A 20 year old mayor of a small town in Guadalajara, Spain, has revealed his ambitious plans to boost the dwindling population.

Being a mayor of a small Spanish town is a significant role that often goes unrecognised and unpaid. Treasury data reveals that approximately 40% of Spain’s 6,900 mayors do not receive a public salary, with the role viewed more as a labour of love for their village.

Contrary to expectations, this important role isn’t always held by older individuals, despite the average age in rural Spanish towns being quite high. Enrique Collada, the youthful mayor of a village in Guadalajara, shared his unique story on social media.

Despite his tender age, Collada has set himself an enormous task – to reverse the declining population of his village, El Recuenco. According to the National Institute of Statistics, as of 2023, the village has a mere 71 inhabitants.

This figure represents a sharp decline from almost 750 residents in 1930, around 430 in 1970, approximately 190 in 1990, and now less than 100.

Enrique, the 20 year old mayor of El Recuenco, a village with less than 100 inhabitants, has come up with an ingenious plan to engage his constituents. He said: “What do I do as the 20-year-old mayor of El Recuenco, a village of less than 100 inhabitants at the moment? I throw parties. Many events,” Despite the long hours and challenges that come with being a mayor, Enrique sees many advantages in his role.

He explained: “I listen and help the neighbours in the plenary sessions and outside. I invite politicians to talk to them about the problems we have and also so that they can get to know the village,” Enrique supplements his work with social media videos showcasing his various initiatives, from chatting with neighbours from nearby villages to serving chocolate in glasses to locals.

But that’s not all. “I organise parties with the best festival committee in the province, and almost dare I say in Spain. I dance my heart out, because clearly you have to make an effort. And of course, I enjoy village life, which is a real luxury,” he added.

At such a young age, Enrique certainly experiences situations that many are not accustomed to.

Many were curious about Enrique’s mayoral experience, prompting one individual to inquire: “Do you earn something?,” eliciting his response: “No way! This is done out of love for the people. I lose money. I have a job and I must balance everything.”

Another posed the question: “Does it make sense for a village of 100 inhabitants to have its own town hall? “, leading to Enrique’s thoughtful answer: “Great question. We need to rethink it. We think of many of the projects from the area, which brings together 10 villages and allows us to provide services more efficiently.”

The young mayor’s zeal did not go unnoticed; one commenter expressed: “I like to see young people in these positions.”

Another hoped for integrity, saying: “I hope you are different from the corrupt ones who do nothing, please be the example of how to make big changes.”