Sintra: population and statistics
Sintra has a population of 449,956 (2025) across 319.2 km², or 1,410 people per km². It ranks 2 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +12.4% between 2021 and 2025.
- 449,956 residents
- 319.2 km²
- 1,410 people/km²
- 216 m
Key points
Among the 16 municipalities in Lisbon, Sintra ranks No. 2 by population.
Largest business sector: Administrative and support services, with 27.7% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 32° generates about 1,566 kWh a year here.
Sintra in numbers
Where is Sintra?
Population of Sintra over time
Sintra had 400,216 residents in 2021 and 449,956 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 400,216 |
| 2022 | 416,453 |
| 2023 | 432,915 |
| 2024 | 446,650 |
| 2025 | 449,956 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Lisbon for “Buildings”.
- “Buildings”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Enterprises”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Population aged 65 and over”: lower than in 98% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 44,710 football pitches.
- Its population density is 11.4 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Cascais, 11.5 km away.
All indicators for Sintra
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 | Sintra | Lisbon | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 17.4% | 20.2% | 26.9% | ranked 300 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 13.6% | 13.2% | 11.7% | ranked 28 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 127.3 | – | 229.9 | ranked 299 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 1,410 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 19 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 12.43% | – | 4.50% | ranked 27 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Sintra | Lisbon | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 57,759 | 365,844 | 3,573,416 | ranked 2 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 8.3% | 14.2% | 12.8% | ranked 250 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 13.8% | 14.1% | 16.8% | ranked 236 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 9.6% | 11.1% | 14.2% | ranked 254 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 184,095 | 1,188,665 | 5,970,677 | ranked 2 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 7.6% | 9.2% | 25.8% | ranked 281 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 9.3% | 11.1% | 13.1% | ranked 262 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 68.1% | 62.8% | 77.8% | ranked 270 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 25.0% | 30.0% | 13.6% | ranked 30 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 75.9% | 76.1% | 13.8% | ranked 10 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 2,733 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 25 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Sintra | Lisbon | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 41.0% | 34.6% | 18.6% | ranked 38 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 5.9% | 8.6% | 12.6% | ranked 208 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 2,380 kWh/inh. | 3,519 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 295 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Sintra | Lisbon | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 51,273 | 386,981 | 1,510,274 | ranked 3 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 118.4 | 148.6 | 128.1 | ranked 208 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 11,713 € | 14,038 € | 10,553 € | ranked 77 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 98.9 | 124.4 | 79.5 | ranked 38 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Sintra | Lisbon | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 9.1% | 8.3% | 7.0% | ranked 54 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,531 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 25 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Sintra | Lisbon | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 744,116 | 20,050,750 | 82,011,658 | ranked 17 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 166.0 | 751.9 | 275.0 | ranked 206 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 40.7% | – | 18.4% | ranked 25 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Sintra | Lisbon | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 21.4% | 29.8% | 13.2% | ranked 36 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Sintra
Business sectors: Sintra
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Administrative and support services27.7% ×1.7
- Wholesale and retail trade12.3% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical8.7% ×0.8
- Construction8.1% ×1.1
- Health and social work6.9% ×0.9
- Transport and storage6.1% ×1.7
- Other service activities5.9% ×1.2
- Accommodation and food services5.7% ×0.7
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sintra?
Sintra has 449,956 residents (2025), ranking 2 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Sintra?
Sintra covers 319.2 km², with a density of 1,410 people per km².
Is the population of Sintra growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Sintra went from 400,216 to 449,956, a change of +12.4%.
Where is Sintra?
Sintra is in Lisbon. Latitude 38.797, longitude −9.390.
Buildings: what is the figure for Sintra?
In Sintra, “Buildings” stands at 57,759 (2021), ranking 2 of 308 municipalities; the national median is 7,916.
Enterprises: what is the figure for Sintra?
In Sintra, “Enterprises” stands at 51,273 (2023), ranking 3 of 308 municipalities; the national median is 1,858.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Sintra?
In Sintra, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 32° produces about 1,566 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Sintra?
The nearest to Sintra are Cascais (11 km), Oeiras (14 km), Amadora (15 km), Mafra (16 km), Odivelas (18 km).
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