Seia: population and statistics
Seia has a population of 21,597 (2025) across 435.7 km², or 49.6 people per km². It ranks 119 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is stable: +0.2% between 2021 and 2025.
- 21,597 residents
- 435.7 km²
- 50 people/km²
- 523 m
Key points
Among the 14 municipalities in Guarda, Seia ranks No. 2 by population.
Population aged 65 and over: 35.7% in Seia, compared with an average of 34.7% in Guarda and 23.3% nationally.
Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: 107.6 in Seia, compared with an average of 137.3 in Guarda and 134.6 nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 20.4% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 34° generates about 1,406 kWh a year here.
Seia in numbers
Where is Seia?
Population of Seia over time
Seia had 21,545 residents in 2021 and 21,597 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,545 |
| 2022 | 21,698 |
| 2023 | 21,745 |
| 2024 | 21,792 |
| 2025 | 21,597 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Guarda for “Overnight stays in tourist accommodation”.
- Its area is roughly equal to 61,021 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.5 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Gouveia, 12.3 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Covilhã (51,045 residents), 23 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,624 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Seia
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 | Seia | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 35.7% | 34.7% | 26.9% | ranked 46 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 9.8% | 9.7% | 11.7% | ranked 248 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 364.0 | – | 229.9 | ranked 47 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 49.6 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 181 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 0.24% | – | 4.50% | ranked 254 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Seia | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 14,713 | 114,698 | 3,573,416 | ranked 82 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 19.3% | 15.0% | 12.8% | ranked 62 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 13.5% | 14.6% | 16.8% | ranked 247 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 15.8% | 15.1% | 14.2% | ranked 112 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 17,621 | 131,320 | 5,970,677 | ranked 92 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 31.1% | 36.1% | 25.8% | ranked 120 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 16.9% | 15.7% | 13.1% | ranked 66 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 80.7% | 81.7% | 77.8% | ranked 105 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 12.7% | 11.7% | 13.6% | ranked 172 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 20.0% | 19.5% | 13.8% | ranked 118 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 699 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 229 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Seia | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 11.7% | 8.8% | 18.6% | ranked 247 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 26.4% | 32.3% | 12.6% | ranked 65 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,195 kWh/inh. | 3,714 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 221 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Seia | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 2,340 | 19,109 | 1,510,274 | ranked 129 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 107.6 | 137.3 | 128.1 | ranked 258 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 10,099 € | 10,768 € | 10,553 € | ranked 193 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 78.8 | 79.2 | 79.5 | ranked 158 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Seia | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 6.1% | 6.4% | 7.0% | ranked 204 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,198 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 212 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Seia | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 100,130 | 481,236 | 82,011,658 | ranked 93 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 461.5 | 345.5 | 275.0 | ranked 104 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 28.0% | – | 18.4% | ranked 51 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Seia | Guarda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 12.8% | 15.3% | 13.2% | ranked 166 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Seia
Business sectors: Seia
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade20.4% ×1.4
- Accommodation and food services10.6% ×1.3
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing9.8% ×1.2
- Administrative and support services8.7% ×0.5
- Construction8.4% ×1.2
- Health and social work8.2% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical7.4% ×0.7
- Manufacturing6.8% ×1.5
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Seia?
Seia has 21,597 residents (2025), ranking 119 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Seia?
Seia covers 435.7 km², with a density of 50 people per km².
Is the population of Seia growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Seia went from 21,545 to 21,597, a change of +0.2%.
Where is Seia?
Seia is in Guarda. Latitude 40.422, longitude −7.702.
Population aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Seia?
In Seia, “Population aged 65 and over” stands at 35.7% (2025), ranking 46 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 26.9%.
Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Seia?
In Seia, “Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 107.6 (2023), ranking 258 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 128.1.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Seia?
In Seia, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 34° produces about 1,406 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Seia?
The nearest to Seia are Gouveia (12 km), Manteigas (15 km), Oliveira do Hospital (15 km), Nelas (16 km), Mangualde (21 km).
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