Mértola: population and statistics
Mértola has a population of 5,976 (2025) across 1,292.9 km², or 4.6 people per km². It ranks 238 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −2.4% between 2021 and 2025.
- 5,976 residents
- 1,292.9 km²
- 5 people/km²
- 122 m
Key points
Among the 14 municipalities in Beja, Mértola ranks No. 9 by population.
Buildings built before 1946: 35.8% in Mértola, compared with an average of 26.3% in Beja and 12.5% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 29.5% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 33° generates about 1,611 kWh a year here.
Mértola in numbers
Where is Mértola?
Population of Mértola over time
Mértola had 6,122 residents in 2021 and 5,976 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,122 |
| 2022 | 6,095 |
| 2023 | 6,088 |
| 2024 | 6,014 |
| 2025 | 5,976 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Beja for “Population aged 65 and over”.
- Number 1 in Beja for “Ageing index (older people per 100 young people)”.
- “Population density (inhabitants per km²)”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Buildings built before 1946”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Usual residences with central heating”: lower than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 181,074 football pitches.
- Its population density is 26.9 times lower than the national average.
All indicators for Mértola
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 | Mértola | Beja | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 36.7% | 23.2% | 26.9% | ranked 40 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 8.9% | 11.4% | 11.7% | ranked 278 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 414.2 | – | 229.9 | ranked 32 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 4.6 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 306 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | −2.38% | – | 4.50% | ranked 289 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Mértola | Beja | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 8,511 | 94,143 | 3,573,416 | ranked 147 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 35.8% | 26.3% | 12.8% | ranked 3 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 13.0% | 14.8% | 16.8% | ranked 261 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 11.3% | 12.7% | 14.2% | ranked 227 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 8,664 | 107,461 | 5,970,677 | ranked 165 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 45.1% | 27.4% | 25.8% | ranked 28 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 21.6% | 16.5% | 13.1% | ranked 9 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 84.0% | 76.3% | 77.8% | ranked 69 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 7.5% | 13.1% | 13.6% | ranked 259 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 2.1% | 15.6% | 13.8% | ranked 292 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 704 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 225 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Mértola | Beja | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 19.7% | 21.6% | 18.6% | ranked 141 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 3.0% | 4.6% | 12.6% | ranked 281 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 2,877 kWh/inh. | 7,110 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 261 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Mértola | Beja | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 858 | 21,370 | 1,510,274 | ranked 236 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 140.9 | 126.3 | 128.1 | ranked 101 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 9,906 € | 10,072 € | 10,553 € | ranked 206 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 70.4 | 84.4 | 79.5 | ranked 246 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Mértola | Beja | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 6.7% | 7.3% | 7.0% | ranked 169 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,121 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 279 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Mértola | Beja | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 55,987 | 902,663 | 82,011,658 | ranked 131 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 933.9 | 529.3 | 275.0 | ranked 48 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 19.9% | – | 18.4% | ranked 80 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Mértola | Beja | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 9.4% | 14.1% | 13.2% | ranked 280 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Mértola
Business sectors: Mértola
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing29.5% ×3.7
- Wholesale and retail trade16.8% ×1.2
- Accommodation and food services13.8% ×1.7
- Administrative and support services9.7% ×0.6
- Construction6.6% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical5.9% ×0.6
- Manufacturing4.2% ×0.9
- Other service activities3.4% ×0.7
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Mértola?
Mértola has 5,976 residents (2025), ranking 238 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Mértola?
Mértola covers 1,292.9 km², with a density of 5 people per km².
Is the population of Mértola growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Mértola went from 6,122 to 5,976, a change of −2.4%.
Where is Mértola?
Mértola is in Beja. Latitude 37.633, longitude −7.650.
Population density (inhabitants per km²): what is the figure for Mértola?
In Mértola, “Population density (inhabitants per km²)” stands at 4.6 inh./km² (2025), ranking 306 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 69.6 inh./km².
Buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Mértola?
In Mértola, “Buildings built before 1946” stands at 35.8% (2021), ranking 3 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 12.8%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Mértola?
In Mértola, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 33° produces about 1,611 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Mértola?
The nearest to Mértola are Alcoutim (24 km), Serpa (34 km), Almodôvar (39 km), Castro Verde (39 km), Beja (47 km).
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