Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Internal Migration Dynamics of the South Asian Population in Spain: A Gravity Model Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14422/mig.23336.009Keywords:
South Asian population, internal migration, socio-demographic factors, gravity model, SpainAbstract
The South Asian population is one of the fastest-growing immigrant communities in Spain. Since 2000, internal migration has led to their spread along the Mediterranean coast, forming new settlement clusters with diverse socio-economic and demographic characteristics. This study analyses the evolution of South Asian migration using data from Spain’s national population registers, 2021 Census and macroeconomic statistics. It focuses on two main aspects: evolution of the size and composition of the South Asian population in Spain, and the determinants of their internal migration from 1998 to 2023. Using the Gravity Model, the study evaluates how economic opportunities, social networks and migration costs influence relocation decisions. Results show that provinces such as Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia, offering better employment prospects and established migrant networks, serve as key internal migration hubs. However, physical distance and family reunification continues to act as a major deterrent to mobility within the country.
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