Migrations in the reproduction of the catalan population, 1880-1980

Abstract

This article is based on the author's recent study: The reproduction of Catalan cohorts, 1856-1960», conceived in answer to the book by J. A. Vandellós, Catalunya, poble decadent. The main conclusions are that, in contradiction to Vandellós' assertions, the Catalan population would not have decreased in the absence of immigration and, on the contrary, the present population would be considerably higher than in 1900. Nevertheless, 60 % of the demographic growth during the last hundred years can be accounted for immigration which, alone, have sufficed to maintain population even if no births had occurred. The combination of both -biological reproduction and immigration- caused a very high population growth, allowing Catalonia to retain its share in World population between 1850 and 1980.