"Demographic Oases" in Shrinking Rural Areas: Exploring Trends in Galicia (Spain) and Northern Portugal
[EN] Despite their similar characteristics and shared challenges, Galicia and Northern Portugal are integrated into distinct national urban systems and have followed different territorial cohesion approaches. This study compares these regions to analyze their demographic dynamics and identify territ...
| Autores: | , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad de León |
| Repositorio: | BULERIA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de León |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:buleria.unileon.es:10612/27283 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://bage.age-geografia.es/ojs/index.php/bage/article/view/3578 https://hdl.handle.net/10612/27283 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Geografía Territorial inequalities Rural shrinking Urban systems Small towns Desigualdades territoriales Declive rural Sistemas urbanos Pequeñas ciudades 54 Geografía 5403 Geografía Humana 5403.02 Demogeografía |
| Sumario: | [EN] Despite their similar characteristics and shared challenges, Galicia and Northern Portugal are integrated into distinct national urban systems and have followed different territorial cohesion approaches. This study compares these regions to analyze their demographic dynamics and identify territories that exhibit resilience towards severe rural depopulation. Our findings reveal that both regions are intersected by the same Atlantic Urban Axis, where the highest population volumes and densities are concentrated. In contrast, the rural interior of the study area is experiencing strong and continuous demographic loss. However, upon examining demographic trends, alongside key socioeconomic indicators at a fine scale, we identify areas within predominantly rural regions that demonstrate resilience to decline. We termed them demographic oases. Our results indicate that the origins of these demographic oases are diverse —stemming from economic, administrative, and infrastructural factors— and, collectively, they play a crucial role in supporting their surrounding communities. Political approaches to territorial cohesion must acknowledge the significance of these oases, as their numbers are declining and they are essential for the sustainability of rural areas in both regions. |
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