Murcia today: more people, more jobs and a younger population than almost anywhere else in Spain

A major new study spanning 50 years reveals how dramatically the region has changed, though some challenges remain

If you have lived in Murcia for any length of time, you will have noticed it feels busier than it used to. More housing, more traffic, more people. It turns out your instincts are right, and a fascinating new study confirms just how much the region has changed over the past half century.

The report, compiled by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and the General Council of Economists of Spain, covers 50 years of change across every province in Spain. And by almost every measure, Murcia stands out as one of the country's real success stories.

Start with the population. Back in 1970, around 832,000 people lived here. Today that figure has grown by 82% to over 1.5 million, and it is still rising, with projections suggesting 1.6 million residents by 2026. That is not just growth, it is transformation.

What is perhaps more surprising is how young the region is. More than one in ten residents is under the age of 10, the second highest proportion in the whole of Spain. Only 16% are over 65, roughly half the rate in older provinces like Ourense or Zamora. Murcia is one of just four parts of Spain, alongside Madrid, Almería and the Balearic Islands, still recording more births than deaths each year. In an ageing country, that is genuinely remarkable.

All those young people need jobs, and the good news is that employment has kept pace. The number of people in work has more than doubled over 50 years, up 117%, with 711,500 people currently employed compared to just 303,000 in 1975. Average incomes have also risen sharply, from €8,699 a year in 2000 to €16,521 in 2023, though it is worth noting that Murcia still sits around 15% below the national average.

There are areas where the region has more work to do. Healthcare spending per head and education investment per pupil are both among the lowest in Spain, and the early school leaving rate of 18% is the third highest nationally. The report links this partly to the nature of the local economy, where sectors like tourism and construction have historically drawn young people into work before they finish their studies.

But step back and look at the bigger picture, and Murcia is a region that has grown faster, stayed younger and created more opportunities than most. For anyone who calls it home, that is a pretty good story.

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