To coincide with the anniversary of the end of Franco’s rule in 1975, Sur has published some interesting demographic statistics were from the national institute of statistics (INE), which show how much Malaga province, and indeed the whole of Spain, have changed over the last 50 years.
- Malaga life expectancy – data from 2024 shows average life expectancy at birth reached 83.07 years. Compare this with half a century ago, when Malaga men had a life expectancy of 68.78 years, and Malaga women 75 years. Now men’s life expectancy exceeds 80 years and women’s 85 years.
- Malaga birth rate – in 1975, there were 20.6 births per thousand inhabitants, a figure that fell to a historic low of 6.57 in 2024. Malaga province sits roughly in the middle of the national ranking with Almeria tops with 8.59 and Ourense at the bottom with 4.15.
- Malaga average age – Longer life expectancy and a falling birth rate have led to an increase in the average. 50 years ago, the average age in the province was just over 31, whereas now it is 43.26, below the Spanish average of 44.37 years. The youngest people are in Almeria (41.16) and the oldest Zamora and Ourense (over 51).
- Malaga mortality rate (deaths per thousand people) – In 1975, there were 8.33 compared with 7.73 in 2024, which is not very different and probably a reflection of average age.
Spain, they say, “has steadily modernised and strengthened its democracy, becoming a reference point internationally and an example for emerging democracies in Latin America and Eastern Europe”.
It is a very interesting article and is supported with clear graphics. Read here.