ABSTRACT
In the past thirty years Spanish society experienced considerable social changes. According to the last Spanish population census of 2001 there had been a population growth of 2 million, giving a total of 40.9 million persons. This increase in the population was achieved by integrating over 1.5 million immigrants into Spanish society. Indeed, most Spaniards live in the main urban centres or around them. Such a level of urbanisation was due to the migration from the small rural villages to the main urban centres from the 1950s. Today, many Spaniards living in the main urban centres such as Madrid and Barcelona are moving out to the outskirts. Spain is a highly urbanised country which naturally shapes the way of life of most of its citizens (El Paı´s, 27 July 2002:24-25).
