Presentation of the book “Population, Human Settlements and Society” of the National Atlas of Spain. Updates and new applied approaches

In October 2024, the new book titled “Population, Human Settlements and Society” will be published by the service of the National Atlas of Spain. This publication is a major contribution to academic cartography in Spain thanks to its creation process, which included demographic data analysis, thematic mapping, multidisciplinary geographic information, and GIS technologies. As in previous editions, this project is supported by the collaboration of professors from different Spanish universities that make up our scientific network called RedANEXXI. These scientists have worked to offer new research trends to update the content of these subjects, adapting them to the new reality. For example, society is no longer addressed solely from the perspective of the labour market, but also includes very necessary and important headings to characterise it, such as care, households, poverty, and social vulnerability. Another example to highlight is the topic of migration, represented with new and much more visual resources to explain the Spanish demography. The main objective of this publication is the academic, educational and scientific dissemination of demographic information on Spain to universities, public administrations and other institutions. Statistical studies for national entities are also among the objectives, as is the constitutional mandate that requires the constant production and updating of the National Atlas. It is also aimed at people who simply want to expand their knowledge of the reality of the country. Thanks to a reader-friendly format, this Atlas is accessible to everyone, no matter what their academic level is, because it is filled with visual figures such as maps or graphs and comprehensive texts. This new book is part of the great work Spain on Maps. A Geographic Synopsis, published in 2018 also by the National Atlas of Spain, which is an unprecedented Atlas that is being used in universities as a reference for geographical information and as a tool for the general public to understand the geographical reality of our country. The thematic structure of this great work is composed of nine sections (I–IX), which will be converted into nine books. The first one published in this format was Section III, titled “History”, which will also have an English version, and the next book is the one presented now, titled “Population, Human Settlements and Society”, which is Section IV. The National Atlas of Spain always tries to offer an integrated, rational and updated view of the geographical reality of our country. Special recognition goes to all the team of the National Atlas of Spain, which is part of the National Geographic Institute of Spain, especially the hard work and dedication of Carmen Carmona García and Elena Bordiú Barrera.