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100 // iberian.propery / 2017
dossier// ISSUE: TOP IBERIAN cities
Bilbao: a growing
numberof investors
choose the
Basque capital
The economic capital of the Basque Country, Bilbao is
one of Spain’s largest cities and a metropolis that stands
out due to its cutting edge infrastructures, thereby
attracting an increasing number of foreign investors
On the path to growth, the Basque economy
moves approximately 66 billion euros each year
and maintains its frank recovery, with 2016 end-
ing with an unemployment rate approximately
30% below the Spanish average and a GDP per
capita about 30% above the rest of the country.
Geographically, the province of Biscay, where
Bilbao is located, carries the greatest weight in
the Autonomous Region’s accounts, contribut-
ing with approximately 33.6 billion euros.
Bilbao, the economic capital of the Basque
country, is one of the most modern cities in
Spain, and an international success story due
to the positive evolution it has been displaying
in the last decades; economically, financially,
administratively, as well as in terms of services.
With growth prospects for the next years work-
ing in the region’s favour, the Basque Country’s
socioeconomic indicators are currently generat-
ing solid confidence among real estate investors
who, over the past year, have started discovering
in Euskadi and, more specifically its capital, an
attractive and reliable market.
Autonomous Region:
Basque Country
Province: Biscay
Total population:
345.474 (2017)
Foreign population:
26.074 (2017)
GDP per capita:
30.890 € (2012)
Registered unemployed:
26.486 (July 2017)
Economic activities:
39.939 (Q2 2017)
Creative industries:
2.473 (2016)
Retail trade:
6.834 (Q2 2017)
Investment in innovation:
280.8 million euros (2015)
Visitors in hotel establishments:
91.325 (July 2017)
Events & conferences:
1.129 (2016)
Average price of new housing
(liberalised market):
3.549,2 €/m² (Q2 2017)
Number of buildings:
11.643 (2016)