Barcelos: population and statistics
Barcelos has a population of 122,487 (2025) across 378.7 km², or 323 people per km². It ranks 23 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +5.8% between 2021 and 2025.
- 122,487 residents
- 378.7 km²
- 323 people/km²
- 40 m
Key points
Among the 14 municipalities in Braga, Barcelos ranks No. 4 by population.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 20.1% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 36° generates about 1,446 kWh a year here.
Barcelos in numbers
Where is Barcelos?
Population of Barcelos over time
Barcelos had 115,765 residents in 2021 and 122,487 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 115,765 |
| 2022 | 118,064 |
| 2023 | 120,085 |
| 2024 | 121,646 |
| 2025 | 122,487 |
Did you know?
- “Buildings”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Enterprises”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 53,039 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.6 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Esposende, 13.9 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Braga (212,635 residents), 17 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,784 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Barcelos
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 | Barcelos | Braga | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 21.6% | 21.8% | 26.9% | ranked 255 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 12.2% | 12.5% | 11.7% | ranked 108 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 176.7 | – | 229.9 | ranked 240 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 323.4 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 54 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 5.81% | – | 4.50% | ranked 113 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Barcelos | Braga | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 39,012 | 278,807 | 3,573,416 | ranked 12 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 8.3% | 7.9% | 12.8% | ranked 250 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 24.4% | 24.0% | 16.8% | ranked 33 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 11.8% | 11.6% | 14.2% | ranked 215 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 49,821 | 404,815 | 5,970,677 | ranked 26 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 10.9% | 14.0% | 25.8% | ranked 254 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 8.5% | 8.7% | 13.1% | ranked 282 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 79.6% | 71.3% | 77.8% | ranked 128 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 11.2% | 20.3% | 13.6% | ranked 198 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 21.2% | 31.9% | 13.8% | ranked 111 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,571 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 89 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Barcelos | Braga | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 31.3% | 25.3% | 18.6% | ranked 77 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 24.1% | 22.9% | 12.6% | ranked 78 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,986 kWh/inh. | 4,196 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 128 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Barcelos | Braga | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 15,233 | 107,267 | 1,510,274 | ranked 24 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 126.9 | 121.2 | 128.1 | ranked 163 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 10,246 € | 11,127 € | 10,553 € | ranked 178 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 82.2 | 88.8 | 79.5 | ranked 134 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Barcelos | Braga | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 5.3% | 7.0% | 7.0% | ranked 248 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,267 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 143 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Barcelos | Braga | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 78,490 | 1,864,986 | 82,011,658 | ranked 108 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 64.3 | 207.4 | 275.0 | ranked 271 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 34.6% | – | 18.4% | ranked 32 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Barcelos | Braga | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 14.0% | 18.3% | 13.2% | ranked 130 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Barcelos
Business sectors: Barcelos
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade20.1% ×1.4
- Manufacturing16.5% ×3.6
- Administrative and support services10.4% ×0.6
- Construction9.7% ×1.4
- Professional, scientific and technical8.3% ×0.8
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing7.9% ×1.0
- Health and social work6.5% ×0.8
- Other service activities5.0% ×1.0
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Barcelos?
Barcelos has 122,487 residents (2025), ranking 23 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Barcelos?
Barcelos covers 378.7 km², with a density of 323 people per km².
Is the population of Barcelos growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Barcelos went from 115,765 to 122,487, a change of +5.8%.
Where is Barcelos?
Barcelos is in Braga. Latitude 41.533, longitude −8.617.
Buildings: what is the figure for Barcelos?
In Barcelos, “Buildings” stands at 39,012 (2021), ranking 12 of 308 municipalities; the national median is 7,916.
Enterprises: what is the figure for Barcelos?
In Barcelos, “Enterprises” stands at 15,233 (2023), ranking 24 of 308 municipalities; the national median is 1,858.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Barcelos?
In Barcelos, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 36° produces about 1,446 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Barcelos?
The nearest to Barcelos are Esposende (14 km), Vila Nova de Famalicão (15 km), Braga (17 km), Póvoa de Varzim (20 km), Vila Verde (20 km).
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