The National Institute of Statistics has notified Calpe Town Council that the figure for the municipality, resulting from the revision of the municipal census as of 1st January 2023, is 25,854 inhabitants. This gives the municipality 1,758 new inhabitants since the last official figure. However, reaching this figure and preventing the municipal census from falling involves an intense task for the Town Council.
Over the last few years, the Municipal Register Department has implemented various actions to prevent population loss. One of the problems detected is the lack of information from citizens, who in many cases are convinced that they are already registered or are unaware of the need to renew the census if they are foreigners.
The Town Council estimates that hundreds of foreign residents are not registered with the INE because they have not renewed their registration in the municipal census, as by law EU residents registered in the Central Register of Foreigners or non-EU residents with long-term residence permits must renew their registration in the census every five years and the rest of foreigners every two years.
For this reason, the Town Council has launched successive campaigns, aimed at all citizens, foreigners or not, resident in Calpe to encourage them to register or renew their registration. For months, advertisements were placed in the media, informative mupis were used, explanatory leaflets were sent out, home visits were made, etc.
Also, through the municipal social networks a campaign was promoted consisting of videos, jingles and posters in which citizens in different situations and in several languages stated "I love CALPEE, that's why I'm registered. Register yourself or renew your registration". The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of being registered in order to access many municipal services and benefits.
Recently, the Registration councillor, Paqui Solivelles, met with various foreign groups to inform them of the need to register and explain the procedure for doing so.
All these efforts have resulted in the increase and the recovery of inhabitants after lowering the barrier of 20,000 inhabitants in 2016 (with the consequent loss of transfers from the State), thus Calpe continues to recover inhabitants and economic subsidies.