Living in Sopela
In Sopela, unemployment is 3.8% (2026).
Sopela's population was 15,048 at the start of 2025. In June 2026, the unemployment rate was 3.82%.
Lower unemployment than 65% of Spanish cities that publish it, more recorded crime than 62% of Spanish cities that publish it and cleaner air than 70% of Spanish cities that publish it.
Which Spain-wide rules apply when you move to Sopela?
National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.
Housing and cost
No city-level rent figure is published for Sopela. The available city-level cost figures remain below.
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited | 20 EUR/month | 30 Sept 2026 | DIGI 300 Mbps fibre3Official · national market |
| Mobile plan, 10 GB | 12 EUR/month | 30 Sept 2026 | DIGI 100GB mobile plan2Official · national market |
| Dwellings | 6,744 dwellings | 31 Dec 2021 | Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), Spain14Official |
| Main residence dwellings | 5,562 dwellings | 31 Dec 2021 | Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), Spain14Official |
| Secondary, seasonal or vacant dwellings | 1,182 dwellings | 31 Dec 2021 | Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), Spain14Official |
Is Sopela a good place to live?
There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.
Work and income
What is the unemployment rate in Sopela?
The unemployment rate is about 3.8 % (June 2026).
- Unemployment rate: 3.82 % · SEPE — registered unemployment by municipality, June 202632
Sopela 3.8%
Unemployment rate (%)
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabit broadband availability | 94.55 % | 30 Jun 2025 | SETELECO Cobertura Banda Ancha España 2021-202519Official |
| People in employment | 6,444 people | 31 Dec 2021 | Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), Spain14Official |
| Median gross salary (regional) | 2,659 EUR/month | 31 Dec 2024 | Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE)10Official · regional context |
| Unemployment rate | 3.82 %country median 4.4% | 30 Jun 2026 | SEPE — registered unemployment by municipality, June 202632Independent |
Public employment service
No exact public employment office is currently linked to Sopela. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.
Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal — Public employment service
Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Sopela. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.
Safety
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded incidents per 100,000 residents | 4,850 incidents per 100,000 | 31 Dec 2024 | Anuario Estadístico del Ministerio del Interior 2024, Table 3-1-21Official · regional context |
Mobility and administration
The nearest airport was BIO, 10.6 km away, with 35 listed destinations in June 2026. Gigabit broadband availability was 94.6% in June 2025.
Language courses and integration
No exact city-level course record is currently published for Sopela. These verified national programmes may still apply; use the official programme page to check local availability.
Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas — public language education network — State Language Course
Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports / autonomous education authorities
For adult language learners, residents.
Climate and air quality
Is the air quality good in Sopela?
The annual PM2.5 mean is 8 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: EEA air quality statistics — ES PM2.5 annual mean 2024 (station ALGORTA)6
Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.
Night-time low to daytime high
mm
hours
Within WHO 2021 guidelineAbove WHO, within EU limitAbove EU legal limitCity annual mean · µg/m³
City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.
Sopela 8.0
Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO₂ — annual mean | 11 µg/m³ | 31 Dec 2024 | EEA air quality statistics — ES NO2 annual mean 2024 (station ALGORTA)4Official · nearest-station reading |
| PM10 — annual mean | 19 µg/m³ | 31 Dec 2024 | EEA air quality statistics — ES PM10 annual mean 2024 (station ALGORTA)5Official · nearest-station reading |
| PM2.5 — annual mean | 8 µg/m³ | 31 Dec 2024 | EEA air quality statistics — ES PM2.5 annual mean 2024 (station ALGORTA)6Official · nearest-station reading |
| Average daytime high by month | Jan 13.5 · Feb 14.1 · Mar 16.6 · Apr 18 · May 21 · Jun 23.6 · Jul 25.5 · Aug 26.4 · Sep 24.6 · Oct 21.5 · Nov 16.5 · Dec 14.1 °C | 1991–2020 | WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station BILBAO/AEROPUERTO21Official · nearest-station reading |
| Average night-time low by month | Jan 5.4 · Feb 5.1 · Mar 6.7 · Apr 8.1 · May 11 · Jun 13.9 · Jul 16 · Aug 16.2 · Sep 14 · Oct 11.7 · Nov 8.3 · Dec 6.2 °C | 1991–2020 | WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station BILBAO/AEROPUERTO21Official · nearest-station reading |
| Average temperature by month | Jan 9.4 · Feb 9.6 · Mar 11.6 · Apr 13.1 · May 16 · Jun 18.8 · Jul 20.7 · Aug 21.3 · Sep 19.3 · Oct 16.6 · Nov 12.4 · Dec 10.1 °C | 1991–2020 | WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station BILBAO/AEROPUERTO21Official · nearest-station reading |
| Average precipitation by month | Jan 131.4 · Feb 108.7 · Mar 97.5 · Apr 96.6 · May 75.9 · Jun 58.2 · Jul 51.8 · Aug 52.7 · Sep 75 · Oct 111.6 · Nov 170.5 · Dec 124.8 mm | 1991–2020 | WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station BILBAO/AEROPUERTO21Official · nearest-station reading |
| Average sunshine by month | Jan 75.4 · Feb 89.3 · Mar 126.8 · Apr 137.8 · May 166.6 · Jun 168.4 · Jul 176.8 · Aug 173.8 · Sep 156.2 · Oct 121.4 · Nov 77.7 · Dec 73.8 hours | 1991–2020 | WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station BILBAO/AEROPUERTO21Official · nearest-station reading |
Similar climate. In Spain: Lugo ±2.6 °C. Elsewhere: Ventura (United States) ±2.0 °C, Gondomar (Portugal) ±1.0 °C, Maia (Portugal) ±1.0 °C, Matosinhos (Portugal) ±1.0 °C, Valongo (Portugal) ±1.0 °C. Twenty closest, compared month by month
Monthly highs and lows against the 1991–2020 station normals of the nearest station; ± is the average monthly difference.
Population and city profile
How many people live in Sopela?
The published population was 15,048 people in January 2025. Source: Sopela - official stats20
By nationality
National passport94.9%
Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| City area | 8.43 km² | 20 Oct 2025 | www.ign.es22Official |
| Foreign-resident share | 5.19 % | 31 Dec 2025 | Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE España)9Official |
| Foreign residents | 762 people | 1 Jan 2024 | Official INE municipal population by country of nationality; foreign total derived as Total nationality minus España.15Official |
| Female residents | 7,498 people | 31 Dec 2023 | Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE)11Official |
| Male residents | 7,374 people | 31 Dec 2023 | Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE)11Official |
| Population | 15,048 people | 1 Jan 2025 | Sopela - official stats20Official |
International community in Sopela
Named groups from exact city-grain official distributions. Citizenship, birthplace, language and ancestry answer different questions and stay separate.
Country of birth
Population resident in Spain; both sexes; official INE Census 2021 municipal table · 2021 Census
| Published group | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL | 14,287 | 100.0% |
| Spain | 13,267 | 92.9% |
| South America | 456 | 3.2% |
| European Union (without Spain) | 178 | 1.2% |
| Central America and Caribbean | 107 | 0.7% |
| Rent of Europe | 85 | 0.6% |
| Asia | 76 | 0.5% |
| Africa | 67 | 0.5% |
| North America | 43 | 0.3% |
| Oceania | 8 | 0.1% |
Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source12
Citizenship
Population resident in Spain; both sexes; official INE Census 2021 municipal table · 2021 Census
| Published group | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL | 14,287 | 100.0% |
| Spanish | 13,692 | 95.8% |
| South America | 196 | 1.4% |
| European Union (without Spain) | 158 | 1.1% |
| Central America and Caribbean | 65 | 0.5% |
| Asia | 61 | 0.4% |
| Africa | 54 | 0.4% |
| Rent of Europe | 41 | 0.3% |
| North America | 17 | 0.1% |
| Oceania | 3 | 0.0% |
Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source13
Additional context
Alternatives for people set on Sopela
Three places for the three reasons people leave a city on the shortlist: stay in the region, stay in the country, or keep the budget and change the country. A percentage appears only where both cities publish that metric from the same source, period and grain. Distances are straight lines — travel times are not collected yet.
Berango as a Sopela alternative in the same region
2 km away, better on 2 of 7 metrics measured the same way, worse on 1.
- Unemployment: 3.3% Berango vs 3.8% Sopela−15%
- Residents: 8,242 Berango vs 15,048 Sopela−45%
- Foreign residents: 4.3% Berango vs 5.2% Sopela−17%
- Nearest airport: 9.9 km Berango vs 10.6 km Sopela−7%
- Median gross pay, region: €2,659 Berango vs €2,659 Sopelasame level
- Recorded crime, per 100k: 4,850 Berango vs 4,850 Sopelasame level
- Annual PM2.5: 8.0 µg/m³ Berango vs 8.0 µg/m³ Sopelasame level
Calvià as a Sopela alternative in the same country
A move, not a commute, at 624 km, better on 2 of 6 metrics measured the same way, worse on 3. Recorded crime, per 100k cannot be compared like for like.
- Foreign residents: 33.8% Calvià vs 5.2% Sopela+552%
- Residents: 53,793 Calvià vs 15,048 Sopela+257%
- Unemployment: 1.3% Calvià vs 3.8% Sopela−67%
- Median gross pay, region: €2,080 Calvià vs €2,659 Sopela−22%
- Nearest airport: 19.1 km Calvià vs 10.6 km Sopela+80%
- Recorded crime, per 100k: 8,880 Calvià vs 4,850 Sopelano percentage
- Annual PM2.5: 9.0 µg/m³ Calvià vs 8.0 µg/m³ Sopela+13%
Cities near Sopela
Published cities within 25 km, nearest first. Distances are straight-line.
- Rent
- 11.5 EUR/m²/monthAverage net rent (nettokalt) · 2024-12-31
- Rent
- 10.8 EUR/m²/monthAverage net rent (nettokalt) · 2024-12-31
- Rent
- 10.4 EUR/m²/monthAverage net rent (nettokalt) · 2024-12-31
- Rent
- 11.7 EUR/m²/monthAverage net rent (nettokalt) · 2024-12-31
- Rent
- 9.1 EUR/m²/monthAverage net rent (nettokalt) · 2024-12-31
- Rent
- 11 EUR/m²/monthAverage net rent (nettokalt) · 2024-12-31
- Rent
- 10.3 EUR/m²/monthAverage net rent (nettokalt) · 2024-12-31
- Rent
- 10.2 EUR/m²/monthAverage net rent (nettokalt) · 2024-12-31
Alternative cities in Spain
Other cities in Spain to compare with Sopela, nearest in population first.
How does Sopela compare?
Pick a city. The answer appears here and the address bar keeps it, so the comparison can be shared; the page stays Sopela's.
Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Sopela under the national coverage rules.
Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.
Open the official coverage guideSchool for children who move here. School is compulsory from age 6 to 16. Newly arrived pupils get support in the school language: Regional reception programmes (aulas de enlace Madrid / aules d acollida Catalonia etc). How to enrol a child (educacionfpydeportes.gob.es).
A country-wide rule for Spain; Sopela's school authority applies it locally.
Sources: eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu · 2025–2026.
Is Sopela part of Bilbao?
Sopela is in the published commuting zone of Bilbao; this does not mean it is administratively part of the hub. Bilbao city profile
Relationship type: Commuting Zone Of. Source8
Common questions
Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.
How many people live in Sopela?
The published population was 15,048 people in January 2025. Source: Sopela - official stats.
Is the air quality good in Sopela?
The annual PM2.5 mean is 8 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: EEA air quality statistics — ES PM2.5 annual mean 2024 (station ALGORTA).
What is the unemployment rate in Sopela?
The unemployment rate is about 3.8 % (June 2026). Source: SEPE — registered unemployment by municipality, June 2026.
What is the typical salary around Sopela?
The median gross salary is 2,659 EUR/month. Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE).
How many foreign residents live in Sopela?
762 residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Official INE municipal population by country of nationality; foreign total derived as Total nationality minus España..
Is Sopela a good place to live?
Sopela may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.
Is Sopela part of Bilbao?
Sopela is in the published commuting zone of Bilbao; this does not mean it is administratively part of the hub.
Which cities are near Sopela?
Bilbao, Berango, Urduliz, Getxo, Gorliz are near Sopela. Typed relationship labels are shown where published; other rows use straight-line distance from admitted coordinates.
How many people born in Spain live in Sopela?
The official country of birth distribution records 13,267 people (92.9%) in the source-defined population for 2021 Census. This is a country of birth measure, not a general estimate of ethnicity or migration status.
Cite this page
Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.
APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, October 16). Sopela, Spain: population, salary, cost of living, jobs [ImmigrationDB compilation; version 91549fff5e19bb4788da2e51b110cf0e]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/es/sopela/ Retrieved 2026-10-16. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_sopela-spain-population-salary-cost-of-living-jobs_85b2c46343a0,
author = {ImmigrationDB},
title = {Sopela, Spain: population, salary, cost of living, jobs},
publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-10-16},
version = {91549fff5e19bb4788da2e51b110cf0e},
url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/es/sopela/},
note = {Retrieved 2026-10-16. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}Markdown citation
[Sopela, Spain: population, salary, cost of living, jobs](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/es/sopela/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; version 91549fff5e19bb4788da2e51b110cf0e; retrieved 2026-10-16; built 2026-10-16.This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.
Sources
- Anuario Estadístico del Ministerio del Interior 2024, Table 3-1-2 interior.gob.es · checked 2026-09-24
- DIGI 100GB mobile plan digimobil.es · checked 2026-09-15
- DIGI 300 Mbps fibre digimobil.es · checked 2026-09-15
- EEA air quality statistics — ES NO2 annual mean 2024 (station ALGORTA) EEA air quality statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-31
- EEA air quality statistics — ES PM10 annual mean 2024 (station ALGORTA) EEA air quality statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-31
- EEA air quality statistics — ES PM2.5 annual mean 2024 (station ALGORTA) EEA air quality statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-31
- es.eustat.eus es.eustat.eus · checked 2026-08-26
- GISCO Urban Audit 2021 — Functional Urban Areas (URAU_RG_100K_2021_4326_FUA) GISCO Urban Audit 2021 · gisco-services.ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-09-19
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE España) ine.es · checked 2026-08-03
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) servicios.ine.es · checked 2026-08-06
Show 22 more sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) ine.es · checked 2026-08-07
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Spain servicios.ine.es · checked 2026-08-30
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Spain servicios.ine.es · checked 2026-08-30
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), Spain ine.es · checked 2026-08-07
- Official INE municipal population by country of nationality; foreign total derived as Total nationality minus España. ine.es · checked 2024-01-01
- OpenFlights — routes.dat OpenFlights · raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-07-14
- OurAirports — airports.csv OurAirports · davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-07-14
- SERPAVI 2026 — Tabla 2, Madrid SERPAVI 2026 · publicaciones.transportes.gob.es · checked 2026-07-26
- SETELECO Cobertura Banda Ancha España 2021-2025 digital.gob.es · checked 2025-06-30
- Sopela - official stats ine.es · checked 2026-07-14
- WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station BILBAO/AEROPUERTO WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 · ncei.noaa.gov · checked 2026-07-31
- www.ign.es ign.es · checked 2026-08-30
- Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
- Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
- Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
- Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
- Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
- Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
- Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
- Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
- Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
- SEPE — registered unemployment by municipality, June 2026 SEPE · sepe.es · checked 2026-07-26
Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.