Spain's population to fall by 500,000 in next 10 years

The population of Spain could fall by over half a million in the next 10 years, according to a survey published by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) Friday. The Short Term Projection of the Population of Spain 2011-2021 report published by INE predicts that the population of Spain will fall to 45.6 million in 2021, if the current downward demographic trends continue. The survey predicts that the period 2011-2020 will see the birth of 4.4 million children, which is 4.7 percent less than the average for the first decade of the century. The year 2020 meanwhile will see 396,417 births, 18.1 percent less than in 2010. Alongside the falling birthrate, Spain is also predicted to experience a higher mortality rate as the result of an aging population. Between 2011-2020, 4.1 million Spaniards will pass away, 7.8 percent more than that between 2001 and 2010. The report also forecasts that from 2019 the number of deaths will exceed that of birth in Spain. Despite an increased number of deaths, the average life expectancy will rise to 80.9 in men and 86.3 years in women by 2020. Another key factor at play in terms of population trends is immigration. Immigration to Spain from abroad has been falling slowly but surely over the past two years as a result of the economic crisis. The year 2011 will see 450,000 immigrants enter the country, while 580,850 Spaniards will emigrate and this tendency is expected to continue over the next 10 years.