The Geographical Study of Depopulation in Rural Areas of Spain: State of the Art (1980-2023)

Abstract

This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of scientific research on rural depopulation in Spain between 1980 and 2023, a phenomenon increasingly relevant in the context of the so-called “Empty Spain”. The objective is to identify trends, information gaps, and emerging approaches in the published literature to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the field and guide future research. To this end, 127 articles published in geography journals relevant to the national context were selected, applying a bibliometric approach that considered temporal evolution, geographical scope, authorship, citation counts, and the main topics addressed. The results reveal a significant increase in scientific production since the year 2000, with a predominance of studies conducted in autonomous communities such as Castilla y León and provinces such as Valencia. However, important shortcomings were identified, including the scarcity of comparative studies with European countries, the limited attention to the landscape impacts of rural abandonment, and the lack of interdisciplinary approaches. In conclusion, the article highlights the need to expand research towards sociocultural, environmental, and spatial planning dimensions to develop more comprehensive and effective strategies for addressing depopulation in Spain