Bilbao consolidates its position as a smart city in the Smart City Index 2025 and enters the top world 21 of the Intelligent Community Forum
- The capital of Bizkaia is in 29th position of 146 cities from around the world in the SCI and it continues to be the top placed city in the Spanish State in the IMD international ranking.
- Furthermore, it has been named by the ICF as one of the 21 most innovative communities in the use of technology for economic, social and cultural development.
Bilbao maintains an outstanding position in the Smart City Index 2025 drawn up by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). The Basque city is 29th in the global classification and is in first place at the State level, ahead of Madrid (38th), Zaragoza (52nd) and Barcelona (92nd).
This index, now in its sixth edition, analyses how technology and urban infrastructure impact on the residents’ quality of life, assessing five different areas: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities and governance. The report is based on surveys of the residents of 146 cities and combines this data with indicators extracted from the Subnational Human Development Index (SHDI).
Amongst the highest scoring aspects of Bilbao are in terms of mobility with a satisfactory public transport system supported by digital tools for route-planning and online ticket purchase, together with the availability of green spaces and the simple nature of accessing the cultural offer thanks to the online sale of tickets for shows and museums. Moreover, the recycling services and continuous training opportunities which local institutions offer receive positive feedback.
Bilbao, amongst the 21 smartest communities in the world
Furthermore, Bilbao has been named for the first time as one of the Smart21 Communities of 2025 by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), an international organization which recognises the most advanced cities and regions with respect to the use of technology in economic, social and cultural development. This naming places Bilbao as a semi-finalist in the ICF awards, which will conclude in October with the award of the Intelligent Community of the Year 2025.
