Economy, jobs and prices in Basque Country, Spain: official figures
GDP per person was 45,800 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 115% of the EU average; 2nd highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. PPS adjust for price differences between countries.
How big is the economy of Basque Country?
The regional economy produced €91.6 billion of output (GDP at market prices) in 2024, 5.7% of Spain's GDP.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Basque Country?
The unemployment rate (age 15 to 74) was 7.3% in 2025, against 10.5% for Spain and 6.0% across the EU; the lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is youth unemployment in Basque Country?
Youth unemployment (age 15 to 24) was 18.6% in 2025, against 24.9% for Spain; 18th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does Basque Country spend on research and development?
Spending on research and development came to 2.30% of GDP in 2024 (1.50% nationally).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Basque Country are long-term unemployed?
Long-term unemployment (people out of work for a year or more) stood at 2.3% of the labour force in 2025, compared with 3.4% nationally and 1.9% in the EU; 5th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 7.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Basque Country?
Unemployment among women was 7.5% in 2025, compared with 11.9% nationally and 6.2% in the EU; the lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 14.7%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many women in Basque Country are in work?
72.4% of women aged 20 to 64 were in work in 2025, compared with 67.6% nationally and 71.3% in the EU; 4th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 62.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs the economy of Basque Country growing?
In real terms the economy of Basque Country grew by 3.1% in 2024 (gross value added), against 3.9% for Spain as a whole; 5th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2014 it was 1.3%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Basque Country?
There were 478 passenger cars per 1,000 people in 2024, against 543 for Spain as a whole; 2nd lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2014 it was 436.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Basque Country?
Average compensation per employee (pay plus employer social contributions) was €29,016 in 2024, against €25,604 across Spain; 2nd highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Basque Country?
Visitors spent 10.6 million nights in tourist accommodation in 2025, 48% of them by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Basque Country?
The largest part of the economy of Basque Country in 2024 was finance, property and business services, at 24.4% of gross value added, followed by trade, transport, hospitality and communications (23.6%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Basque Country?
Factories, mines and energy produced 23.5% of the value added in Basque Country in 2024, against 15.6% for Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Basque Country growing?
Gross value added rose from €59.0 billion in 2015 to €83.4 billion in 2024 in current prices, an increase of 41% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Basque Country?
Of the 1,090,100 jobs located in Basque Country in 2024, 32% in public services, education, health and other services, 19% in industry and 0.9% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Basque Country?
The number of people working in Basque Country rose by 12.5% between 2015 and 2024, to 1,090,100.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Basque Country compares with other autonomous communities
Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) (2025)
Basque Country ranks 15 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Galicia | 2.5% |
| 13 | Navarre | 2.5% |
| 14 | Castilla y León | 2.3% |
| 15 | Basque Country | 2.3% |
| 16 | Aragón | 2.2% |
| 17 | Cantabria | 2.0% |
| 18 | La Rioja | 2.0% |
Unemployment rate, women (2025)
Basque Country ranks 19 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, women |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | La Rioja | 9.3% |
| 14 | Catalonia | 9.2% |
| 15 | Navarre | 9.1% |
| 16 | Galicia | 8.7% |
| 17 | Madrid | 8.1% |
| 18 | Cantabria | 7.8% |
| 19 | Basque Country | 7.5% |
Employment rate, women aged 20-64 (2025)
Basque Country ranks 4 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, women aged 20-64 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madrid | 74.8% |
| 2 | La Rioja | 73.3% |
| 3 | Catalonia | 72.6% |
| 4 | Basque Country | 72.4% |
| 5 | Balearic Islands | 72.0% |
| 6 | Navarre | 70.8% |
| 7 | Galicia | 70.7% |
Real growth in gross value added (2024)
Basque Country ranks 15 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real growth in gross value added |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Asturias | 3.5% |
| 13 | Galicia | 3.4% |
| 14 | Castilla y León | 3.3% |
| 15 | Basque Country | 3.1% |
| 16 | Extremadura | 3.1% |
| 17 | Cantabria | 2.9% |
| 18 | Ciudad de Melilla | 1.5% |
Passenger cars per 1,000 people (2024)
Basque Country ranks 18 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Passenger cars per 1,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Andalusia | 535 |
| 14 | Ciudad de Ceuta | 520 |
| 15 | La Rioja | 516 |
| 16 | Valencian Community | 510 |
| 17 | Aragón | 499 |
| 18 | Basque Country | 478 |
| 19 | Catalonia | 450 |
Compensation per employee (euros) (2024)
Basque Country ranks 2 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Compensation per employee (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madrid | €29,515 |
| 2 | Basque Country | €29,016 |
| 3 | Catalonia | €27,376 |
| 4 | Navarre | €27,041 |
| 5 | Ciudad de Ceuta | €25,994 |
| 6 | Balearic Islands | €25,193 |
| 7 | Aragón | €25,127 |
Nights spent in tourist accommodation (2025)
Basque Country ranks 9 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Nights spent in tourist accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Madrid | 33.0 million |
| 7 | Galicia | 13.5 million |
| 8 | Castilla y León | 13.4 million |
| 9 | Basque Country | 10.6 million |
| 10 | Aragón | 9.0 million |
| 11 | Asturias | 6.5 million |
| 12 | Castilla-La Mancha | 6.3 million |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2024)
Basque Country ranks 3 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Navarre | 29.3% |
| 2 | La Rioja | 25.6% |
| 3 | Basque Country | 23.5% |
| 4 | Aragón | 23.3% |
| 5 | Castilla-La Mancha | 22.7% |
| 6 | Castilla y León | 21.4% |
| 7 | Cantabria | 20.9% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2024)
Basque Country ranks 7 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Valencian Community | 25.5% |
| 5 | Canary Islands | 24.9% |
| 6 | Asturias | 24.8% |
| 7 | Basque Country | 24.4% |
| 8 | Andalusia | 24.3% |
| 9 | Cantabria | 24.1% |
| 10 | Ciudad de Melilla | 22.3% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2024)
Basque Country ranks 11 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Cantabria | 22.4% |
| 9 | Murcia | 22.3% |
| 10 | Asturias | 22.2% |
| 11 | Basque Country | 21.7% |
| 12 | La Rioja | 21.4% |
| 13 | Valencian Community | 21.2% |
| 14 | Aragón | 21.1% |
More on Basque Country: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · Spain
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (purchasing power standards), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c21f724d14a6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (euros), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 537f99167955…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP (million euros), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e3677c4e6d67…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Unemployment rate (age 15-74), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 13f5037ce93a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Youth unemployment rate (age 15-24), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83bb1aebc10b…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfe2emprt: Employment rate (age 20-64), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 03191283bf5f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset rd_e_gerdreg: Research and development spending (% of GDP), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 36a9132b2284…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Unemployment rates by sex, age, educational attainment level and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ac151d8a46d5…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfe2emprt: Employment rates by sex, age and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 51bfca80dc8b…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tran_r_vehst: Stock of vehicles by category and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5adf37bcb393…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gvagr: Real growth rate of regional gross value added (GVA) at basic prices by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ba2c4bdc7c37…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 222a97c302d3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2coe: Compensation of employees by NUTS 2 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 895d7cc9e826…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tour_occ_nin2: Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 06f6a82909c0…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu2ltu: Long-term unemployment (12 months and more) by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3d5d17a32863…)
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