Peter Nientied
Zamora: Comarcas Sayago and Aliste
The province of Zamora has experienced some of the most severe population losses, particularly in its border regions. In 1950, the province had approximately 316.000 inhabitants across an area of 10.561 km²; by 2023, this number had fallen to around 165.500. These losses have been unevenly distributed. Larger towns such as Zamora city and Benavente have seen more moderate declines, while the frontier regions have lost roughly three-quarters of their population since the 1960s. The province also contains some of the oldest populations in the European Union, suggesting that further population decline is likely.
Media outlets often use striking language to describe these developments, referring to Zamora as a demographic bomb 1), the epicentre of depopulation 2), a zero zone, or even a black hole of depopulation. Sociologist Alberto Zamorano has warned that, without decisive public intervention, the province risks becoming “a ghost of what it once was—a territory without inhabitants, the largest cemetery in Europe.” 3)
The comarcas of Sayago and Aliste are among the most severely affected areas. They form part of the so-called Raya Leonesa, the border region with Portugal. On the Portuguese side, the situation is similarly challenging. The Portuguese province of Bragança saw its population decline from around 190.000 in 1960 to approximately 85.000 in 2020. Here too, the provincial capital has experienced a much smaller decrease, from about 37.000 inhabitants in 1960 to around 34.000 in 2021. According to an OECD study, roughly 25% of all dwellings in Zamora province are vacant.4) Sayago and Aliste remain the comarcas currently experiencing the most rapid population decline.
1) https://www.elmundo.es/papel/historias/2023/03/21/641466f921efa0433d8b45b6.html
2) https://elpais.com/espana/2020-06-20/zamora-viaje-al-epicentro-de-la-despoblacion.html
3) https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/castilla-y-leon/2025-04-07/leon-zamora-y-salamanca-desplobacion_4089028/, and see the Master’s degree study of Zamorana https://estaticos-cdn.prensaiberica.es/epi/public/content/file/original/2024/1019/17/despoblacion-alberto-zamorano-tfg-pdf.pdf
Comarca Sayago
The agricultural region of Sayago had around 28,000 inhabitants in 1950, 14,000 in 1980, and just 7.291 in 2025. With an area of 1.484 km², this corresponds to a population density of roughly 5 inhabitants per km². Most of the comarca consists of a plateau at about 800 metres above sea level, while the landscape descends towards the Portuguese border into the Douro river valley—often referred to as Lower Sayago—at around 400 metres, characterised by hills and dramatic gorges. In practical terms, this translates into small villages with deteriorating housing, long stretches of empty roads, and numerous properties for sale.
The region’s economy is primarily agricultural, focused on livestock and the cultivation of fodder crops. Sayago is known for its strong regional identity and rich history, reflected in dedicated local websites that provide extensive information about the area. Nevertheless, demographic decline has become the dominant theme shaping the region. Rural tourism remains modest: while the areas around the Douro and the artificial lakes offer attractive scenery, the remainder of the comarca lacks major tourist attractions.
Click to enlarge. Source: Google Maps
Comarca Aliste
Aliste is a rural, peripheral region that had approximately 31.500 inhabitants in 1950, declining to about 7,000 by 2025. Further population loss is expected. With an area of 1,182 km², its population density is similarly low to that of Sayago. The landscape consists of gently rolling hills, dry terrain, and oak forests, interspersed with patches of shrubs and abandoned fields that were once cultivated. The Aliste River flows close to the Portuguese border. Aliste history and geographical and cultural details are well described on Wiki.
The local economy is based on livestock farming, particularly cattle and sheep, alongside some cereal cultivation as part of traditional livelihoods. Over time, land use has shifted from intensive subsistence farming to more specialised agricultural practices. There is also a modest agri-food sector. However, development is constrained by dependence on subsidies and by generational change: younger people are often unwilling to take over small family farms in this remote part of the Raya Leonesa, preferring instead to move to larger urban centres.
The main town of the comarca is Alcañices, whose population declined from about 2.350 in 1950 to around 1.060 in 2025. While signs of deterioration are visible in many places, the town has experienced a relatively smaller decline compared to the comarca as a whole, and notably, its population loss appears to have stabilised in recent years. Alcañices continues to serve an important regional role, providing education, commerce, and healthcare services for the surrounding area.
Click to enlarge. Source: Google Maps
