Going to Spain, we most often think about what sights we will see, which beach we will go to and what new things we will learn about the country's culture. At the same time, few people think that the attractiveness of tourism in Spain directly depends on the indigenous population of the Iberian Peninsula. Let's get into the ethnic origin of the Spanish people.
Today, the population of Spain is about 40 million people. Over the past few centuries, its growth has been very low. Since the middle of the 16th century, when the population of Spain was approximately 7.5 million, it has doubled in 300 years. After that, over the next century, it doubled again. By the middle of the 20th century, the population was about 30 million people.
At times, population growth went into the red, which is associated with a large flow of emigrants in the early 1900s in connection with the discovery of the New World. In addition, at this time, the mortality rate parallels thebirth rate was declining.
Spain has the lowest population density in the European Union, with an average of 78 people per square kilometer. But, as in other countries, a large concentration of residents is concentrated in peripheral zones and cities, which is associated with economic and social inequality. Interestingly, the female population of Spain is larger than the male population.
Ethnic composition and origin of Spaniards
The population of Spain is quite diverse, which is associated with multiple invasions of its lands. Initially, the Iberian Peninsula was inhabited by the Iberians (from about the 3rd millennium BC). Starting from 7 Art. BC. the southeast and south coasts were built up by Greek colonies, but a century later they were forced out by the Carthaginians. In the same period, the northern and central regions of the peninsula were conquered by the Celts. The Second Punic War ended with the victory of the Romans, and they settled most of the territory. Their dominance in the Iberian Peninsula dragged on for more than 600 years. After that, the lands of modern Spain began to be populated by the Visigoths with their state centered in the city of Toledo. It existed until the invasion of the Moors from North Africa in 711. For almost 800 years, the Arabs held their power here. Among other things, for 1500 years Jews lived in Spain (300-500 thousand people).
Racial and ethnic differences did not prevent numerous mixed marriages. In this regard, most of the representatives of the second generation of Muslims becamepeople of mixed blood. When Christianity was officially adopted in Spain, Jews and Muslims experienced discrimination. So they had to adopt a new religion to avoid being expelled.
Speaking of appearance, among the Spaniards there are often people with Afro-Semitic and Arab features. This led to the popular expression "Africa begins in the Pyrenees." At the same time, many northern inhabitants of the country inherited fair skin, blue eyes and fair hair from the Celts and Visigoths. The southern regions are mostly inhabited by dark-eyed swarthy brunettes.
Today, the population of Spain consists of 75% Spaniards, the rest are Galicians, Basques and Catalans. 95% of the inhabitants are Catholics, the rest are Protestants (Muslims and Jews). This is a brief ethnological description of Spain.
