Population boom

Betty Henderson able resource, guiding students in their educational choices and helping universities to refine their courses.

SPAIN’S population has soared to a historic peak, according to the latest report from the National Institute of Statistics on Tuesday, May 23.

The country’s resident population reached a staggering 48,196,693 on April 1, showing a remarkable increase of 136,916 people in the first quarter of 2023.

The surge is mainly attributed to immigration, which has offset Spain’s falling population. Foreigners in Spain rose by 149,530 to a total of 6.2 million, while 8.3 million are foreign­born. The disparity is due to naturalisation processes, while Spanish nationals decreased by 12,614.

Leading immigrant nationalities in the first quarter of 2023 were Colombians (44,300), Moroccans (23,200), and Venezuelans (21,500). Latin American immigration results from economic crises and Spain’s demand for workers in care and tourism.

Spain’s annual population growth is estimated at 590,184, the highest since 2008. The Community of Madrid, Valencia, and Catalonia experienced the highest relative increases.

Joaquín Recaño, a demography professor, explained that declining birth rates were due to fewer women of childbearing age and shifting family models as well as an ageing population.

BRITISH newspaper, The Times, has cast doubt on Spain’s bid to host the 2030 World Cup due to the recent racist incidents involving Vinicius Jr and prevalent racism in Spanish football.

In a headline that reads, ‘The Times Opinion on Racist Abuse of Football Players: Spain’s Shame’, the British newspaper highlights the issue of racism among Spanish fans in the opinion piece that was released on Tuesday, May 23.

Comparing the situation to British football, The Times applauds the firm response from the government and football authorities in addressing racism, positioning English football as a global model of diversity and inclusion.

Regarding Vinicius, the editorial criticises the