Geography and Climate

The Basque Country covers a surface of 7,235 square kilometres and enjoys a privileged geographical situation in the north of the Spanish State, which allows an immediate access to the main European countries. Due to the closeness to the Bay of Biscay, its climate is Atlantic in the coastal areas and continental in the inner regions.

The temperature is mild, with an annual average of 14.7 degrees and an average of 7.3 in February and 21 in July. Extreme climatic values are not very common, and both winter and summer are very pleasant.[move up]

Population: Size and Density

The Basque Country has a population of 2,141,860 inhabitants and about 42% live in the Gran Bilbao area (Bilbao and the nearby towns that lie on the banks of the Nervión river). The population density is 296 inhabitants per square kilometre, which is above the European average and very similar to the more developed countries. More than 65% of the population is between the age of 16 and 65, and 1,050,000 citizens were working at the end of 2007. The three capitals have over 180,000 inhabitants each. According to the latest data issued, the Basque Country was, together with Madrid and Navarre, the autonomous region with highest disposable income per inhabitant, exceeding by more than 25% the average of the Spanish State.
[move up]

Political Organization

TThe Basque Country has its own Parliament. The three governing bodies of the Historic Provinces of Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa are in charge of collecting the main taxes and the high level of autonomy allows the direct government and administration regarding matters such as: Treasury and Tax Collection, Industry and Economic Promotion, Research and Innovation, Transports, Housing, Environment, Education, Public Health, Law and Order, etc. A multiannual economic agreement regulates the financial relations with the Spanish State. The Basque Country has a highly efficient Administrative organization as, according to 2003 official data, the Basque Country is the Autonomous Region with the lowest level of Indebtedness regarding the GDP: 1.3%, lower than the average figure of 5.8%.[move up]