Mealhada: population and statistics
Mealhada has a population of 19,948 (2025) across 110.7 km², or 180 people per km². It ranks 125 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +3.2% between 2021 and 2025.
- 19,948 residents
- 110.7 km²
- 180 people/km²
- 49 m
Key points
Among the 19 municipalities in Aveiro, Mealhada ranks No. 16 by population.
Unemployment rate: 4.8% in Mealhada, compared with an average of 6.2% in Aveiro and 8.2% nationally.
Buildings built before 1946: 7.6% in Mealhada, compared with an average of 10.6% in Aveiro and 12.5% nationally.
Largest business sector: Administrative and support services, with 16.5% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 35° generates about 1,449 kWh a year here.
Mealhada in numbers
Where is Mealhada?
Population of Mealhada over time
Mealhada had 19,338 residents in 2021 and 19,948 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,338 |
| 2022 | 19,671 |
| 2023 | 19,758 |
| 2024 | 19,862 |
| 2025 | 19,948 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Aveiro for “Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants”.
- “Unemployment rate”: lower than in 91% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 15,499 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Anadia, 5.7 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Cantanhede (35,779 residents), 13 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,796 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Mealhada
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 | Mealhada | Aveiro | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 27.7% | 24.5% | 26.9% | ranked 140 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 11.0% | 12.1% | 11.7% | ranked 188 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 251.8 | – | 229.9 | ranked 130 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 180.3 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 79 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 3.15% | – | 4.50% | ranked 191 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Mealhada | Aveiro | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 8,539 | 257,230 | 3,573,416 | ranked 146 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 7.6% | 10.6% | 12.8% | ranked 262 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 17.9% | 17.5% | 16.8% | ranked 128 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 16.8% | 16.4% | 14.2% | ranked 87 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 10,386 | 357,393 | 5,970,677 | ranked 145 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 11.3% | 13.0% | 25.8% | ranked 252 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 15.1% | 10.9% | 13.1% | ranked 101 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 80.6% | 73.9% | 77.8% | ranked 109 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 12.7% | 18.3% | 13.6% | ranked 172 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 19.7% | 29.4% | 13.8% | ranked 123 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,133 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 149 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Mealhada | Aveiro | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 17.2% | 25.1% | 18.6% | ranked 174 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 16.3% | 16.2% | 12.6% | ranked 123 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 4,892 kWh/inh. | 6,360 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 76 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Mealhada | Aveiro | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 2,560 | 91,783 | 1,510,274 | ranked 121 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 129.6 | 124.3 | 128.1 | ranked 148 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 12,168 € | 11,769 € | 10,553 € | ranked 50 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 89.0 | 91.1 | 79.5 | ranked 80 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Mealhada | Aveiro | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 4.8% | 6.2% | 7.0% | ranked 275 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,441 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 50 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Mealhada | Aveiro | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 114,766 | 1,500,610 | 82,011,658 | ranked 83 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 576.6 | 200.9 | 275.0 | ranked 84 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 13.3% | – | 18.4% | ranked 111 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Mealhada | Aveiro | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 18.5% | 18.3% | 13.2% | ranked 58 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Mealhada
Business sectors: Mealhada
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Administrative and support services16.5% ×1.0
- Wholesale and retail trade15.8% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical10.0% ×1.0
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing9.3% ×1.2
- Construction8.2% ×1.1
- Health and social work7.4% ×0.9
- Manufacturing7.1% ×1.6
- Other service activities6.0% ×1.2
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Mealhada?
Mealhada has 19,948 residents (2025), ranking 125 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Mealhada?
Mealhada covers 110.7 km², with a density of 180 people per km².
Is the population of Mealhada growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Mealhada went from 19,338 to 19,948, a change of +3.2%.
Where is Mealhada?
Mealhada is in Aveiro. Latitude 40.383, longitude −8.450.
Unemployment rate: what is the figure for Mealhada?
In Mealhada, “Unemployment rate” stands at 4.8% (2021), ranking 275 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 7.0%.
Buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Mealhada?
In Mealhada, “Buildings built before 1946” stands at 7.6% (2021), ranking 262 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 12.8%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Mealhada?
In Mealhada, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 35° produces about 1,449 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Mealhada?
The nearest to Mealhada are Anadia (5.7 km), Cantanhede (13 km), Oliveira do Bairro (15 km), Penacova (19 km), Coimbra (19 km).
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