The present paper is based on information on marital patterns and reproductive performance (reconstituted families) in the rural community of Los Nogales, Galicia, Spain. Biodemographic data were used to analyse temporal changes and structure of consanguinity in the population, as well as consanguinity versus reproductive success. Of 2347 marriages celebrated between 1871 and 1977, 5·15% were between relatives (up to third degree). The population’s inbreeding coefficient was above the Spanish average after 1890, and levels were high during the first part of the 20th century. A possible underestimation of inbreeding coefficients is attributed to the elevated frequency of extramarital births occurring in the Los Nogales population (13·47%). The structures of consanguineous matings, expressed as C22/C33 and C33/C44, turned out to be 0·86 and 0·82 respectively. Regarding migration, before 1920 consanguinity increased, but net migration was negative. In the period 1920–1929 consanguinity began to decrease, prior to maximum emigration. As for reproductive success, information from 1503 reconstituted families shows that complete fertility was slightly higher among consanguineous families despite a greater infant mortality. Lower infertility in consanguineous matings, as well as lower age at marriage and first maternity, could explain the above results.