Asturias possesses 1,085,289 inhabitants, with an average population density of 102,3 inhabitants per km². The region is divided in 78 municipalities, and the central metropolitan area accounts for 80 % of the population with the largest cities and towns (Oviedo, the capital with 212.174 inhabitants, Gijón, the most populated with 273.932 inhabitants, Avilés, with 84.171 inhabitants, Mieres and Langreo, with 44,459 and 45,663 inhabitants, respectively).

Asturias is located in the North-West of the Iberian Peninsula, it has a surface of 10.604 km2, and is bordered to the North by 334 km of coastline, bathed by the Cantabrian Sea.

The Principality of Asturias Region is a Spanish Autonomous Community, The Principality of Asturias government is responsible for the regional policies with respect to spatial and territorial planning, infrastructures and development of residential areas, transport, industry, natural areas, health, education, environment, R&D, etc. The regional authority itself has 33,380 employees and a budget of aprox. 4,6 billion euros. The University of Oviedo, founded in 1608, has around 26,000 students and offers degrees and postgraduates that cover most areas of knowledge.

The main characteristic of the economic structure of Asturias is the importance of the industrial sector, that represents 21,67 % of the activity: agroalimentary, metal, chemical and mining are the main sectors with presence in Asturias. Services represents 62,6 % and have shown a very strong upward trend in the past decade. Construction accounts 13,87 % and the primary sector 1,87 %.

Along with the historical presence of big companies, a determining factor in the industrial sector is the activity of a close-knit network of small and medium size companies.

The GDP of Asturias reached in 2008 a figure of 23,753 million euros. Regional GDP per capita was 22,443 euros.