What is Empty Spain
The European Union defines a "demographic desert" as any territory with fewer than 8 inhabitants per km². On our map, those areas appear in deep red. Much of inland Spain — particularly the provinces of Soria, Teruel, Cuenca and Guadalajara — falls below this threshold.
The phenomenon is not new, but it has accelerated in recent decades: rural exodus to capital cities, an ageing population, closure of basic services. However, there are also counter-movements: "neo-rurals" seeking quality of life, remote work reducing dependence on cities, and regional repopulation policies.
How to read the map
Each municipality is colour-coded by density category: red for demographic deserts (<8 pop/km²), orange for at-risk areas (8–12.5), yellow for transition zones (12.5–50) and green for urban or dense areas (>50). Hover over any municipality to see its name, exact density and population.