Province of Burgos

Burgos (Spanish: [ˈbuɾɣos] ) is a province of northern Spain, in the northeastern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. It has a population of approximately 359,948 inhabitants across a total of 371 municipalities—the highest number of municipalities of any Spanish province—an area of 14,292 km2 (5,518 sq mi), resulting in a population density of around 25.1 people per km2 (65.0/sq mi). The capital and largest city is Burgos, while other important urban centres include Miranda de Ebro and Aranda de Duero. It is bordered by the autonomous communities of Cantabria, the Basque Country (provinces of Biscay and Álava), and La Rioja, as well as by the provinces of Soria, Segovia, Valladolid, and Palencia, all within Castile and León. Together with Zaragoza, it is the Spanish province that borders the highest number of other provinces, with a total of eight. The province has a diverse landscape and is crossed by two of the main river basins of the Iberian Peninsula: the Ebro in the north and the Douro in the south. Its territory includes mountainous and wooded areas such as the Iberian System in the southeast, including Pico San Millán, the highest peak in the province, and the Cantabrian Mountains in the north, as well as extensive plains and agricultural lands, with cereal farming in areas such as La Bureba and Odra-Pisuerga, alongside vineyards in the Ribera del Duero and Arlanza wine regions. The province has significant historical importance, as it was a key territory in the formation of the Kingdom of Castile, and the city of Burgos served as an early capital. It is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Archaeological Site of Atapuerca, which contains some of the oldest human remains in Europe; the Burgos Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece; and the Camino de Santiago, one of the most important pilgrimage routes in Europe. Burgos is also rich in cultural and architectural heritage, with numerous monasteries, castles, and historic towns distributed throughout the province. In addition, the Cartularies of Valpuesta, from the burgalese monastery of Santa María de Valpuesta, are considered to be among the oldest known documents containing words written in the Spanish language. Etymology The name of the province derives from that of its capital, the city of Burgos, and therefore shares the same etymological origin. There are several possible origins for the toponymy. When the city was founded, the inhabitants of the surrounding country moved into the fortified village, whose Visigothic name of Burgos signified consolidated walled villages (Gothic baurgs). The cities Burgas in Bulgaria and numerous cities containing the Germanic burg "city" such as Hamburg have a similar literal composition. The city began to be called Caput Castellae ("Cabeza de Castilla" or "Head of Castile"). Overview Since 1964, archaeologists have been working at numerous areas of the Archaeological Site of Atapuerca, where they have found ancient hominid and human remains, the former dating to more than one million years ago, with artefacts from the Palaeolithic and Bronze Ages of man. The site has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The province has an area of 14,300 km2 (5,500 sq mi) and a population of approximately 375,000 of whom nearly half live in the capital. The other locations higher than 20,000 inhabitants apart from Burgos are Miranda de Ebro and Aranda de Duero, both very industrialized. The Sierra de la Demanda, the northwesternmost end of the Sistema Ibérico where lies the Pico San Millán, is located in Burgos Province. The most important rivers in the province are the Ebro and the Duero. The river Duero is in the south of the province and leads to the Atlantic Ocean at Porto, Portugal. Planted near it is a notable vineyard, Ribera de Duero. The north and south-east of the province are mountainous. The Ebro flows to the Mediterranean Sea. In Valpuesta the oldest texts in the Spanish language has been found, dating from the tenth century. Transportation is developed through a wide net of highways and roads. Besides, the province is served by the Burgos Airport, and The High-speed rail AVE. History In the Atapuerca area, archaeologists have found evidence of occupation by hominids and humans for more than one million years. Discoveries have included the earliest hominid skull in Europe. The Celtiberian region that became Burgos was inhabited by the Morgobos, Turmodigi, Berones and perhaps also the Pellendones, the last inhabitants of the northern part of the Celtiberian region. According to the Greek historian Ptolemy, the principal cities included: Brabum, Sisara, Deobrigula (nowadays Tardajos), Ambisna Segiasamon (Sasamón) and Verovesca (Briviesca). Under Roman colonization, it was part of Hispania Citerior ("Hither Spain") and then Hispania Tarraconensis. In the fifth century, the Visigoths drove back the Suevi. In the eighth century, the Arabs occupied all of Castiles. Alfonso III the Great, king of León reconquered the area around the middle of the ninth century, and built many castles for the defence of Christendom. Gradually the area was reconquered. The region came to be known as Castile (Latin castella), i.e. "land of castles". In the eleventh century, Burgos became the capital of the Kingdom of Castile. Government and politics The Province of Burgos was established by the Royal Decree of 29 October 1833, driven by the minister Javier de Burgos, like the rest of the provinces of the country (see: 1833 territorial division of Spain). This division considered the common historic, cultural, and economic characteristics of each territory. The government and administration of the province of Burgos is the responsibility of the Provincial Council of Burgos, as outlined in the statute of autonomy of Castile and León. Its headquarters are located in the Provincial Palace of Burgos. Political divisions Today, the province does not have official political divisions, but historically it has been divided into several comarcas. The province of Burgos is divided in 10 comarcas (a Spanish term for shires). Las Merindades Páramos Valle del Ebro La Bureba Montes de Oca Alfoz de Burgos Sierra de la Demanda Odra y Pisuerga Arlanza Ribera del Duero Demography Population trends Demographic indicators Population Burgos is the third most populous province of Castile and León, with 359,948 people in 2024 (INE). It represents around 15% of the community's total population. It holds approximately 0.75% of the national population and ranks 36th among Spanish provinces. It shows limited demographic growth compared to other provinces in Castile and León, with a generally stagnant or declining population trend. The province is characterized by an ageing population and strong rural depopulation, although its main urban areas maintain greater demographic stability. Immigration As of 2025, immigrants in the province of Burgos represented 10.8% of the population, with 39,030 immigrants holding a residence card. This represents a significant increase compared to the year 2000, when the foreign population accounted for less than 1% of the total (0.6% exactly). The growth has been particularly notable since the early 2000s, driven by both economic migration and more recent international mobility trends. Composition of the population The population of Burgos shows a balanced gender distribution and a significant weight in the middle-aged and elderly brackets. As of 2025, 59.7% of the population was between 18 and 64 years old. 25.6% were aged 65 years or more, while children and adolescents (0–17 years) represented 14.7%. Total population of the Province (2025) Males: 181,482 (50%) Females: 181,181 (50%) Total: 362,663 People by age 0–19 years: 60,370 (16.6%) 20–39 years: 72,710 (20.0%) 40–59 years: 109,057 (30.1%) Over 60 years: 120,526 (33.3%) Most populous municipalities The twenty most populated municipalities in the province of Burgos are the following (INE 2024): Considering that the metropolitan area of Burgos has around 200,000 inhabitants, including municipalities such as Alfoz de Quintanadueñas, Villagonzalo Pedernales, and Arcos de la Llana, there is a strong concentration of population around the capital. Together with the urban areas of Burgos, Aranda de Duero, and Miranda de Ebro—accounting for over 75% of the provincial population—this creates a clear contrast with the province's rural areas. Much of the territory is affected by depopulation, with many small municipalities having very low population levels, often below 100 inhabitants. Administrative divisions The province of Burgos is divided into 371 municipalities, being the Spanish province with the highest number, although many of them have fewer than 100 inhabitants. See also List of municipalities in Burgos Treviño enclave References External links Website of the Autonomous Community of Castile and León Website of the Province of Burgos delegation