Arouca: population and statistics
Arouca has a population of 21,459 (2025) across 329.1 km², or 65.2 people per km². It ranks 120 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +2.0% between 2021 and 2025.
- 21,459 residents
- 329.1 km²
- 65 people/km²
- 306 m
Key points
Among the 19 municipalities in Aveiro, Arouca ranks No. 15 by population.
Unemployment rate: 4.8% in Arouca, compared with an average of 6.2% in Aveiro and 8.2% nationally.
Usual residences with central heating: 31.4% in Arouca, compared with an average of 16.2% in Aveiro and 13.8% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 15.8% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 35° generates about 1,433 kWh a year here.
Arouca in numbers
Where is Arouca?
Population of Arouca over time
Arouca had 21,041 residents in 2021 and 21,459 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,041 |
| 2022 | 21,159 |
| 2023 | 21,360 |
| 2024 | 21,486 |
| 2025 | 21,459 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Aveiro for “Elevation”.
- Number 1 in Aveiro for “Buildings built since 2001”.
- “Unemployment rate”: lower than in 91% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 46,094 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Castelo de Paiva, 11.2 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Oliveira de Azeméis (70,027 residents), 23 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,732 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Arouca
Value for the municipality, then the regional average and the national median (for counts: regional and national totals). The gauge places the municipality between the lowest and highest value in the country.
Population
| Indicator | Arouca | Aveiro | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 26.1% | 24.5% | 26.9% | ranked 167 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 11.6% | 12.1% | 11.7% | ranked 159 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 226.1 | – | 229.9 | ranked 159 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 65.2 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 159 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 1.99% | – | 4.50% | ranked 220 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Arouca | Aveiro | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 10,301 | 257,230 | 3,573,416 | ranked 118 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 12.7% | 10.6% | 12.8% | ranked 158 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 22.7% | 17.5% | 16.8% | ranked 51 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 17.6% | 16.4% | 14.2% | ranked 71 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 11,157 | 357,393 | 5,970,677 | ranked 136 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 21.8% | 13.0% | 25.8% | ranked 184 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 10.1% | 10.9% | 13.1% | ranked 244 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 80.7% | 73.9% | 77.8% | ranked 105 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 9.1% | 18.3% | 13.6% | ranked 238 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 7.0% | 29.4% | 13.8% | ranked 234 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,057 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 161 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Arouca | Aveiro | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 19.8% | 25.1% | 18.6% | ranked 140 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 31.4% | 16.2% | 12.6% | ranked 34 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 2,831 kWh/inh. | 6,360 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 266 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Arouca | Aveiro | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 2,709 | 91,783 | 1,510,274 | ranked 115 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 126.8 | 124.3 | 128.1 | ranked 165 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 9,769 € | 11,769 € | 10,553 € | ranked 216 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 75.5 | 91.1 | 79.5 | ranked 198 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Arouca | Aveiro | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 4.8% | 6.2% | 7.0% | ranked 275 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,264 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 145 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Arouca | Aveiro | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 41,649 | 1,500,610 | 82,011,658 | ranked 149 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 194.0 | 200.9 | 275.0 | ranked 196 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 10.2% | – | 18.4% | ranked 125 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Arouca | Aveiro | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 12.3% | 18.3% | 13.2% | ranked 186 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Arouca
Business sectors: Arouca
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing15.8% ×2.0
- Wholesale and retail trade14.2% ×1.0
- Construction13.5% ×1.9
- Administrative and support services12.8% ×0.8
- Manufacturing9.2% ×2.0
- Accommodation and food services7.2% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical6.5% ×0.6
- Health and social work5.8% ×0.7
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Arouca?
Arouca has 21,459 residents (2025), ranking 120 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Arouca?
Arouca covers 329.1 km², with a density of 65 people per km².
Is the population of Arouca growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Arouca went from 21,041 to 21,459, a change of +2.0%.
Where is Arouca?
Arouca is in Aveiro. Latitude 40.933, longitude −8.250.
Unemployment rate: what is the figure for Arouca?
In Arouca, “Unemployment rate” stands at 4.8% (2021), ranking 275 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 7.0%.
Usual residences with central heating: what is the figure for Arouca?
In Arouca, “Usual residences with central heating” stands at 31.4% (2021), ranking 34 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 12.6%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Arouca?
In Arouca, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 35° produces about 1,433 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Arouca?
The nearest to Arouca are Castelo de Paiva (11 km), Vale de Cambra (16 km), Cinfães (20 km), São João da Madeira (21 km), Oliveira de Azeméis (23 km).
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