Loal population increases

CALPE has obtained 829 new inhabitants, according to the December figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). The number of residents on the 'padrón' municipal registry rose to 21,633, possibly due to an intense campaign in 2018 by the council to encourage people to register.

On January 1, 2016, the INE recorded a decrease on the padrón to the figure of 19,591 inhabitants. The immediate consequence of this decrease was the loss of €2.7 million of subsidies from the Spanish government. This came as a blow, as the town hall actually believe there were around 40,000 residents in Calpe at the time, but they could not prove it.

The conclusion reached at that time was that the main cause of the decline of the register were legal modifications, meaning European citizens must renew their padrón registration every 5 years if they are residents, or every two years if they are non-resident or nonEU citizens.

This prompted Hilde Backaert from the department of padróns to launch several campaigns to prompt residents to register. One of the problems encountered by the department was confusion from residents, whom in many cases were convinced that they were already registered. Advertisements were made in the media, explanatory brochures were sent and unregistered homes were visited.

The efforts were rewarded when in December of 2017 the magic subsidy figure of 20,000 inhabitants was exceeded, reaching 20,804 inhabitants. However, the council’s actions continued and Calpe continued to increase its population reaching the new figure in 2018 of 21,633 inhabitants.

“These are the results of a great effort of the whole team and of the citizens who have registered, I would like to thank the collaboration of those who have responded to the call of the council and have not hesitated to come to renew their registration” said a gratified Backaert.