Well, the town isn’t, but the population is. Then again, with thousands of youngsters from all across Spain leaving the country in search of work, it is hardly surprising, is it.

According to the figures published by INE (National Statistics Institute) the present population of Guadix stands at 18,884, which is the second consecutive year of diminishing population.

On the 1st of January 2013, the figure was 18,920, meaning that 36 inhabitants have moved out. It’s official population in 2009 was 20,395.

However, the Town Hall of Guadix’s own figure disagree with the Institute’s ones. Mayor José Antonio González insists that “We are more, I’m very, very sure of it.”

In fact, the town lodged an appeal against the INE’s figures for last year, which is still in the pipelines – read: sitting at the bottom of somebody’s uninterested drawer.

The opposition leader blames the Mayor – however not? The General Secretary for the PSOE says that the last two mayors, both PP, have forgotten how to count. He says that his proposal to reverse the trend was completely ignored – read: sitting at the bottom of somebody’s uninterested drawer.

What neither politicians are saying is precisely what is really worrying them about the dwindling population; i.e., less funding from the Central Government and – gasp! – a drop in councillor seats to be shared out.

(News: Guadix, Altiplano, Granada, Andalucia)