Quick facts
Bilbao overview
Bilbao (orange) and the other large cities of Spain
Bilbao lies in Basque Country in Spain at 43.26°N, 2.93°W, about 20 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Madrid (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a district seat.
It is smaller than Alicante (348,901) and larger than Córdoba (325,708). The largest city in Spain is Madrid with 3,255,944 people; the capital, Madrid, has 3,255,944.
The national capital, Madrid, is about 323 km away; the nearest large city is Barakaldo, 6 km from Bilbao.
Spain as a whole has a live population of 47,837,168 (-0.1% a year) and ranks #32 of 238 countries — see the Spain population page for the full statistics and the Spain atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Bilbao
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Barakaldo Basque Country | 6 km | 100,435 |
| Gasteiz / Vitoria Basque Country | 50 km | 257,407 |
| Santander Cantabria | 75 km | 173,635 |
| Donostia / San Sebastián Basque Country | 77 km | 185,357 |
| Logroño La Rioja | 97 km | 151,164 |
| Pamplona Navarre | 115 km | 208,243 |
| Burgos Castille and León | 120 km | 176,418 |
Largest cities in Spain
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bilbao?
Bilbao has about 347,342 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Bilbao the capital of Spain?
No. The capital of Spain is Madrid (3,255,944 people), about 323 km away. Bilbao is the 11th largest city of the country and a district seat.
How big is Bilbao compared with the rest of Spain?
Its 347,342 residents are 0.7% of the 47,837,168 people living in Spain today. Madrid is larger with 3,255,944 people.
Where is Bilbao?
In Basque Country, Spain, at latitude 43.26 and longitude -2.93, 20 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Barakaldo (6 km), Gasteiz / Vitoria (50 km), Santander (75 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Bilbao Population 2026 — Spain. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/spain/bilbao/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/spain/bilbao/">Bilbao Population 2026 — Spain</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.