Guarda: population and statistics
Guarda has a population of 40,687 (2025) across 712.1 km², or 57.1 people per km². It ranks 76 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +2.0% between 2021 and 2025.
- 40,687 residents
- 712.1 km²
- 57 people/km²
- 1,011 m
Key points
Among the 14 municipalities in Guarda, Guarda ranks No. 1 by population.
Usual residences with central heating: 36.5% in Guarda, compared with an average of 32.3% in Guarda and 13.8% nationally.
Population with completed higher education: 24.4% in Guarda, compared with an average of 15.3% in Guarda and 21.5% nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 17.0% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 35° generates about 1,543 kWh a year here.
Guarda in numbers
Where is Guarda?
Population of Guarda over time
Guarda had 39,870 residents in 2021 and 40,687 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 39,870 |
| 2022 | 40,199 |
| 2023 | 40,570 |
| 2024 | 40,820 |
| 2025 | 40,687 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Guarda for “Population”.
- Number 1 in Guarda for “Population density”.
- “Usual residences with central heating”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Population with completed higher education”: higher than in 94% of municipalities.
- “Declared gross income per inhabitant”: higher than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 99,734 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.2 times lower than the national average.
All indicators for Guarda
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 | Guarda | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 26.8% | 34.7% | 26.9% | ranked 155 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 10.9% | 9.7% | 11.7% | ranked 199 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 245.6 | – | 229.9 | ranked 137 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 57.1 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 170 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 2.05% | – | 4.50% | ranked 216 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Guarda | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 19,643 | 114,698 | 3,573,416 | ranked 52 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 13.7% | 15.0% | 12.8% | ranked 135 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 16.2% | 14.6% | 16.8% | ranked 177 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 12.9% | 15.1% | 14.2% | ranked 188 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 28,416 | 131,320 | 5,970,677 | ranked 60 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 30.5% | 36.1% | 25.8% | ranked 123 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 11.9% | 15.7% | 13.1% | ranked 193 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 77.3% | 81.7% | 77.8% | ranked 162 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 16.7% | 11.7% | 13.6% | ranked 110 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 41.2% | 19.5% | 13.8% | ranked 47 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 950 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 173 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Guarda | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 8.0% | 8.8% | 18.6% | ranked 282 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 36.5% | 32.3% | 12.6% | ranked 14 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 4,609 kWh/inh. | 3,714 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 91 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Guarda | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 4,961 | 19,109 | 1,510,274 | ranked 80 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 122.3 | 137.3 | 128.1 | ranked 187 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 12,659 € | 10,768 € | 10,553 € | ranked 33 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 95.9 | 79.2 | 79.5 | ranked 49 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Guarda | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 6.5% | 6.4% | 7.0% | ranked 183 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,452 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 45 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Guarda | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 98,378 | 481,236 | 82,011,658 | ranked 94 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 241.4 | 345.5 | 275.0 | ranked 172 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 23.2% | – | 18.4% | ranked 63 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Guarda | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 24.4% | 15.3% | 13.2% | ranked 20 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Guarda
Business sectors: Guarda
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade17.0% ×1.2
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing11.9% ×1.5
- Health and social work11.1% ×1.4
- Professional, scientific and technical10.3% ×1.0
- Construction8.4% ×1.2
- Administrative and support services8.0% ×0.5
- Accommodation and food services7.8% ×0.9
- Education7.3% ×1.7
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Guarda?
Guarda has 40,687 residents (2025), ranking 76 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Guarda?
Guarda covers 712.1 km², with a density of 57 people per km².
Is the population of Guarda growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Guarda went from 39,870 to 40,687, a change of +2.0%.
Where is Guarda?
Guarda is in Guarda. Latitude 40.536, longitude −7.268.
Usual residences with central heating: what is the figure for Guarda?
In Guarda, “Usual residences with central heating” stands at 36.5% (2021), ranking 14 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 12.6%.
Population with completed higher education: what is the figure for Guarda?
In Guarda, “Population with completed higher education” stands at 24.4% (2021), ranking 20 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 13.2%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Guarda?
In Guarda, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 35° produces about 1,543 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Guarda?
The nearest to Guarda are Celorico da Beira (15 km), Belmonte (20 km), Fornos de Algodres (24 km), Sabugal (26 km), Manteigas (27 km).
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