51.9% of Rural Youth Prefer to Emancipate in Their Own Municipality

A new study reveals that the majority of young people in rural areas of the Basque Country prefer to stay in their hometowns rather than moving to the city.

A young person's hands holding a small house, with a blurred rural landscape in the background, symbolizing emancipation.
IA

A young person's hands holding a small house, with a blurred rural landscape in the background, symbolizing emancipation.

A study conducted by the Department of Welfare, Youth and Demographic Challenge and the Bitar-Bask Basque Mediation Association has revealed that the majority of young people residing in rural areas of the Basque Autonomous Community prefer to emancipate in their home municipalities rather than moving to the city.

The report, presented in Urduña, analyzes the conditions and needs for emancipation among young people living in rural areas of the BAC. Its objective is to provide a working basis for institutions to tailor their responses to the specific realities of each municipality.

"There is a need to address the emancipation of rural youth from an inter-institutional and transversal perspective."

a councilor
The research included surveys, interviews, and in-person workshops with young people aged 18 to 34, as well as with stakeholders and technicians, across seven regions of Álava, Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa. Despite situational differences, common characteristics in the emancipation process of young people in all three territories were identified, such as housing being the main limitation, employment not being sufficient, dependence on family support, and a strong desire for autonomy and a personal project.
Among the most significant findings, 51.9% of young people would prefer to emancipate in their own municipality, and 20.7% would choose similar nearby towns. In contrast, only 6.7% would opt to move to the city. This highlights the strong connection young people have with their territory, considering rootedness an important element for designing public policies.
Data on youth emancipation in the BAC are concerning: only 31% of young people are emancipated, achieving it, on average, at nearly 30 years old. Seven out of ten young people acknowledge structural problems in pursuing an autonomous life project, which is even more pronounced in rural areas. There, housing is the main obstacle, with 91.8% of young participants in the study stating they have no options for emancipation.
Among those who do achieve emancipation, family support remains fundamental, assisting more than half of those interviewed. However, the study points out that emancipation should not rely on each family's capacity for assistance, as this can create inequalities. Therefore, the Basque Government believes this diagnosis can be a starting point for advancing youth emancipation policies, in collaboration with city councils, provincial councils, and local stakeholders.