Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Data and metadata are transmitted to Eurostat by the Member States in the framework of the Unified Demographic Data Collection which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 and Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and their implementing regulations.
The regional breakdown of the Member States in the regional demographic tables is done under the most recent NUTS classification. There are agreements between Eurostat and Candidate countries as well as between Eurostat and EFTA countries, for which statistical regions have been coded in a way that resembles NUTS.
For more information on the versions in force, please see: Eurostat NUTS.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Demography and population.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics transmitted to Eurostat
1.Usually Resident Population
2. Legal Residence Population
3. Registered Residence Population
4. Other
Population
X
X (registered population is the base to obtain the usual resident population)
Live births
X
X
Deaths
X
X
Immigrants
X
X (registered population is the base to obtain the usual resident population)
Emigrants
X
X (registered population is the base to obtain the usual resident population)
Acquisitions of citizenship
X
X
Loss of citizenship
Not applicable.
Legally induced abortions
X
X
Late foetal deaths
X
X
Infant deaths
X
X
Marriages
X
X
Divorces
X
X
3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
Population
‘Usually resident population’: All persons having their usual residence in a Member State at the reference time, understanding ‘usual residence’ as the place where a person normally spends the daily period of rest, regardless of temporary absences (for purposes of recreation, holidays, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage).
The following persons alone shall be considered to be usual residents of a specific geographical area:
those who have lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months before the reference time; or
those who arrived in their place of usual residence during the 12 months before the reference time with the intention of staying there for at least one year.
Where the circumstances described before cannot be established, ‘usual residence’ can be taken to mean the place of legal or registered residence.
Live births
'Live birth' is defined to be the complete expulsion or extraction from the mother of a baby, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, which, after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of the voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached. Each product of such a birth is considered live born.
Deaths
'Death' is “the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth has taken place (postnatal cessation of vital functions without capability of resuscitation).This definition therefore excludes foetal deaths”.
Immigrants
‘Immigrant’ means a person undertaking an immigration, understanding ‘immigration’ as the action by which a person establishes his or her usual residence in a territory, having previously been usually resident in another territory.
Emigrants
‘Emigrant’ means a person undertaking an emigration and ‘emigration’ means the action by which a person, having previously been usually resident in a territory, ceases to have his or her usual residence in that territory.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Includes all those who acquire citizenship of the reporting country, having previously been citizens of another country, or stateless.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Induced expulsion of the foetus during the first part of a pregnancy, permitted by the law for health or other reasons.
Late foetal deaths
This is death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of viable conception. This viability is precisely what serves to differentiate between late foetal deaths and abortions. Currently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified the viability of the foetus with those born dead that weigh at least 500 grams, and should this data not be available, with a gestational age of at least 22 weeks.
Infant deaths
Deaths of children under one year of age.
Marriages
Stable union between two persons, resulting from an agreement between the wishes of both of them, outwardly manifested via the legally established formalities.
Divorces
Legal dissolution of the marital relationship implying the loss of obligations and rights generated between the spouses at the time of entering into marriage.
3.4.3 Differences in statistical concepts and definitions between the statistics transmitted to Eurostat and those disseminated in the National Statistics Institute's website
Population
No differences.
Our Population Register, Padrón, includes all people who are considered to be usually resident in Spain, since everyone who is usually resident has the right to be registered (even those without a legal residence permit, homeless people, etc.), but they are not obliged to be, nor are they automatically registered, except in some cases. However, there are many advantages to registering, because it gives certain rights and is even obligatory to be able to exercise some rights, such as health, education, etc., so the whole population tends to be registered. People who register do so when they consider that they usually reside in Spain, since the Spanish law establishes that "everybody who resides in Spain is obliged to register in the Municipal Register in which they habitually reside. Anyone who lives in several municipalities has to be registered only in the place where he/she spends more time during the year".
In this sense, the population register meets the definition of usual residence because, for those who have registered in the last 12 months, they have done so because they consider that this is and will be their usual residence.
But our population is not obtained by simply counting the population that is in the register: the population register is the skeleton for our population estimation, on which a statistical treatment is carried out to better adjust it, mainly based on the life-signs method.
Therefore, we do not use the "default definition" (place of legal or registered residence), but the definition of usual residence.
Live births
No differences.
In National Statistics we consider all births occurred in national territory, but only children born from resident mothers are considered in the data sent to Eurostat. Anyway, we publish both, and we can distinguish them.
Deaths
No differences.
All the people who die within Spain are registered as deceased. The declaration of death are obtained from the Civil Register and every person that is registered in the Civil Register as “resident” is considered as “Usual resident” deaths.
We do the same distinction as in live births: we publish all the deaths occurred in Spain, but we know the place of usual residence, so only those residing in Spain are sent to Eurostat.
Immigrants
No differences.
Emigrants
No differences.
Acquisitions of citizenship
No differences.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
No differences.
Legally induced abortions of the resident women are considered. Resident women are considered as “Usual resident”.
These abortions are obtained through the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, in collaboration with the Autonomous Communities.
Late foetal deaths
Late foetal deaths from resident mothers are considered.
The resident mothers are obtained from the Civil Register.
Infant deaths
No differences. The same as Deaths in general.
All the children under one year of life who die within Spain are registered as infant death. The declaration of death are obtained from the Civil Register and registered deaths are considered as “Usual resident” deaths.
Marriages
No differences.
All the marriages in Spain are registered in the Civil Register. Resident marriages are considered as “Usual resident” and are obtained from the Civil Register.
Divorces
No differences.
All the divorce judgments and decrees issued by the competent Spanish courts in the matter (Courts of First Instance, Courts of First Instance and Instruction and Courts of Violence against Women) are considered just as issued by notary’s offices (according to new legal regulations about divorce from 2015).
3.5. Statistical unit
Person.
3.6. Statistical population
Statistical population
Population
Everybody who has its usual residence in Spain during the reference year.
Live births
Mothers who have its usual residence in Spain during the reference year.
Deaths
Deaths in Spain of people who have their usual residence in Spain during the reference year.
Immigrants
People that establish their usual residence during the reference year in Spain.
Emigrants
People that having previously been regular residents in Spain cease to have usual residence therein during the reference year.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Acquisitions of citizenship for people having its usual residence in Spain and having previously been citizens of another country, or stateless.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
Mothers who have its usual residence in Spain during the reference year.
Infant deaths
Deaths in Spain of children under one year of life during the reference year who have their usual residence in Spain.
Marriages
Marriages that have its usual residence in Spain.
Divorces
Sentences and decrees on divorces that take place during the reference year, just as notary deeds.
3.7. Reference area
Data are available at national level with some geographical detail.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Population data are available from 1971 and, before that, decennial Census since 1857 can be found in the documentary collection of Censuses.
Births, deaths, infant deaths, late foetal deaths and marriages are obtained from the statistics of Natural Population Movement. Results are available from 1900.
Migration results are available from 2008 (until 2020 from Migration Statistics and since 2021from the Migration and Changes or Residence Statistics).
Divorces are obtained from the Statistics on Annulments, Separations and Divorces, that are carried out every year. Results are available from 1998.
The acquisitions of citizenship obtained from the Ministry of Justice. Results are available from 2001.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Data is collected at unit (person) level.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December). The reference period for vital and dual events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The compilation and dissemination of the data are governed by the Statistical Law No 12/1989 “Public Statistical Function” of 9 May 1989, and Law No 4/1990 of 29 June on “National Budget of State for the year 1990” amended by Law No. 13/1996 “Fiscal, administrative and social measures” of 30 December 1996, makes compulsory all statistics included in the National Statistics Plan. The National Statistical Plan is approved by Royal Decree, for a period or four years. It contains the statistics that must be developed in the 4 year period by the State General Administration’s services or any other entity dependent on it. All statistics included in the National Statistics Plan are statistics for state purposes and are obligatory.These statistical operations has governmental purposes, and it is included in the National Statistics Plan 2021-2024.
The exchanges of information needed to elaborate statistics between the INE and the rest of the State statistical offices (Ministerial Departments, independent bodies and administrative bodies depending on the State General Administration), or between these offices and the Autonomic statistical offices, are regulated in the LFEP (Law of the Public Statistic Function). This law also regulates the mechanisms of statistical coordination, and concludes cooperation agreements between the different offices when necessary.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The Statistical Law No 12/1989 specifies that the INE cannot publish, or make otherwise available, individual data or statistics that would enable the identification of data for any individual person or entity. Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
INE provides information on the protection of confidentiality at all stages of the statistical process: INE questionnaires for the operations in the national statistical plan include a legal clause protecting data under statistical confidentiality. Notices prior to data collection announcing a statistical operation notify respondents that data are subject to statistical confidentiality at all stages. For data processing, INE employees have available the INE data protection handbook, which specifies the steps that should be taken at each stage of processing to ensure reporting units' individual data are protected. The microdata files provided to users are anonymised.
No additional confidentiality measures have been adopted for those datasets where microdata are not provided. This is controlled by the breakdowns of the tables provided, which only go down to the NUTS3 level. Data on migrations are not provided at the individual country level if the number of observations does not exceed the threshold of 10,000 inhabitants in the Population Census.
8.1. Release calendar
The advance release calendar that shows the precise release dates for the coming year is disseminated in the last quarter of each year.
The data are released simultaneously according to the advance release calendar to all interested parties by issuing the press release. At the same time, the data are posted on the INE’s website almost immediately after the press release is issued.
Also some predefined tailor-made requests are sent to registered users. Some users could receive partial information under embargo as it is publicly described in The European Statistics Code of Practice.
The data are disseminated once a year as final results. Some of the data are previously disseminated as provisional.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The results of the statistical operations are normally disseminated by using press releases that can be accessed via both the corresponding menu and the Press Releases Section.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
You can access all information regarding these operations at:
INEbase is the system the INE uses to store statistical information on the Internet. It contains all the information the INE produces in electronic formats. The primary organisation of the information follows the theme-based classification of the Inventory of Statistical Operations of the State General Administration. The basic unit of INEbase is the statistical operation, defined as the set of activities that lead to obtaining statistical results on a determined sector or topic using data collected individually.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Micro-data of some operations are disseminated:
Population, since 2021;
Migrations, since 2021;
Vital events: births, deaths, late foetal deaths, infant deaths, marriages, since 1976;
Acquisitions of citizenship: since 2013.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
In addition to the information contained in the online publications and databases, the INE is able to provide data “to order” in accordance with users’ requirements by means of the “User Services” where specialist staff will advise on the viability of the requirements.
Quality assurance framework for the INE statistics is based on the the European Statistics Code of Practice, made by Eurostat (ESSCoP). The ESSCoP is made up of 15 principles, gathered in three areas: Institutional Environment, Processes and Products. Each principle is associated with some indicators that make possible to measure it. In order to evaluate quality, Eurostat provides different tools: the indicators mentioned above, Self-assessment based on the DESAP model, peer review, user satisfaction surveys and other proceedings for evaluation.
Vital events update the Population Register, which is the base for building the Population Census and the Migration and Change of Residence Statistics, as well as for verifying the usual residence of the people in other statistics, so there is coherence among them.
Quality assurance
Citizenship
For all the datasets the sources of information are the Civil Register, the Municipal Register and information on judgments supplied by the different judicial bodies with competence on the subject. All of them are administrative sources that uses the official definition of citizenship that coincides with the definition stated in the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007.
Country of birth
Live births: The country of residence of the mother at the time of the birth, but only for births occured in Spain. Births occured outside Spain are not included in the figures.
Population, migrations: the country of residence of the mother at the time of the birth.
Rest of statistical concepts (Deaths, Immigrants, Emigrants, Acquisitions of citizenship): Country in which the birth took place.
Country of birth of the mother
Country of Birth of the mother means the country where this birth took place. This definition is applied to the Spanish Vital Statistics and so it is applied in these datasets.
Country of previous usual residence
The country of previous usual residence means the country in which a person was resident immediately prior to immigration, regardless of the person’s citizenship or country of birth. It is mainly declared by the person in the Municipal Register. In cases of administrative registration it is unknown, so it is estimated through imputation techniques.
Country of next usual residence
The country next usual residence means the country in which a person becomes resident following an emigration, regardless of the person’s citizenship or country of birth. In most of the cases, an administrative deregistration is carried out, so it is unknown. In these cases, it is estimated through imputation techniques.
Deaths
Data on deaths are obtained from the Civil Register either for Vital Statistics or Population Figures and its definition comply with the one stated in the Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013.
Divorce
Data on divorces are obtained from judgments and decrees supplied by the different judicial bodies with competence on the subject, just as form notary’s offices. Divorce is considered as the marriage dissolution entailing loss of obligations and rights arising between the spouses at the time of entering into marriage. The legal standards regarding annulments, separations and divorces appear in the Spanish Civil Code as well as in the Spanish Civil Procedure Act.
Emigrants
From 2021, migrations are obtained in the Migration and Change of Residence Statistics, which is based on:
differences observed in two consecutive censuses (annual from 2021) to obtain the entries / exits in the population;
variations in the Population Registrer (Padrón) to obtain their migratory history, to determine which of them are immigrations, emigrations or internal migrations.
The main differences with the previous migrations statistics, now valid until 2020, are that the new one has migration flows significantly higher, although net migration is considered to be comparable
First-time marrying person
Data on marriages are obtained from the Civil Register and for “First-time-marrying person”. For each of the partners, it is registered the order number of the current marriage and this variable allows applying the described definition.
First-time registering partner
Not available.
Foetal death
Data on Foetal deaths are obtained from the Civil Register for Vital Statistics and its definition comply with the one described.
Foreign-born
For all the datasets the sources of information are the Civil Register and the Municipal Register and information. Both are administrative sources that include between their variables the “country of birth” and this variable allows establishing if the person was born outside of the country, regardless of the person’s citizenship.
Immigrants
The same as emigrants.
Infant death
Data on deaths are obtained from the Civil Register for Vital Statistics and this register includes deaths for live-born infants who have not yet completed one year of life. The described definition for Infant death is applied in Vital Statistics and so it is applied in all the requested datasets.
Late foetal death
Data on late foetal deaths are obtained of de Statistics Late Foetal Deaths. The Late Foetal Death is defined as death before complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of viable conception. The viability criterion currently applied in the Statistics of Late Foetal Deaths for Vital Statistics is: considered viable fetus weighing 500 grams or more. In the absence of data on weight, a fetus with 22 or more completed weeks of gestation is considered viable. Finally, in the absence of weight data and weeks gestation fetus, it is investigated whether it has been incorporated into the bundle of abortions of the Civil Registry for only if so, count it as late foetal death.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Level of development
Not available.
Live birth
Data on Births are obtained from the Civil Register for Vital Statistics. The described definition for life birth is applied in Vital Statistics and so it is applied in all the requested datasets.
Live birth order
Not available.
Marriage
The described definition for marriage is applied in Vital Statistics and so it is applied in all the requested datasets.
Native born
For all the datasets the sources of information are the Civil Register and the Municipal Register and information. Both are administrative sources that include between their variables the “country of birth” and this variable allows establishing if the person was born in the country, regardless of the person’s citizenship.
Person contracting legal union for first-time
Not available.
Regional
For all the datasets the sources of information are the Civil Register, the Municipal Register and information on judgments supplied by the different judicial bodies with competence on the subject. All of them are administrative sources that uses the official regional division and it coincides with the NUTS classification.
Registered partnership
Not available.
Registered partnership legally dissolved
Not available.
Separation
Not available.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
1.2.1. Quality assessment: Type of duration of stay used when counting a person as a migrant according to Art. 2(b) of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007
1. Actual duration of stay of at least 12 months
2. Intended duration of stay of at least 12 months
3. Actual and intended duration of stay of at least 12 months
4. Other. Please specify
Nationals
Immigrants
X
Emigrants
X
EEA citizens
Immigrants
X
Emigrants
X
Non EEA citizens
Immigrants
X
Emigrants
X
11.2.2. Quality assessment of the definition of acquisitions of citizenship according to Art. 3(d) of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007
1. Acquisitions of citizenship granted to persons having their usual residence in the territory of the Member State
2.Other. Please specify
Acquisitions of citizenship
X
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The first user is the statistic national system, particularly Ppopulation figures are used by INE as reference figures in all its statistics products (surveys, National Account, indicators, etc.).
Also, population figures are available for all those users who need to analyse the national demographic evolution or produce their own statistics. These figures are also used like official Spanish Population by the international organisations.
Besides, the Vital Statistics, the Migration and Change of Residence Statistics and the Statistic of the annulments, separations and divorces, are available for all those users who need to analyse the national demographic evolution or produce their own statistics.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The INE has carried out general user satisfaction surveys in 2007, 2010 and 2013, and it plans to continue doing so every three years. The purpose of these surveys is to find out what users think about the quality of the information of the INE statistics and the extent to which their needs of information are covered. In addition, additional surveys are carried out in order to acknowledge better other fields such as dissemination of the information, quality of some publications.
In the User Satisfaction Surveys conducted to date, it is possible to view the evaluation of the “Population” sector in which this statistical operation is centred, which can help direct us with regard to user opinions of it.
12.3. Completeness
Demographic information is available in each Autonomous Community, in each province and in every island, broken down according to basic demographic characteristics, such as sex, year of birth, age, nationality and country of birth, so the completeness is 100 %.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Overall accuracy and special cases (Inclusion/exclusion of asylum seekers and refugees, persons living on unauthorised or irregular basis, international students, persons who do not register/deregister,...)
Population
There is not a quantitative evaluation of the accuracy of the estimates.
Population is compiled in the Population Census, mainly based on the information provided by the administrative data of the Municipal Register and other administrative sources, and therefore, the accuracy of its results depends on the accuracy of the information sources used.
The Spanish Population Register, Padrón, includes all the people who are considered to be usually resident in Spain, since everyone who is usually resident has the right to be registered, even those without a legal residence permit, asylum seekers or refugees from Ukraine with temporary protection... There are many advantages to registering, because it gives certain rights and is even obligatory to be able to exercise some rights, such as health, education, etc., so the whole population tends to be registered.
In this sense, there are not hard-to-reach groups in the population, and we don’t need to estimate certain population groups in order to include/exclude them in the population count. All persons that are registered in the population register are susceptible to be counted in the population.
Regarding refugees from Ukraine:
They are allowed to register in the population register, so they are included in the population, provided they have registered. They are treated as any other foreigner.
As migration statistics are produced combining population censuses and the population register, they are included, provided they are included in these sources.
All vital events occurred in Spain are recorded, regardless the status of the person, so vital events from Ukrainian refugees are taken account.
Regarding people who do not deregister when they leave the country, there are mechanisms of registration expiry in the Population Register, just for foreigners, as Spaniards must register in the destination Consular Registration.
Live births
Delays in the delivery of the information from some Civil Registers and lack of information in some variables from the register bulletin. This produces a non-response rate of approximately 0.1 %.
This non-response is treated through information from the Ministry of Justice.
All the live births occurred in Spain are included in the statistics, including asylum seekers and refugees.
Deaths
Delays in the delivery of the information from some Civil Registers and lack of information in some variables from the register bulletin. This produces a non-response rate of approximately 0.1 %.
This non-response is treated through information from the Ministry of Justice.
All the deaths occurred in Spain are included in the statistics, including asylum seekers and refugees.
Immigrants
The main source of error comes from the lack of registration, in the Padrón, of emigrations abroad. This lack is made up for by the expiry processes for foreign nationals implemented by the Register in recent years, although they provide the information with a certain time lag.
As the Migration and Change of Residence Statistics is an operation based on administrative sources, there are no sampling errors. Non-sampling errors may come from both the sources and the processing of the information itself in this operation. Direct measurement of accuracy in this case is not considered possible.
In cases of administrative registration, where the country of previous residence is unknown, it is estimated through imputation techniques, based on the distribution of these countries in the well-filled cases according to country of birth, nationality, province, age group and sex of the migratory movement.
Emigrants
The main source of error comes from the lack of registration, in the Padrón, of emigrations abroad. This lack is made up for by the expiry processes for foreign nationals implemented by the Register in recent years, although they provide the information with a certain time lag.
As the Migration and Change of Residence Statistics is an operation based on administrative sources, there are no sampling errors. Non-sampling errors may come from both the sources and the processing of the information itself in this operation. Direct measurement of accuracy in this case is not considered possible.
In cases of administrative deregistration, where the country of next residence is unknown, it is estimated through imputation techniques, based on the distribution of these countries in the well-filled cases according to country of birth, nationality, province, age group and sex of the migratory movement.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Errors from the register that are treated through control and cleaning procedures.
Errors from lack of completeness in variables that are treated through imputation procedures.
Lack of information from lag in registers are treated though estimation procedures based in the observed behaviour of the registers of previous periods.
Asylum seekers and refugees are included in International Migration and Demographic Statistics.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
Delays in the delivery of the information from some Civil Registers and lack of information in some variables from the register bulletin. This produces a non-response rate of approximately 0.1 %.
This non-response is treated through information from the Ministry of Justice.
Infant deaths
Delays in the delivery of the information from some Civil Registers and lack of information in some variables from the register bulletin. This produces a non-response rate of approximately 0.1 %.
This non-response is treated through information from the Ministry of Justice.
Marriages
Delays in the delivery of the information from some Civil Registers and lack of information in some variables from the register bulletin. This produces a non-response rate of approximately 0.1 %.
This non-response is treated through information from the Ministry of Justice.
Divorces
Delays in the delivery of the information from some courts and lack of information in some variables from the register bulletin produce some non-response that is treated through proxy information from the General Council of the Judiciary.
According to Article 4 (2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata (in the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Article 3 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Demographic information is delivered according to the established Statistics Calendar by INE.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Demographic data keep total inter-territorial and demographic consistency at all breakdown levels considered.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Comparability - over time
Population
Final population data are obtained from the population censuses, which were decennial until 2021, and the corresponding intercensal population estimates, from 1971. There are decennial Census since 1857, that can be found in the documentary collection of Censuses. Since 2022, the population censuses are annual.
Live births
Continuous series since 1975.
Previously the series did not include those live birth infants who died before the first 24 hours of existence.
Deaths
Continuous series since 1975.
Previously the series did not include those live birth infants who died before the first 24 hours of existence.
Immigrants
Migrations have been obtained from two statistics;
Migration Statistics, 2008-2020
Migration and Change of Residence Statistics, from 2021.This operation guarantees the coherence with the annual censuses, starting at the same time. A break in the series is produced in immigration an emigration, but net migration can be considered as comparable.
Emigrants
Migrations have been obtained from two statistics;
Migration Statistics, 2008-2020
Migration and Change of Residence Statistics, from 2021. This operation guarantees the coherence with the annual censuses, starting at the same time. A break in the series is produced in immigration an emigration, but net migration can be considered as comparable.
Acquisitions of citizenship
In 2013 there is a rupture in the series due to a change in the source of information and because the concept and the time reference are different:
Until 2012, the source was the database of the System for Management of Dossiers on Citizenship by residence, by the Ministry of Justice. Since 2013, the source is the Civil Register database.
Until 2012, data are based on the “Act of grant of the Spanish citizenship exclusively by reason of residence” and include those persons who have been granted access to Spanish citizenship during the reference year. Since 2013, data are based on the “Act of register of the Spanish citizenship in the Civil Register” and include those persons who have been eventually registered as Spanish citizens during the reference year.
Until 2012 only Acquisitions “by reason of residence” were included, since 2013 also acquisitions “by reason of decree of naturalization” and by “reason of option” are included.
Until 2012 the reference date for every acquisition was the “date of grant”, since 2013 the reference date is the “date of register”. The date of grant is always earlier to the date of register.
Apart from these methodological changes, in June 2012, the Spanish government launched an intensive plan in order to reduce the backlog of the processing and resolution of the citizenship dossiers. This plan caused a significant increase in the number of citizenship registrations in the 2013 Civil Register database.
The 2012 figures are affected by these changes and may be underestimated.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Continuous series since 2005.
Late foetal deaths
Continuous series since 1975.
Previously the series did not include those live birth infants who died before the first 24 hours of existence.
Infant deaths
Continuous series since 1975.
Previously the series did not include those live birth infants who died before the first 24 hours of existence.
Marriages
Continuous series since 2005.
Divorces
A temporary comparability of information for the period 1998-2012 can be made, being the number of elements comparable of this time series 15.
However, the data provided since 2013 (hereinafter referred to absolute values of each type of judgment) are not directly comparable with those obtained in the previous series because of the availability of new auxiliary sources of information on the judiciary, they have improved processes and elevation estimation of the results of this statistic, producing in 2013 a break in the series.
Since 2013, the number of elements comparable of this time series is 11.
Population data are used as reference figures for population in all the statistical products by INE (surveys, National Accounts and indicators) so all they are totally consistent.
The Vital and Migration and Change of Residence Statistics are used for to calculate demographic indicators so all they are totally consistent.
Differences between Residence Permits (RP) and Immigration (IM) flows could be explained by these situations:
People that put several permits of residence together (and the length of these permits individually is shorter than one year).
These people would count in IM data, but not in RP data.
People that stay in the country on an irregular situation.
These people would count in IM data, but not in RP data.
People with a residence permit but they have not entered in the country, like for example those with golden visas (very low impact in figures).
These people would count in RP data, but not in IM data.
People that have left the country, but they still benefit from a residence permit. It takes more time to delete these people from RP statistics than from IM statistics.
These people would count in RP data, but not in IM data.
The time gap between the two events (factual migration and issuance of the RP).
It is especially significant in the beginning and end of each year.
In the case of asylum seekers, they are authorized to stay temporarily in the country until their application for international protection is solved (which can take from 2 to 3 years, and must be renewed every 6 months). However, it is not issued a residence permit, they are only documented, although it is necessary that they are registered in the population register.
These people would count in IM data, but not in RP data.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Before the Census 2021, population figures were obtained as an output from previous population figures, Vital Statistics and Migration Statistics, so population was coherent with all of them, by construction.
Since 2021, census are annual, and are obtained directly from the Population Register, as a stock. However, Vital Events Statistics are obtained from the Civil Register and they only include events occurred in Spain. So the vital events are covered in the population, but may have this small inconsistency between different statistics. In addition, the different reference dates might produce a slight difference. In conclusion, there is not a complete coherence, but a very small incoherence.
In any case vital events are also recorded in the Population Register, in addition to the events occurred abroad, so they are all included in the population.
Territorial coherence is ensured in each of the operations.
Demographic data are produced on the base of registered information, so there is no burden on respondents.
The forecast costs by the Annual Program 2024 of the National Statistics Plan are:
4,638.12 thousands Euros for Vital Statistics;
307.17 thousands Euros for Migration and Changes of Residence Statistics;
1,368.04 thousands Euros for Population Census;
71.72 thousands Euros for Statistics on Annulments, Separations and Divorces;
5.79 thousands Euros for Statistics on Acquisition of Spanish Citizenship of Residents.
Population data are obtained from de Population Census, which is obtained from the Population Register ante other administrative sources.
Live births
Birth data are obtained from the Statistical Birth Bulletin, filled out by the parents, relatives or health staff so obligated by law to declare the childbirth and recorded in the Civil Register.
Deaths
Death data are obtained from Medical Death Certificate/Statistical Death Bulletin. This document is filled out by the doctor who certifies the death and registered in the Civil Register.
Immigrants
Migration and Change of Residence Statistics is obtained from the Population Censuses and the variations recorded in the Municipal Register database.
Emigrants
Migration and Change of Residence Statistics is obtained from the Population Censuses and the variations recorded in the Municipal Register database.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Since 2013 the Acquisitions of citizenship are obtained from the Civil Register. They were previously obtained from the Ministry of Justice.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
The abortions were obtained from records compiled by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the autonomous communities.
Late foetal deaths
Late foetal deaths data are obtained from the Statistical Birth Bulletin, filled out by the parents, relatives or health staff so obligated by law to declare the childbirth and recorded in the Civil Register.
Infant deaths
Infant deaths data are obtained from Medical Death Certificate/Statistical Death Bulletin.
This document is filled out by the doctor who certifies the infant death and registered in the Civil Register.
Marriages
Marriages data are obtained from the information recorded in the Civil Register and from the Statistical Marriages Bulletin (Civil Registries not computerized), filled out by the spouses who’s obligated by law to declare the marriage and recorded in the Civil Register.
Divorces
Divorces are obtained from the judgments and decrees provided by the various competent courts in the matter, just as from notary’s offices.
Surface in km2
Surface data are obtained from the Spanish National Geographic Institute.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Final data: annual.
Provisional and internal data for analysis: monthly.
18.3. Data collection
Migrations data are compiled through the statistical treatment of the Population Censuses and the variations recorded in the Municipal Register database.
Acquisitions of citizenship data are compiled through the statistical treatment of the variations recorded in the Municipal Register database.
Births, deaths and marriages are the ones recorded in the Civil Register.
The divorces data are compiled through the statistical treatment of the judgments and decrees issued by the competent Spanish courts in the matter (Courts of First Instance, Courts of First Instance and Instruction and Courts of Violence against Women), just as of the notary deeds from notary’s offices.
All these sources provide monthly data.
18.4. Data validation
First, a phase of control and completeness of information is carried out for each source of information. Secondly, an analysis about the coherence and evolution of each source of information is carried out separately. Finally, multiple analysis for integrated information is carried out in order to guarantee the total coherence between the different demographic events at all breakdown levels considered.
18.5. Data compilation
Population: compiled from the Population Register, linking data with other administrative registers to apply the estimation method of signs-of life and to obtain other variables.
Migration and Change of Residence Statistics: based on the Population Census and the migratory history observed and statistically treated from de Population Register. Some specific clean-ups have been made in the censuses, due to applying the method of signs of life. It may affect some specific ages.
The most significant imputation occurs in this statistic, for the variables country of previous / next residence, as there is a large amount of ex offitio registrations / deregistrations, in which their values are unknown. In these cases, they are estimated through imputation techniques, based on the distribution of these countries in the well-filled cases according to country of birth, nationality, province, age group and sex of the migratory movement.
Nevertheless, in our published microdata, there is a variable to distinguish which part is original and which part is imputed.
Rest of demographic phenomena (births, deaths,…): from the Civil Register and the Spanish courts, with a small statistical treatment.
18.6. Adjustment
Once the population and demographic events have been obtained through the above-mentioned statistical procedures, no further adjustment have been made.
In the case of the Spanish POPSTAT collection, the demographic balance equation is almost, but not fully, satisfied. There is a small statistical adjustment that has had to be taken into account.
Almost at the same time of delivering POPSTAT 2023, migrations hypercubes from POPSTAT 2021 and 2022 have also been delivered, as the country of previous / next residence has been imputed from the beginning of the series in 2023. Previously, these variables were not imputed but, as they have a large amount of unknown values, they have led to several misunderstandings among different bodies, so we have changed our mind. In addition, in our published microdata, there is a variable to distinguish which part is original and which part is imputed.
For more specification see standardized methodologies and methodological reports published on the website of INE that have been referenced in previous sections.
demo_gind_esms_es - Population change - Demographic balance and crude rates at national level
Data and metadata are transmitted to Eurostat by the Member States in the framework of the Unified Demographic Data Collection which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 and Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and their implementing regulations.
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics transmitted to Eurostat
1.Usually Resident Population
2. Legal Residence Population
3. Registered Residence Population
4. Other
Population
X
X (registered population is the base to obtain the usual resident population)
Live births
X
X
Deaths
X
X
Immigrants
X
X (registered population is the base to obtain the usual resident population)
Emigrants
X
X (registered population is the base to obtain the usual resident population)
Acquisitions of citizenship
X
X
Loss of citizenship
Not applicable.
Legally induced abortions
X
X
Late foetal deaths
X
X
Infant deaths
X
X
Marriages
X
X
Divorces
X
X
3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
Population
‘Usually resident population’: All persons having their usual residence in a Member State at the reference time, understanding ‘usual residence’ as the place where a person normally spends the daily period of rest, regardless of temporary absences (for purposes of recreation, holidays, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage).
The following persons alone shall be considered to be usual residents of a specific geographical area:
those who have lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months before the reference time; or
those who arrived in their place of usual residence during the 12 months before the reference time with the intention of staying there for at least one year.
Where the circumstances described before cannot be established, ‘usual residence’ can be taken to mean the place of legal or registered residence.
Live births
'Live birth' is defined to be the complete expulsion or extraction from the mother of a baby, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, which, after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of the voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached. Each product of such a birth is considered live born.
Deaths
'Death' is “the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live birth has taken place (postnatal cessation of vital functions without capability of resuscitation).This definition therefore excludes foetal deaths”.
Immigrants
‘Immigrant’ means a person undertaking an immigration, understanding ‘immigration’ as the action by which a person establishes his or her usual residence in a territory, having previously been usually resident in another territory.
Emigrants
‘Emigrant’ means a person undertaking an emigration and ‘emigration’ means the action by which a person, having previously been usually resident in a territory, ceases to have his or her usual residence in that territory.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Includes all those who acquire citizenship of the reporting country, having previously been citizens of another country, or stateless.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Induced expulsion of the foetus during the first part of a pregnancy, permitted by the law for health or other reasons.
Late foetal deaths
This is death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of viable conception. This viability is precisely what serves to differentiate between late foetal deaths and abortions. Currently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified the viability of the foetus with those born dead that weigh at least 500 grams, and should this data not be available, with a gestational age of at least 22 weeks.
Infant deaths
Deaths of children under one year of age.
Marriages
Stable union between two persons, resulting from an agreement between the wishes of both of them, outwardly manifested via the legally established formalities.
Divorces
Legal dissolution of the marital relationship implying the loss of obligations and rights generated between the spouses at the time of entering into marriage.
3.4.3 Differences in statistical concepts and definitions between the statistics transmitted to Eurostat and those disseminated in the National Statistics Institute's website
Population
No differences.
Our Population Register, Padrón, includes all people who are considered to be usually resident in Spain, since everyone who is usually resident has the right to be registered (even those without a legal residence permit, homeless people, etc.), but they are not obliged to be, nor are they automatically registered, except in some cases. However, there are many advantages to registering, because it gives certain rights and is even obligatory to be able to exercise some rights, such as health, education, etc., so the whole population tends to be registered. People who register do so when they consider that they usually reside in Spain, since the Spanish law establishes that "everybody who resides in Spain is obliged to register in the Municipal Register in which they habitually reside. Anyone who lives in several municipalities has to be registered only in the place where he/she spends more time during the year".
In this sense, the population register meets the definition of usual residence because, for those who have registered in the last 12 months, they have done so because they consider that this is and will be their usual residence.
But our population is not obtained by simply counting the population that is in the register: the population register is the skeleton for our population estimation, on which a statistical treatment is carried out to better adjust it, mainly based on the life-signs method.
Therefore, we do not use the "default definition" (place of legal or registered residence), but the definition of usual residence.
Live births
No differences.
In National Statistics we consider all births occurred in national territory, but only children born from resident mothers are considered in the data sent to Eurostat. Anyway, we publish both, and we can distinguish them.
Deaths
No differences.
All the people who die within Spain are registered as deceased. The declaration of death are obtained from the Civil Register and every person that is registered in the Civil Register as “resident” is considered as “Usual resident” deaths.
We do the same distinction as in live births: we publish all the deaths occurred in Spain, but we know the place of usual residence, so only those residing in Spain are sent to Eurostat.
Immigrants
No differences.
Emigrants
No differences.
Acquisitions of citizenship
No differences.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
No differences.
Legally induced abortions of the resident women are considered. Resident women are considered as “Usual resident”.
These abortions are obtained through the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, in collaboration with the Autonomous Communities.
Late foetal deaths
Late foetal deaths from resident mothers are considered.
The resident mothers are obtained from the Civil Register.
Infant deaths
No differences. The same as Deaths in general.
All the children under one year of life who die within Spain are registered as infant death. The declaration of death are obtained from the Civil Register and registered deaths are considered as “Usual resident” deaths.
Marriages
No differences.
All the marriages in Spain are registered in the Civil Register. Resident marriages are considered as “Usual resident” and are obtained from the Civil Register.
Divorces
No differences.
All the divorce judgments and decrees issued by the competent Spanish courts in the matter (Courts of First Instance, Courts of First Instance and Instruction and Courts of Violence against Women) are considered just as issued by notary’s offices (according to new legal regulations about divorce from 2015).
Person.
Statistical population
Population
Everybody who has its usual residence in Spain during the reference year.
Live births
Mothers who have its usual residence in Spain during the reference year.
Deaths
Deaths in Spain of people who have their usual residence in Spain during the reference year.
Immigrants
People that establish their usual residence during the reference year in Spain.
Emigrants
People that having previously been regular residents in Spain cease to have usual residence therein during the reference year.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Acquisitions of citizenship for people having its usual residence in Spain and having previously been citizens of another country, or stateless.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
Mothers who have its usual residence in Spain during the reference year.
Infant deaths
Deaths in Spain of children under one year of life during the reference year who have their usual residence in Spain.
Marriages
Marriages that have its usual residence in Spain.
Divorces
Sentences and decrees on divorces that take place during the reference year, just as notary deeds.
Data are available at national level with some geographical detail.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December). The reference period for vital and dual events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.
Overall accuracy and special cases (Inclusion/exclusion of asylum seekers and refugees, persons living on unauthorised or irregular basis, international students, persons who do not register/deregister,...)
Population
There is not a quantitative evaluation of the accuracy of the estimates.
Population is compiled in the Population Census, mainly based on the information provided by the administrative data of the Municipal Register and other administrative sources, and therefore, the accuracy of its results depends on the accuracy of the information sources used.
The Spanish Population Register, Padrón, includes all the people who are considered to be usually resident in Spain, since everyone who is usually resident has the right to be registered, even those without a legal residence permit, asylum seekers or refugees from Ukraine with temporary protection... There are many advantages to registering, because it gives certain rights and is even obligatory to be able to exercise some rights, such as health, education, etc., so the whole population tends to be registered.
In this sense, there are not hard-to-reach groups in the population, and we don’t need to estimate certain population groups in order to include/exclude them in the population count. All persons that are registered in the population register are susceptible to be counted in the population.
Regarding refugees from Ukraine:
They are allowed to register in the population register, so they are included in the population, provided they have registered. They are treated as any other foreigner.
As migration statistics are produced combining population censuses and the population register, they are included, provided they are included in these sources.
All vital events occurred in Spain are recorded, regardless the status of the person, so vital events from Ukrainian refugees are taken account.
Regarding people who do not deregister when they leave the country, there are mechanisms of registration expiry in the Population Register, just for foreigners, as Spaniards must register in the destination Consular Registration.
Live births
Delays in the delivery of the information from some Civil Registers and lack of information in some variables from the register bulletin. This produces a non-response rate of approximately 0.1 %.
This non-response is treated through information from the Ministry of Justice.
All the live births occurred in Spain are included in the statistics, including asylum seekers and refugees.
Deaths
Delays in the delivery of the information from some Civil Registers and lack of information in some variables from the register bulletin. This produces a non-response rate of approximately 0.1 %.
This non-response is treated through information from the Ministry of Justice.
All the deaths occurred in Spain are included in the statistics, including asylum seekers and refugees.
Immigrants
The main source of error comes from the lack of registration, in the Padrón, of emigrations abroad. This lack is made up for by the expiry processes for foreign nationals implemented by the Register in recent years, although they provide the information with a certain time lag.
As the Migration and Change of Residence Statistics is an operation based on administrative sources, there are no sampling errors. Non-sampling errors may come from both the sources and the processing of the information itself in this operation. Direct measurement of accuracy in this case is not considered possible.
In cases of administrative registration, where the country of previous residence is unknown, it is estimated through imputation techniques, based on the distribution of these countries in the well-filled cases according to country of birth, nationality, province, age group and sex of the migratory movement.
Emigrants
The main source of error comes from the lack of registration, in the Padrón, of emigrations abroad. This lack is made up for by the expiry processes for foreign nationals implemented by the Register in recent years, although they provide the information with a certain time lag.
As the Migration and Change of Residence Statistics is an operation based on administrative sources, there are no sampling errors. Non-sampling errors may come from both the sources and the processing of the information itself in this operation. Direct measurement of accuracy in this case is not considered possible.
In cases of administrative deregistration, where the country of next residence is unknown, it is estimated through imputation techniques, based on the distribution of these countries in the well-filled cases according to country of birth, nationality, province, age group and sex of the migratory movement.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Errors from the register that are treated through control and cleaning procedures.
Errors from lack of completeness in variables that are treated through imputation procedures.
Lack of information from lag in registers are treated though estimation procedures based in the observed behaviour of the registers of previous periods.
Asylum seekers and refugees are included in International Migration and Demographic Statistics.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Not available.
Late foetal deaths
Delays in the delivery of the information from some Civil Registers and lack of information in some variables from the register bulletin. This produces a non-response rate of approximately 0.1 %.
This non-response is treated through information from the Ministry of Justice.
Infant deaths
Delays in the delivery of the information from some Civil Registers and lack of information in some variables from the register bulletin. This produces a non-response rate of approximately 0.1 %.
This non-response is treated through information from the Ministry of Justice.
Marriages
Delays in the delivery of the information from some Civil Registers and lack of information in some variables from the register bulletin. This produces a non-response rate of approximately 0.1 %.
This non-response is treated through information from the Ministry of Justice.
Divorces
Delays in the delivery of the information from some courts and lack of information in some variables from the register bulletin produce some non-response that is treated through proxy information from the General Council of the Judiciary.
Data is collected at unit (person) level.
Population: compiled from the Population Register, linking data with other administrative registers to apply the estimation method of signs-of life and to obtain other variables.
Migration and Change of Residence Statistics: based on the Population Census and the migratory history observed and statistically treated from de Population Register. Some specific clean-ups have been made in the censuses, due to applying the method of signs of life. It may affect some specific ages.
The most significant imputation occurs in this statistic, for the variables country of previous / next residence, as there is a large amount of ex offitio registrations / deregistrations, in which their values are unknown. In these cases, they are estimated through imputation techniques, based on the distribution of these countries in the well-filled cases according to country of birth, nationality, province, age group and sex of the migratory movement.
Nevertheless, in our published microdata, there is a variable to distinguish which part is original and which part is imputed.
Rest of demographic phenomena (births, deaths,…): from the Civil Register and the Spanish courts, with a small statistical treatment.
List of data sources
Population
Population data are obtained from de Population Census, which is obtained from the Population Register ante other administrative sources.
Live births
Birth data are obtained from the Statistical Birth Bulletin, filled out by the parents, relatives or health staff so obligated by law to declare the childbirth and recorded in the Civil Register.
Deaths
Death data are obtained from Medical Death Certificate/Statistical Death Bulletin. This document is filled out by the doctor who certifies the death and registered in the Civil Register.
Immigrants
Migration and Change of Residence Statistics is obtained from the Population Censuses and the variations recorded in the Municipal Register database.
Emigrants
Migration and Change of Residence Statistics is obtained from the Population Censuses and the variations recorded in the Municipal Register database.
Acquisitions of citizenship
Since 2013 the Acquisitions of citizenship are obtained from the Civil Register. They were previously obtained from the Ministry of Justice.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
The abortions were obtained from records compiled by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the autonomous communities.
Late foetal deaths
Late foetal deaths data are obtained from the Statistical Birth Bulletin, filled out by the parents, relatives or health staff so obligated by law to declare the childbirth and recorded in the Civil Register.
Infant deaths
Infant deaths data are obtained from Medical Death Certificate/Statistical Death Bulletin.
This document is filled out by the doctor who certifies the infant death and registered in the Civil Register.
Marriages
Marriages data are obtained from the information recorded in the Civil Register and from the Statistical Marriages Bulletin (Civil Registries not computerized), filled out by the spouses who’s obligated by law to declare the marriage and recorded in the Civil Register.
Divorces
Divorces are obtained from the judgments and decrees provided by the various competent courts in the matter, just as from notary’s offices.
Surface in km2
Surface data are obtained from the Spanish National Geographic Institute.
The data are disseminated once a year as final results. Some of the data are previously disseminated as provisional.
According to Article 4 (2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata (in the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year. According to Article 3 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
Demographic data keep total inter-territorial and demographic consistency at all breakdown levels considered.
Comparability - over time
Population
Final population data are obtained from the population censuses, which were decennial until 2021, and the corresponding intercensal population estimates, from 1971. There are decennial Census since 1857, that can be found in the documentary collection of Censuses. Since 2022, the population censuses are annual.
Live births
Continuous series since 1975.
Previously the series did not include those live birth infants who died before the first 24 hours of existence.
Deaths
Continuous series since 1975.
Previously the series did not include those live birth infants who died before the first 24 hours of existence.
Immigrants
Migrations have been obtained from two statistics;
Migration Statistics, 2008-2020
Migration and Change of Residence Statistics, from 2021.This operation guarantees the coherence with the annual censuses, starting at the same time. A break in the series is produced in immigration an emigration, but net migration can be considered as comparable.
Emigrants
Migrations have been obtained from two statistics;
Migration Statistics, 2008-2020
Migration and Change of Residence Statistics, from 2021. This operation guarantees the coherence with the annual censuses, starting at the same time. A break in the series is produced in immigration an emigration, but net migration can be considered as comparable.
Acquisitions of citizenship
In 2013 there is a rupture in the series due to a change in the source of information and because the concept and the time reference are different:
Until 2012, the source was the database of the System for Management of Dossiers on Citizenship by residence, by the Ministry of Justice. Since 2013, the source is the Civil Register database.
Until 2012, data are based on the “Act of grant of the Spanish citizenship exclusively by reason of residence” and include those persons who have been granted access to Spanish citizenship during the reference year. Since 2013, data are based on the “Act of register of the Spanish citizenship in the Civil Register” and include those persons who have been eventually registered as Spanish citizens during the reference year.
Until 2012 only Acquisitions “by reason of residence” were included, since 2013 also acquisitions “by reason of decree of naturalization” and by “reason of option” are included.
Until 2012 the reference date for every acquisition was the “date of grant”, since 2013 the reference date is the “date of register”. The date of grant is always earlier to the date of register.
Apart from these methodological changes, in June 2012, the Spanish government launched an intensive plan in order to reduce the backlog of the processing and resolution of the citizenship dossiers. This plan caused a significant increase in the number of citizenship registrations in the 2013 Civil Register database.
The 2012 figures are affected by these changes and may be underestimated.
Loss of citizenship
Not available.
Legally induced abortions
Continuous series since 2005.
Late foetal deaths
Continuous series since 1975.
Previously the series did not include those live birth infants who died before the first 24 hours of existence.
Infant deaths
Continuous series since 1975.
Previously the series did not include those live birth infants who died before the first 24 hours of existence.
Marriages
Continuous series since 2005.
Divorces
A temporary comparability of information for the period 1998-2012 can be made, being the number of elements comparable of this time series 15.
However, the data provided since 2013 (hereinafter referred to absolute values of each type of judgment) are not directly comparable with those obtained in the previous series because of the availability of new auxiliary sources of information on the judiciary, they have improved processes and elevation estimation of the results of this statistic, producing in 2013 a break in the series.
Since 2013, the number of elements comparable of this time series is 11.
