Cantanhede: population and statistics
Cantanhede has a population of 35,779 (2025) across 390.9 km², or 91.5 people per km². It ranks 84 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +4.8% between 2021 and 2025.
- 35,779 residents
- 390.9 km²
- 92 people/km²
- 65 m
Key points
Among the 17 municipalities in Coimbra, Cantanhede ranks No. 3 by population.
Electricity consumption per inhabitant: 6,496 kWh/inh. in Cantanhede, compared with an average of 6,957 kWh/inh. in Coimbra and 4,549 kWh/inh. nationally.
Unemployment rate: 5.3% in Cantanhede, compared with an average of 6.1% in Coimbra and 8.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 18.4% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 36° generates about 1,490 kWh a year here.
Cantanhede in numbers
Where is Cantanhede?
Population of Cantanhede over time
Cantanhede had 34,135 residents in 2021 and 35,779 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 34,135 |
| 2022 | 34,795 |
| 2023 | 35,222 |
| 2024 | 35,677 |
| 2025 | 35,779 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Coimbra for “Buildings built since 2001”.
- Number 1 in Coimbra for “Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants”.
- “Electricity consumption per inhabitant”: higher than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 54,745 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Mealhada, 12.9 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Coimbra (156,359 residents), 21 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,960 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Cantanhede
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 | Cantanhede | Coimbra | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 29.9% | 27.6% | 26.9% | ranked 111 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 11.6% | 11.2% | 11.7% | ranked 159 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 256.8 | – | 229.9 | ranked 124 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 91.5 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 132 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 4.82% | – | 4.50% | ranked 147 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Cantanhede | Coimbra | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 18,776 | 188,245 | 3,573,416 | ranked 58 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 9.2% | 12.8% | 12.8% | ranked 242 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 18.0% | 16.4% | 16.8% | ranked 120 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 16.6% | 18.2% | 14.2% | ranked 95 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 21,008 | 267,699 | 5,970,677 | ranked 83 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 21.4% | 18.3% | 25.8% | ranked 186 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 13.4% | 16.6% | 13.1% | ranked 142 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 83.3% | 76.7% | 77.8% | ranked 80 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 9.8% | 16.6% | 13.6% | ranked 222 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 9.6% | 32.4% | 13.8% | ranked 192 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,108 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 152 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Cantanhede | Coimbra | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 18.0% | 20.2% | 18.6% | ranked 164 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 18.9% | 17.5% | 12.6% | ranked 102 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 6,496 kWh/inh. | 6,957 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 33 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Cantanhede | Coimbra | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 5,234 | 55,871 | 1,510,274 | ranked 70 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 148.6 | 129.3 | 128.1 | ranked 72 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 10,916 € | 12,688 € | 10,553 € | ranked 127 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 83.3 | 94.9 | 79.5 | ranked 121 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Cantanhede | Coimbra | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 5.3% | 6.1% | 7.0% | ranked 248 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,391 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 70 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Cantanhede | Coimbra | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 38,786 | 1,496,491 | 82,011,658 | ranked 155 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 108.6 | 342.0 | 275.0 | ranked 242 of 306 |
Education
| Indicator | Cantanhede | Coimbra | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 16.9% | 23.5% | 13.2% | ranked 74 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Cantanhede
Business sectors: Cantanhede
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing18.4% ×2.3
- Wholesale and retail trade16.9% ×1.2
- Administrative and support services14.1% ×0.9
- Construction9.3% ×1.3
- Professional, scientific and technical7.5% ×0.7
- Health and social work6.9% ×0.9
- Manufacturing5.3% ×1.2
- Other service activities5.0% ×1.0
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Cantanhede?
Cantanhede has 35,779 residents (2025), ranking 84 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Cantanhede?
Cantanhede covers 390.9 km², with a density of 92 people per km².
Is the population of Cantanhede growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Cantanhede went from 34,135 to 35,779, a change of +4.8%.
Where is Cantanhede?
Cantanhede is in Coimbra. Latitude 40.346, longitude −8.594.
Electricity consumption per inhabitant: what is the figure for Cantanhede?
In Cantanhede, “Electricity consumption per inhabitant” stands at 6,496 kWh/inh. (2024), ranking 33 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 3,690 kWh/inh..
Unemployment rate: what is the figure for Cantanhede?
In Cantanhede, “Unemployment rate” stands at 5.3% (2021), ranking 248 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 7.0%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Cantanhede?
In Cantanhede, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 36° produces about 1,490 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Cantanhede?
The nearest to Cantanhede are Mealhada (13 km), Mira (15 km), Anadia (17 km), Coimbra (21 km), Oliveira do Bairro (21 km).
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