(Introduction - >

 

The Basque Country is a european region with its own cultural and economic interests, industry and far-reaching tax arrangements. A high level of political autonomy gives the Basque Government wide-ranging powers over most public initiatives, such as education, culture, health, employment, the environment and industry. Historically, the Basque Country also has the authority required to regulate and collect most of the taxes in the region.

Among other things, this guide includes information on the regulations governing corporation tax, tax rates, investment incentives and the Basque Industrial and Exporters Catalogue which, taken together, make a most attractive setting for all kinds of businesses. Details are also included on the development of the region's infrastructures, the availability of industrial land and the Community's technology parks, together with information on tourist and cultural attractions like the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Also provided is a series of links showing the production capability of Basque firms.

PDF (SPRI). INVEST IN EUSKADI
 

 

Vital statistics Information
Area 7,234 square kilometres
Population (2003) 2,112,204
Population density 287.9 inhabitants/km2
Official languages Basque and Spanish
Capital Vitoria-Gasteiz
Airports 3
Major ports 2
Technology parks 3
Doctors 4.7 per 1,000 inhabitants
Life expectancy

76.4 years (Men)

83.7 years (Women)
Ratios pupils/teacher (2002-2003) 9.6 (Secondary education)
Schooling ratios (3-15 years) 100%
   
   
The economy
Information
The Basque economy in Spain:
 

4.94% of the Spanish population (Source: INE 2003)
6.33% of the Spanish GDP.( Source: INE.2003)
8.27% of Spanish exports.(Source: ECOMEX.2003)
5.67% of Spanish imports.(Source: ECOMEX.2003)
8.9% of state industrial production. (Source: INE 2002)
GDP (Gross Domestic Product):
 

Year

1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003 (estimates)

Euskadi

3.4%
3.5%
3.2%
5.0%
6.0%
4.9%
5.2%
2.9%
1.7%
2.5%

Spain

2.4%
2.8%
2.4%
4.0%
4.3%
4.2%
4.2%
2.8%
2.2%
2.5%

E.U. - 15

2.8%
2.4%
1.6%
2.5%
2.9%
2.8%
3.5%
1.6%
1.0%
0.7%

Source: EUSTAT, EUROSTAT, INE y OCDE
Gross Domestic product (GDP 2003 - Constant prices)
43,558.46 million €
GDP per inhabitant in pps (2003)

- Europe 15: 100%
- Europe 25: 91.7%
- Basque Country: 107%
- Spain: 87%
Source: Eurostat, Eustat
(PPS = Purchasing power standard)
GDP per inhabitant in euros -In 2003

- Basque Country: 22,701
- Spain: 15,889
Gross Added Value (2002 - Constant prices)
 
Euskadi
Spain

- Farming and fisheries
- Industry
- Building
- Services
  1.21%
32.38%
  7.87%
58.52%
  4.09%
22,76%
  8.82%
64.33%
Working population by sectors in 2003 (in thousands)

- Farming and fisheries
- Industry
- Building
- Services
   TOTAL
  26.50 (2.91%)
247.10 (26.77%)
  83.50 (9.19%)
550.90 (60.67%)
908 (100%)
Foreign Trade
Exports 2003
 28,764 million €

- Rest of Spain: 15,412
- Other countries: 13,352
Imports 2003
 30,202 million €

- Rest of Spain: 19,998
- Other countries: 10,203
Export tendencies* (abroad).
 (Data for 2003)

Basque Country:
Germany:
France:
Italy:
United Kingdom:
Spain:
  30.65%
  33.55%
  22.97%
  24.59%
  18.15%
  30.50%

*Proportion of GDP accounted for by exports of goods and services, at constant prices.
Source: EUSTAT, INE, INSEE, DESTATIS, ISTAT
Degree of openness of the Basque economy 2003:

- Basque Country: 124.72%
- Spain: 64.33%
Source: Directorate for Economic Affairs and Planning based on data provided by EUSTAT (Basque Institute of Statistics) and INE (Spanish Institute of Statistics)
Definition of the degree of openess of Euskadi: ratio of imports plus exports of goods, and services both abroad and to the rest of the Sapain over GDP (at current prices)
Gross disposable household income per capita

* Variation in index in Euskadi (Index for Spain: 100 for 1995 & 2001) 

- 2001: 124.6 points
- 1995: 119.8 points

* Euro value - 2001: 

- Euskadi: 12,847 euro (Autonomous community with highest income)
- Spain: 10,313 euro
Source: INE
Unemployment rate (2003)
8.6%
Retail Price Index (2003)
2.6%
Research & Development 2002

- Euskadi: 1.50% of GDP
- Spain: 1.03% of GDP

Researches E.D.P. In relation to the active population (‰):

- Euskadi (2002): 11.4
- Spain (2001): 7.8
- European Union (2001): 10.6
E.D.P.: Equivalent to full time
Quality of Basque industry in % no. of quality certificates/6 million euros GDP 10.92 (3rd in Europe, behind the United Kingdom and Ireland)
Source: The Basque Institute of Statistics (Eustat)
   

 
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