Fafe: population and statistics
Fafe has a population of 50,392 (2025) across 219.1 km², or 230 people per km². It ranks 64 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +4.7% between 2021 and 2025.
- 50,392 residents
- 219.1 km²
- 230 people/km²
- 337 m
Key points
Among the 14 municipalities in Braga, Fafe ranks No. 5 by population.
Owner-occupied usual residences: 68.1% in Fafe, compared with an average of 71.3% in Braga and 69.8% nationally.
Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants: 60.9 in Fafe, compared with an average of 207.4 in Braga and 722.7 nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 19.0% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 35° generates about 1,401 kWh a year here.
Fafe in numbers
Where is Fafe?
Population of Fafe over time
Fafe had 48,152 residents in 2021 and 50,392 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 48,152 |
| 2022 | 48,888 |
| 2023 | 49,598 |
| 2024 | 50,005 |
| 2025 | 50,392 |
Did you know?
- Its area is roughly equal to 30,683 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Felgueiras, 9.7 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Guimarães (165,554 residents), 10 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,604 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Fafe
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 | Fafe | Braga | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 25.1% | 21.8% | 26.9% | ranked 183 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 11.9% | 12.5% | 11.7% | ranked 133 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 211.5 | – | 229.9 | ranked 185 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 230.0 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 68 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 4.65% | – | 4.50% | ranked 152 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Fafe | Braga | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 20,709 | 278,807 | 3,573,416 | ranked 47 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 8.1% | 7.9% | 12.8% | ranked 255 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 21.9% | 24.0% | 16.8% | ranked 57 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 12.9% | 11.6% | 14.2% | ranked 188 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 26,374 | 404,815 | 5,970,677 | ranked 64 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 20.1% | 14.0% | 25.8% | ranked 195 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 10.3% | 8.7% | 13.1% | ranked 237 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 68.1% | 71.3% | 77.8% | ranked 270 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 22.2% | 20.3% | 13.6% | ranked 44 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 20.5% | 31.9% | 13.8% | ranked 116 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,263 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 132 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Fafe | Braga | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 20.5% | 25.3% | 18.6% | ranked 136 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 19.9% | 22.9% | 12.6% | ranked 94 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,234 kWh/inh. | 4,196 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 215 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Fafe | Braga | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 5,440 | 107,267 | 1,510,274 | ranked 68 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 109.7 | 121.2 | 128.1 | ranked 249 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 10,067 € | 11,127 € | 10,553 € | ranked 195 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 76.9 | 88.8 | 79.5 | ranked 177 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Fafe | Braga | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 8.3% | 7.0% | 7.0% | ranked 78 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,165 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 240 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Fafe | Braga | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 30,570 | 1,864,986 | 82,011,658 | ranked 175 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 60.9 | 207.4 | 275.0 | ranked 273 of 306 |
Education
| Indicator | Fafe | Braga | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 14.0% | 18.3% | 13.2% | ranked 130 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Fafe
Business sectors: Fafe
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade19.0% ×1.3
- Construction12.6% ×1.8
- Manufacturing12.2% ×2.7
- Health and social work8.5% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical8.3% ×0.8
- Administrative and support services8.1% ×0.5
- Accommodation and food services6.8% ×0.8
- Other service activities5.9% ×1.2
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Fafe?
Fafe has 50,392 residents (2025), ranking 64 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Fafe?
Fafe covers 219.1 km², with a density of 230 people per km².
Is the population of Fafe growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Fafe went from 48,152 to 50,392, a change of +4.7%.
Where is Fafe?
Fafe is in Braga. Latitude 41.450, longitude −8.167.
Owner-occupied usual residences: what is the figure for Fafe?
In Fafe, “Owner-occupied usual residences” stands at 68.1% (2021), ranking 270 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 77.8%.
Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants: what is the figure for Fafe?
In Fafe, “Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants” stands at 60.9 (2025), ranking 273 of 306 municipalities; the national median is 275.0.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Fafe?
In Fafe, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 35° produces about 1,401 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Fafe?
The nearest to Fafe are Felgueiras (9.7 km), Guimarães (10 km), Vizela (13 km), Celorico de Basto (15 km), Póvoa de Lanhoso (15 km).
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