Barcelona is experiencing a historic event: for the first time the population of dogs exceeds that of children in the city.
According to data provided by the Consell de Col-legis Veterinaris de Catalunya and the Statistical Institute of Catalonia, at the close of 2022, there were 172,971 dogs in the Catalan capital, while the number of children between 0 and 12 years old stood at 165,482.
This change represents a “sorpasso” in the city, since the previous year the figures were practically equal, with only a difference of one thousand more children than dogs (171,863 infants to 170,505 dogs). Now, dogs have gained ground and have become the majority.
This phenomenon has been marked by protests from dog activists during the last few legislatures due to restrictions imposed by municipalities.
In 2015, the proposal to close Turó Park for dogs by Mayor Xavier Trias sparked demonstrations and protests in the city.
Subsequently, Ada Colau’s government increased the recreational areas for dogs with the creation of Shared Use Zones (ZUC), reaching 945,005 square meters of spaces for dogs.
A historical fact: dogs are in the majority
At the national level, Barcelona follows a trend that is replicated throughout the country.
According to the National Association of Pet Food Manufacturers (Anfaac), there are more than 9.3 million registered dogs in Spain, while the number of children between 0 and 12 years of age is only 5.4 million, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE).
This phenomenon has been influenced by the low birth rate in Spain, aggravated by the economic crises the country has faced since 2008.
Difficulties such as the lack of emancipation of many young people and inflation have limited real household incomes, leading in many cases to a preference for dogs as companions instead of children.
Barcelona’s transformation into a city with more dogs than children reflects the evolution of social preferences and dynamics, as well as the challenges cities face in managing human-animal coexistence.
With this new reality, attention to the needs and rights of animals is becoming an increasingly relevant issue for public policies and society in general.
Low birth rate in Spain: a phenomenon conditioned by economic crises
Economic difficulties have led many young people to postpone or forgo starting families and postpone emancipation due to the scarcity of job opportunities and rising inflation.
The result of this situation is that more and more households have opted not to have children and instead have decided to have pets, especially dogs.
By the way… do you have a dog?
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