More deaths than births in the Marina Alta
THE FACT that the Marina Alta is a preferred place to settle for retirees whilst the younger generation seek new horizons has been reflected by the number of deaths surpassing the number of births in 2018, the last year of which there are complete figures.
In the region as a whole, deaths (1750) exceeded births by 584 (1,166). Even more graphic is the conclusion that 32 of the 33 towns listed had the same status, whether they were coastal or interior. The only large exceptions took place in Ondara and Dénia, where births outnumbered deaths by eight and nine respectively.
In all other towns, throughout the past two decades, more people have died than were born.
The regressive balance was more prominent in Jávea (-97), a town which hosts a large number of foreign residents of advanced age. The same circumstances, although somewhat more reduced are located in Calpe (-60), Benissa (-50) and Teulada-Moraira (-49).
Inland, the contrasts stand out. The positive balance of Ondara has already been mentioned, but on the other hand, nearby towns show a different balance, especially Pedreguer (-31) and Pego (-31).
A significant number of deaths occurred proportionally for smaller towns. These were the cases in Orba (-20), Vall de Laguar (-26), Alcalalí (-10), Benimeli (-14), Benidoleig (-14) and Castell de Castells (-12).
The negative figures are possibly because the recession which began in 2008 caused many middle-aged families to leave the Marina Alta, hence the aging population.