Economist Santiago Niño Becerra took to social media to voice his frustrations over Spain’s infrastructure challenges. Citing an article from El País, the professor highlighted that the country’s infrastructure was built to accommodate 40 million people, yet the current population stands at 50 million. On his personal X (formerly Twitter) account, he posed a pointed question: “Has no one in a position to act realized what has been happening?”
The article referenced by Niño Becerra noted that Spain’s “seams” are already strained due to rising immigration and a surge in tourism. It urged greater investment in key sectors to help the country adapt to the new reality. The economist expressed his dismay, concluding his post with: “Spain always the same. Late, bad, and never.”
Spain’s Population Reaches 49.6 Million
According to data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) from last April, the country now has 49.6 million inhabitants, with annual growth of about half a million. Tourism is another major factor: in 2025, 96.8 million visitors traveled to Spain. Experts cited in the El País article stress that Spain must accelerate its response to this demographic and tourist boom. Niño Becerra aligns with these views, calling for better foresight and effective management.
Immigration and Productivity
In another tweet, Niño Becerra reflected on using immigration to boost the economy: “In my opinion, before increasing immigration, it is essential to boost productivity. That is achieved by shifting the GDP structure toward higher-value activities and investment.”
