VOLUME OF SPANISH POPULATION
     (PER THOUSAND) AND AVERAGE
     ANNUAL GROWTH RATE (IN%)

     --------------------------------------------------------
     Year     Thousands of inhabitants   Annual Increase in %
     --------------------------------------------------------
     1970            33,713                        1.1
     1981            37,746                        1.1
     1986            38,586                        0.4
     1991            39,434                        0.2
     --------------------------------------------------------

The growth of the Spanish population has been low in the last few centuries, to the point that it has only slightly exceeded a 1% annual average during the decades 1920-30, 1930-40, 1960-70 and 1970-80. This growth, which at times was even negative, should be attributed, up to 1900, to a high mortality rate which was hardly offset by an equally high birth rate. To all this should be added a very negative emigration balance, which resulted in the great transatlantic migrations to Latin America.

Therefore the Spanish population which by the middle of the 16th century was approximately 7.5 million, took almost 300 years to double, but doubled again in only 100 years, and by 1960 has reached 30 million inhabitants. From the turn of the century, the rapid diminution of mortality rates followed, some years later, by a slower descent in the birth rate caused an accelerated rate of growth which, however, did not exceed and annual 1% owing again to the generally negative emigration balance, which since 1950's has been directed primarily towards Europe.