Gouveia: population and statistics
Gouveia has a population of 11,963 (2025) across 300.6 km², or 39.8 people per km². It ranks 171 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +0.9% between 2021 and 2025.
- 11,963 residents
- 300.6 km²
- 40 people/km²
- 570 m
Key points
Among the 14 municipalities in Guarda, Gouveia ranks No. 3 by population.
Usual residences with central heating: 33.8% in Gouveia, compared with an average of 32.3% in Guarda and 13.8% nationally.
Population aged 65 and over: 38.7% in Gouveia, compared with an average of 34.7% in Guarda and 23.3% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 18.7% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 34° generates about 1,449 kWh a year here.
Gouveia in numbers
Where is Gouveia?
Population of Gouveia over time
Gouveia had 11,861 residents in 2021 and 11,963 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,861 |
| 2022 | 11,849 |
| 2023 | 11,905 |
| 2024 | 11,983 |
| 2025 | 11,963 |
Did you know?
- “Usual residences with central heating”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- “Population aged 65 and over”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- “Vacant dwellings”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 42,102 football pitches.
- Its population density is 3.1 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Seia (21,597 residents), 12 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,796 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Gouveia
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 | Gouveia | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 38.7% | 34.7% | 26.9% | ranked 25 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 9.7% | 9.7% | 11.7% | ranked 253 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 397.7 | – | 229.9 | ranked 40 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 39.8 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 197 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 0.86% | – | 4.50% | ranked 240 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Gouveia | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 10,138 | 114,698 | 3,573,416 | ranked 121 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 16.8% | 15.0% | 12.8% | ranked 88 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 14.5% | 14.6% | 16.8% | ranked 221 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 13.4% | 15.1% | 14.2% | ranked 169 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 11,165 | 131,320 | 5,970,677 | ranked 135 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 33.4% | 36.1% | 25.8% | ranked 102 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 19.9% | 15.7% | 13.1% | ranked 23 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 80.4% | 81.7% | 77.8% | ranked 116 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 12.9% | 11.7% | 13.6% | ranked 168 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 12.7% | 19.5% | 13.8% | ranked 161 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 500 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 266 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Gouveia | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 9.1% | 8.8% | 18.6% | ranked 273 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 33.8% | 32.3% | 12.6% | ranked 21 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,043 kWh/inh. | 3,714 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 244 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Gouveia | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 1,335 | 19,109 | 1,510,274 | ranked 193 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 112.1 | 137.3 | 128.1 | ranked 237 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 9,751 € | 10,768 € | 10,553 € | ranked 219 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 70.3 | 79.2 | 79.5 | ranked 249 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Gouveia | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 6.8% | 6.4% | 7.0% | ranked 160 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,223 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 192 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Gouveia | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 38,695 | 481,236 | 82,011,658 | ranked 156 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 323.2 | 345.5 | 275.0 | ranked 138 of 306 |
Education
| Indicator | Gouveia | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 12.6% | 15.3% | 13.2% | ranked 173 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Gouveia
Business sectors: Gouveia
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing18.7% ×2.3
- Wholesale and retail trade15.9% ×1.1
- Accommodation and food services10.1% ×1.2
- Administrative and support services10.1% ×0.6
- Construction8.7% ×1.2
- Health and social work7.6% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical6.4% ×0.6
- Manufacturing5.4% ×1.2
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Gouveia?
Gouveia has 11,963 residents (2025), ranking 171 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Gouveia?
Gouveia covers 300.6 km², with a density of 40 people per km².
Is the population of Gouveia growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Gouveia went from 11,861 to 11,963, a change of +0.9%.
Where is Gouveia?
Gouveia is in Guarda. Latitude 40.500, longitude −7.600.
Usual residences with central heating: what is the figure for Gouveia?
In Gouveia, “Usual residences with central heating” stands at 33.8% (2021), ranking 21 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 12.6%.
Population aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Gouveia?
In Gouveia, “Population aged 65 and over” stands at 38.7% (2025), ranking 25 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 26.9%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Gouveia?
In Gouveia, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 34° produces about 1,449 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Gouveia?
The nearest to Gouveia are Seia (12 km), Manteigas (12 km), Fornos de Algodres (14 km), Mangualde (18 km), Penalva do Castelo (20 km).
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