 149 to 159.
Despite the overall improvement, the scale of the issue remains stark.
Granada and Almeria continue to have the highest number of high-risk areas, while provinces such as Sevilla and Cadiz currently have none in the most critical category.
A long-term challenge
Depopulation has become one of Andalucia’s most pressing structural challenges, particularly in rural and inland areas where ageing populations and lack of economic opportunities continue to drive people away.
While the latest data offers a modest sign of progress, the region still faces an uphill battle to reverse a trend decades in the making.
Below are the 21 municipalities that have come off Andalucia’s depopulation risk list in the latest update:
Granada (7)
- Capileira
- Deifontes
- Illora
- Jatar
- Purullena
- Zafarraya
- La Taha
Huelva (4)
- El Almendro
- Cortegana
- Fuenteheridos
- Los Marines
Almería (3)
- Alhabia
- Pechina
- Rioja
Malaga (2)
- Ardales
- Moclinejo
Sevilla (2)
- Fuentes de Andalucía
- El Saucejo
Cadiz (1)
- San Martín del Tesorillo
Cordoba (1)
- Pedro Abad
Jaen (1)
- Villatorres
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
