constitution of national enterprises like Ensidesa and Hunosa, but the 80s was the decade of a

dramatic industrial restructuring.

On 30 December 1981,[11] Asturias became an autonomous community within the

decentralised territorial structure established by the Constitution of 1978. Rafael Luis
Fernández Álvarez, who had previously served as the President of the Regional Council since
1978, became the first President of the Principality of Asturias, upon the adoption of
autonomy.[11] The Asturian regional government holds comprehensive competencies in
important areas such as health, education and protection of the environment. The current
president, elected in 2019, is Adrián Barbón (PSOE).

Administrative and territorial division

Asturias is organised territorially into 78 municipalities, further subdivided into parishes.

Asturias is also divided into eight comarcas, which are not administrative divisions. They are
only used as a system to homogenize the statistical data made by the Principality.

Municipalities of Asturias

See also: Municipalities of Asturias

Largest municipalities in Asturias

2020 census[12]

Rank Name Comarca Pop. Rank Name Comarca Pop.

Gijón

Gijón

Oviedo

Oviedo 1 Gijón Gijón 271,717 11 Llanera Oviedo 13,695 Avilés

Avilés

Siero

Siero

2 Oviedo Oviedo 219,910 12 Llanes Oriente 13,473

3 Avilés Avilés 77,791 13 Laviana Nalón 12,882

4 Siero Oviedo 51,509 14 Cangas del Narcea Narcea 12,124

5 Langreo Nalón 39,183 15 Valdés Eo-Navia 11,394

6 Mieres Caudal 37,537 16 Lena Caudal 10,701

7 Castrillón Avilés 22,273 17 Aller Caudal 10,413

8 San Martín del Rey Aurelio Nalón 15,817 18 Carreño Gijón 10,301

9 Corvera de Asturias Avilés 15,525 19 Gozón Avilés 10,282

10 Villaviciosa Gijón 14,470 20 Grado Oviedo 9,703

Parishes

Main article: Parroquia (Spain)

The parroquia or parish is the subdivision of the Asturian municipalities. Currently, there are
857 parishes integrating the 78 municipalities in the region, and they usually coincide with the
ecclesiastic divisions.

Geography and climate

Map of Asturias

Picu Urriellu in the Urrieles Massif

Torimbia beach, Llanes

Lakes of Covadonga in Picos de Europa

Llosa de Viango

The Cantabrian Mountains (Cordillera Cantábrica) form Asturias's natural border with the
province of León to the south. In the eastern range, the Picos de Europa National Park contains
the highest and arguably most spectacular mountains, rising to 2,648 metres (8,688 ft) at the
Torrecerredo peak. Other notable features of this predominantly limestone range are the
Parque Natural de Redes in the central east, the central Ubiñas south of Oviedo, and the
Parque Natural de Somiedo in the west. The Cantabrian mountains offer opportunities for
activities such as climbing, walking, skiing and caving, and extend some 200 kilometres (120
mi) in total, as far as Galicia province to the west of Asturias and Cantabria province to the
east. Similar opportunities are available for the interested traveler of Asturias in Caldoveiro
Peak.

The Asturian coastline is extensive, with hundreds of beaches, coves and natural sea caves.
Notable examples include the Playa del Silencio (Beach of Silence) near the fishing village of
Cudillero (west of Gijón), as well as the many beaches surrounding the summer resort of
Llanes, such as the Barro, Ballota and Torimbia (the latter a predominantly nudist beach). Most
of Asturias's beaches are sandy, clean, and bordered by steep cliffs, on top of which it is not
unusual to see grazing livestock.

The key features of Asturian geography are its rugged coastal cliffs and the mountainous
interior. The climate of Asturias is heavily marked by the Gulf Stream. Falling within the
Cantabrian belt known as Green Spain it has high precipitations all year round. Summers are
mild and, on the coast, winters also have relatively benign temperatures, rarely including frost.
The cold is especially felt in the mountains, where snow is present from October till May. Both
rain and snow are regular weather features of Asturian winters. In coastal or near-coastal
areas, daytime high temperatures generally average around 12 °C (54 °F) – 13 °C (55 °F) during
winter and 22 °C (72 °F) – 23 °C (73 °F) in summer.[13]

Climate data for Oviedo 336m (1981–2010)

Climate data for Gijón (1971–2000)

Climate data for Avilés—Asturias Airport (1981–2010)

Pollution and conservation

This part of Spain is one of the best conserved in the entire country, and full of vegetation and
wild spaces. It holds two of the most important natural parks in Spain, and is very renowned
for the Picos de Europa and Somiedo areas.

The Gijón area was marked and singled out as one of the pollution hotspots in Western Europe
in a 2015 report from the International Institute for Applied Science Systems, where
predictions for 2030 conditions were made.[17][18] Gijón was marked much higher than any
other Spanish metro area, in spite of the much larger populations in cities such as Madrid and
Barcelona. This was attributed to heavy industrial activities. Since outdoor air pollution is a
major cause of premature death in Europe,[19] the excessive pollution is a major concern for
Asturias. The majority of Asturias population live within a 25 kilometres (16 mi) range from the
port of Gijón, so pollution would be likely to heavily affect the population.

A Spanish government study conducted in 2010 regarding life expectancy in relative

communities, Asturias was ranked lowest (tied with Andalucia) for male life expectancy with
76.7 years from 2007 readings.[20] However, female life expectancy was 84 years and normal
among autonomous communities. However, even the male life expectancy is only just below
Western European standards, and exaggerated by the high Spanish life expectancy. Considering
that many Asturians live in relatively close proximity to Gijón's heavily industrial areas, these
figures (especially for female relative health) still contribute to a position that Gijón is a safe
location to live. The numbers for "disability-free" life expectancy has risen significantly both for
males and females in the area since 1986, according to the report.[19]
The coal fired electric generating plant, Aboño, completed a Spanish government/EU demand
to install equipment to drastically reduce its emissions. Also, the other two major polluters -
Arcelor Gijón and Arcelor Avilés - have announced an investment of 100 million euros to do the
same. These factories have been a major cause of the area's high airborne pollution.[citation
needed]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±%

1900 627,000 —

1910 685,000 +9.3%

1920 744,000 +8.6%

1930 792,000 +6.5%

1940 837,000 +5.7%

1950 888,000 +6.1%

1960 989,000 +11.4%

1970 1,046,000 +5.8%

1981 1,129,572 +8.0%

1991 1,093,937 −3.2%

2001 1,062,998 −2.8%

2011 1,075,813 +1.2%

2012 1,077,360 +0.1%

2013 1,068,165 −0.9%

2014 1,061,756 −0.6%

2015 1,051,229 −1.0%

2016 1,042,608 −0.8%

2017 1,034,960 −0.7%

2018 1,028,244 −0.6%

2019 1,022,800 −0.5%

2020 1,018,784 −0.4%

2021 1,011,792 −0.7%

Source: INE
According to the 2020 census, the region has a population of 1,018,784 which constitutes 2.1%
of the population of Spain, with the population density numbering 96 people per square
kilometre.

Asturian population has the highest mortality rate in Spain and the lowest total fertility rate
(1.03), the lowest in the European Union.[21]

Immigration is not as high as in other Spanish regions as immigrants only represent, according
to the 2017 census, 3.65% of population.

Languages

Language map of Asturias

The only official language in Asturias is Spanish. The Asturian language, also known as Bable, is
also spoken, and is protected by law (Ley 1/1998, de 23 de marzo, de uso y promoción del
bable/asturiano — "Law 1/1998, of 23 March, of Use and Promotion of Bable/Asturian"). It is
sometimes used by the Asturian civil service. In the western part of Asturias, Eonavian is also
spoken, and its promotion also falls under the responsibility of Law 1/1998. Whether Eonavian
is a dialect continuum or a variety of Galician language, however, is a subject of debate, and its
use in the Asturian Administration is minor compared to the use of the Asturian language.
Within Asturias, there is an ongoing process to establish place names in Asturian and Eonavian
dialects.

Religion

In 2019, the Centre for Sociological Research carried a study showing the population of
Asturias was 65.2% Catholic (25.1% practicing), 13.5% agnostic, and 12.8% atheist.[22]

Politics

The organisation and political structure of Asturias is governed by the Statute of Autonomy of
the Principality of Asturias, in force since 30 January 1982. According to the Statute, the
institutional bodies of the Principality of Asturias are three: the Council of Government, the
General Junta and President. The form of government of the Principality is Parliament: The
General Junta is the legislature to choose, on behalf of the Asturian people, the President of
the Principality of Asturias. The President is also the one of the Council of Government, the
head of executive power, and politically answerable to the General Junta.

The functions of the General Junta are the approval of budgets, and the direction and control
of the action of the Council of Government. It is composed of 45 deputies, elected for four
years through the universal suffrage within a system proportional representation that the
allocation of deputies is based on D'Hondt method.

Results of the elections to the General Junta

Deputies in General Junta since 1983

Key to parties

Election Distribution President

1983

5 26 14

Pedro de Silva (PSOE)

1987

4 20 8 13

1991

6 1 21