Penela: population and statistics
Penela has a population of 5,730 (2025) across 134.8 km², or 42.5 people per km². It ranks 242 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +7.1% between 2021 and 2025.
- 5,730 residents
- 134.8 km²
- 42 people/km²
- 164 m
Key points
Among the 17 municipalities in Coimbra, Penela ranks No. 15 by population.
Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair: 39.2% in Penela, compared with an average of 18.2% in Coimbra and 13.3% nationally.
Unemployment rate: 4.4% in Penela, compared with an average of 6.1% in Coimbra and 8.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 16.5% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 33° generates about 1,436 kWh a year here.
Penela in numbers
Where is Penela?
Population of Penela over time
Penela had 5,352 residents in 2021 and 5,730 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,352 |
| 2022 | 5,474 |
| 2023 | 5,576 |
| 2024 | 5,635 |
| 2025 | 5,730 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Coimbra for “Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair”.
- Number 1 in Coimbra for “Vacant dwellings”.
- “Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Unemployment rate”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 18,880 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.9 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Miranda do Corvo (12,308 residents), 8.5 km away.
All indicators for Penela
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 | Penela | Coimbra | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 31.1% | 27.6% | 26.9% | ranked 94 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 10.6% | 11.2% | 11.7% | ranked 215 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 292.3 | – | 229.9 | ranked 91 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 42.5 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 192 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 7.06% | – | 4.50% | ranked 89 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Penela | Coimbra | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 4,152 | 188,245 | 3,573,416 | ranked 249 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 19.0% | 12.8% | 12.8% | ranked 64 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 15.8% | 16.4% | 16.8% | ranked 186 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 39.2% | 18.2% | 14.2% | ranked 1 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 4,364 | 267,699 | 5,970,677 | ranked 255 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 22.6% | 18.3% | 25.8% | ranked 176 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 25.9% | 16.6% | 13.1% | ranked 1 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 88.2% | 76.7% | 77.8% | ranked 16 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 6.8% | 16.6% | 13.6% | ranked 275 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 7.3% | 32.4% | 13.8% | ranked 227 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 759 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 213 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Penela | Coimbra | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 18.4% | 20.2% | 18.6% | ranked 155 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 19.5% | 17.5% | 12.6% | ranked 99 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,992 kWh/inh. | 6,957 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 125 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Penela | Coimbra | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 734 | 55,871 | 1,510,274 | ranked 255 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 131.6 | 129.3 | 128.1 | ranked 140 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 10,128 € | 12,688 € | 10,553 € | ranked 188 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 76.3 | 94.9 | 79.5 | ranked 181 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Penela | Coimbra | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 4.4% | 6.1% | 7.0% | ranked 287 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,281 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 135 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Penela | Coimbra | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 22,337 | 1,496,491 | 82,011,658 | ranked 201 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 393.1 | 342.0 | 275.0 | ranked 121 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 8.8% | – | 18.4% | ranked 134 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Penela | Coimbra | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 14.4% | 23.5% | 13.2% | ranked 118 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Penela
Business sectors: Penela
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade16.5% ×1.1
- Administrative and support services16.1% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical10.5% ×1.0
- Construction9.7% ×1.4
- Accommodation and food services9.0% ×1.1
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing7.5% ×0.9
- Health and social work6.5% ×0.8
- Manufacturing5.3% ×1.2
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Penela?
Penela has 5,730 residents (2025), ranking 242 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Penela?
Penela covers 134.8 km², with a density of 42 people per km².
Is the population of Penela growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Penela went from 5,352 to 5,730, a change of +7.1%.
Where is Penela?
Penela is in Coimbra. Latitude 40.033, longitude −8.383.
Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair: what is the figure for Penela?
In Penela, “Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair” stands at 39.2% (2021), ranking 1 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 14.2%.
Unemployment rate: what is the figure for Penela?
In Penela, “Unemployment rate” stands at 4.4% (2021), ranking 287 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 7.0%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Penela?
In Penela, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 33° produces about 1,436 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Penela?
The nearest to Penela are Miranda do Corvo (8.5 km), Condeixa-a-Nova (14 km), Ansião (14 km), Lousã (15 km), Castanheira de Pêra (15 km).
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