Empirical Evidence of Population Concentration in Spain, 1900-2001

This short paper examines the evolution of the population density in Spain during the 20th century. Using a homogeneous database of the population at a municipal level – elaborated from the eleven censuses carried out between 1900 and 2001– the paper looks at the general characteristics of population concentration from various perspectives. Focusing on population density, we present empirical evidence that supports the hypothesis that, over time, Spain’s population has undergone progressive concentration, a process that has not finished in the present days. Its main contribution is to offer quantitative support for phenomena which have already been well documented by specialists in more general terms.