Relevance, exceptionality, and depopulation risk classification for rural areas in Andalusia. The next on the list

Abstract

Rural depopulation is one of the most urgent challenges. In Andalusia, the demographic dynamics present particularities that require a differentiated analysis. There are still lively rural areas, due to an adequate system of settlements and the impact of previous and current policies. However, the current presence of few quality employment opportunities in rural areas, which causes high emigration and progressive ageing, inexorably leads to many of them being next on the list, including mountain areas, high plateaus, olive-growing countryside and even regional capitals, significantly compromising rural sustainability. Along these lines, this work exposes the relevance of the phenomenon in the region and its exceptional nature. It proposes a municipal classification, identifying the affected areas and those that could face this phenomenon in the short-medium term. To this end, through a multivariate approach that integrates physical, population, economic and telecommunications variables, we seek to demonstrate the magnitude of the problem and its possible expansion, highlighting the need for specific measures that promote development and stop population loss.