Valencia, or Valentia, Nowadays

by Félix García

Population and Demographics

The city of Valencia has a total population today of 764,010 residents and is the center of an extensive metropolitan area encompassing a million and a half people, or about 18% of the population of the Comunidad Valenciana, the region  composed of the provinces Valencia, Castellón, and Alicante.  In terms of population, Valencia is the third largest city in Spain after Madrid (2.9 million) and Barcelona (1.5 million).

During the twentieth century the city has multiplied its initial population by two or three, with the peak periods of growth seen  in 1930-1940 and during the 1970s.  The 1990s were years of demographic stability due to the effect of the decrease in migratory movements, which had been a fundamental factor for growth in previous years, and also due to lower birth rates. During the most recent years the strong outside migratory currents have once again been propelling a new dynamic increase in the population.

The progressive increase in life expectancy and the reduction in the birth rate have been reflected in a pyramid of ages that narrows at its base and widens at the top, with an increasing weight of the older generations. Even so, the population of the city continues to be relatively young, with 22% concentrated in the 15 to 29 year-old generation, and 30% in the 30 to 49 age group.

Business, Industry, and Cultural Institutions

The city of Valencia is, fundamentally, an area of services whose influence reaches out far beyond the limits of its municipal area. Today the active population working in the services sector is 76% of the total, with a large portion of these in the final demand activities, wholesale and retail, of specialized services for businesses and professional activities.  Even so, the city maintains an important industrial base, with 17% of the population working in the sector, which is made up of small and mid-size companies. Those which particularly stand out are the paper and graphic arts sectors, wood and furniture, metallic products and footwear and clothing.

The dynamism of the city as an financial and trade centre and as a place of reference for a multiplicity of activities is also reflected in the strength of key organizations spurring economic development such as the Valencia Trade Fair, the Autonomous Port, Stock Exchange, Palace of Congresses, and Universities.  There are two state universities, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia and Universidad de Valencia, along with private institutions including Universidad Cardenal Herrera, ESIC, La Florida, and Edetania.

Valencia also has a growing number of important cultural institutions which are playing a significant role in the development of the city.  The IVAM (Valencian Institute of Modern Art), the Palace of the Music (Palau de la Música) or the City of Arts and Science contribute unique cultural dimensions that help make Valencia a center of culture and leisure.

Politics and Municipal Elections

The Partido Popular (PP), or Popular Party, has been the ruling party of the city of Valencia since 1991, when current Mayor Rita Barbera came to power with the help of the regional Union Valencia party, turning the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) out of the Town Hall.  Since then, Barbera has been mayor of Valencia, with a record TNZ would like to have duplicated.  Winning in 1995, 1999 and 2003 with an absolute majority, she didn’t need to make alliances with other parties in order to take office.

Votes were distributed as follows:

Félix García is a journalist living in Valencia, Spain.