|
In the middle of the 1980's, the phenomenon of Dominican migration
to Spain began, characterized by an abundantly female population and a string
link with domestic service. Barcelona and Madrid contained the largest settlements
of Dominicans.
The largest influx of Dominicans to Spain was recorded between 1988 and
1993 - a pattern facilitated by the fact that Dominicans were not required
to obtain a visa to enter Spanish territory during this time. While in 1990
Spanish immigration authorities reported a population of 2,374 Dominicans
in Spain, by 1995 that figure had grown to 14,470. By 2002, official numbers
had reached 32,412. In 2005, according to Spain's National Institute of
Statistics, there were more than 50,000 Dominicans resident in Spain.
|
Year
|
Dominicans in Spain
|
|
1990
|
2,374
|
|
1995
|
14,470
|
|
2002
|
32,412
|
|
2005
|
54,040
|
Source: National Institute of Statistics, Spain
The majority of Dominican immigrants to Spain are from
the southwestern region of the DR. In 1994, 60% of Dominican immigrants
to Spain came from this region, leaving behind lands of extreme poverty
which has been a point of departure for more promising lands for decades.
The growing relations between the two countries coupled with Spain's
increased economic development, increased demand for labor in the services
sector, and lack of ability to satisfy this demand gave rise to the
Dominican migration to Spain.
Researcher Dr. Juan Romero Valiente of the University
of Huelva identifies four specific factors contributing to the migratory
phenomenon:
- The development in Spain of a demand for inexpensive, mannered,
and primarily female laborers to perform domestic service.
- Acute underdevelopment in the Southwestern region of the DR, which
registers the highest poverty rates in the entire country (Ramírez
y Duval 1994,9)
- Traditional lack of immigration from the Southwestern region to the
United States, Puerto Rico, or Venezuela. This notably reduces the ability
of these populations to generate migratory chains toward these countries,
which already house prominent Dominican populations from the regions
of Cibao (United States) and Este (Puerto Rico).
- The pioneering of immigrants from the Southwest into domestic service
in Spain, which would have favored the development of very active migratory
chains from specific areas of this region.
|
Dominican Migration to Spain
1990-2002 (%)
|
|
1990
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
2002
|
2000
|
2001
|
% Cambio
|
|
2,294
|
14,470
|
17,845
|
20,381
|
24,256
|
32,412
|
3.0
|
9.0
|
6.0
|
|
Source: Ministry of the Interior, Spain, Immigration Yearbook 1990 and
2002, Published in the National Human Development Report, Dominican
Republic UNDP, 2004
|
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