Demographic Oases in Shrinking Rural Areas: Exploring Trends in Galicia (Spain) and Northern Portugal
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 territorie...
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| Language: | English |
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Asociación Española de Geografía
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles |
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| Online Access: | http://www.bage.age-geografia.es/ojs/index.php/bage/article/view/3578 |
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| author | Alejandro Otero Varela Inês Gusman Carlos Alberto Patiño Romarís |
| author_facet | Alejandro Otero Varela Inês Gusman Carlos Alberto Patiño Romarís |
| author_sort | Alejandro Otero Varela |
| collection | DOAJ |
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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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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a815c9c3939d441bbc5283a1acabcd38 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0212-9426 2605-3322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Asociación Española de Geografía |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles |
| spelling | doaj-art-a815c9c3939d441bbc5283a1acabcd382025-02-11T20:38:46ZengAsociación Española de GeografíaBoletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles0212-94262605-33222025-02-0110310.21138/bage.3578Demographic Oases in Shrinking Rural Areas: Exploring Trends in Galicia (Spain) and Northern PortugalAlejandro Otero Varela0Inês Gusman1Carlos Alberto Patiño Romarís2Universidade de Santiago de CompostelaUniversidade de Santiago de CompostelaUniversidade de Vigo 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. http://www.bage.age-geografia.es/ojs/index.php/bage/article/view/3578Rural shrinkingUrban systemsterritorial inequalitiessmall towns |
| spellingShingle | Alejandro Otero Varela Inês Gusman Carlos Alberto Patiño Romarís Demographic Oases in Shrinking Rural Areas: Exploring Trends in Galicia (Spain) and Northern Portugal Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles Rural shrinking Urban systems territorial inequalities small towns |
| title | Demographic Oases in Shrinking Rural Areas: Exploring Trends in Galicia (Spain) and Northern Portugal |
| title_full | Demographic Oases in Shrinking Rural Areas: Exploring Trends in Galicia (Spain) and Northern Portugal |
| title_fullStr | Demographic Oases in Shrinking Rural Areas: Exploring Trends in Galicia (Spain) and Northern Portugal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Demographic Oases in Shrinking Rural Areas: Exploring Trends in Galicia (Spain) and Northern Portugal |
| title_short | Demographic Oases in Shrinking Rural Areas: Exploring Trends in Galicia (Spain) and Northern Portugal |
| title_sort | demographic oases in shrinking rural areas exploring trends in galicia spain and northern portugal |
| topic | Rural shrinking Urban systems territorial inequalities small towns |
| url | http://www.bage.age-geografia.es/ojs/index.php/bage/article/view/3578 |
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