Alter do Chão: population and statistics
Alter do Chão has a population of 3,194 (2025) across 362.1 km², or 8.8 people per km². It ranks 291 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +4.1% between 2021 and 2025.
- 3,194 residents
- 362.1 km²
- 9 people/km²
- 252 m
Key points
Among the 15 municipalities in Portalegre, Alter do Chão ranks No. 10 by population.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 34.6% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 35° generates about 1,583 kWh a year here.
Alter do Chão in numbers
Where is Alter do Chão?
Population of Alter do Chão over time
Alter do Chão had 3,069 residents in 2021 and 3,194 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,069 |
| 2022 | 3,137 |
| 2023 | 3,157 |
| 2024 | 3,174 |
| 2025 | 3,194 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Portalegre for “Population change over 4 years”.
- Number 1 in Portalegre for “Population change between 2021 and 2025”.
- “Population density (inhabitants per km²)”: lower than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Enterprises”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- “Buildings built since 2001”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 50,710 football pitches.
- Its population density is 14.1 times lower than the national average.
All indicators for Alter do Chão
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 | Alter do Chão | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 32.5% | 29.4% | 26.9% | ranked 74 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 12.1% | 11.8% | 11.7% | ranked 115 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 268.0 | – | 229.9 | ranked 113 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 8.8 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 295 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 4.07% | – | 4.50% | ranked 167 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Alter do Chão | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 2,819 | 67,444 | 3,573,416 | ranked 286 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 24.2% | 23.9% | 12.8% | ranked 39 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 11.2% | 13.2% | 16.8% | ranked 286 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 12.6% | 12.9% | 14.2% | ranked 196 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 3,009 | 81,117 | 5,970,677 | ranked 285 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 38.4% | 26.2% | 25.8% | ranked 68 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 19.0% | 17.4% | 13.1% | ranked 35 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 73.9% | 72.2% | 77.8% | ranked 213 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 17.6% | 19.4% | 13.6% | ranked 89 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 9.3% | 21.0% | 13.8% | ranked 196 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 432 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 282 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Alter do Chão | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 19.3% | 12.7% | 18.6% | ranked 149 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 3.0% | 4.8% | 12.6% | ranked 281 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 4,016 kWh/inh. | 4,687 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 124 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Alter do Chão | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 376 | 13,328 | 1,510,274 | ranked 293 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 119.1 | 123.1 | 128.1 | ranked 207 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 11,019 € | 11,195 € | 10,553 € | ranked 121 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 77.4 | 86.5 | 79.5 | ranked 166 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Alter do Chão | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 7.3% | 7.6% | 7.0% | ranked 136 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,157 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 254 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Alter do Chão | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 33,219 | 480,475 | 82,011,658 | ranked 167 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 1,043 | 442.6 | 275.0 | ranked 41 of 306 |
Education
| Indicator | Alter do Chão | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 11.0% | 15.0% | 13.2% | ranked 224 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Alter do Chão
Business sectors: Alter do Chão
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing34.6% ×4.3
- Wholesale and retail trade14.4% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services9.3% ×0.6
- Accommodation and food services8.5% ×1.0
- Construction6.6% ×0.9
- Other service activities5.3% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical4.8% ×0.5
- Health and social work4.8% ×0.6
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Alter do Chão?
Alter do Chão has 3,194 residents (2025), ranking 291 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Alter do Chão?
Alter do Chão covers 362.1 km², with a density of 9 people per km².
Is the population of Alter do Chão growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Alter do Chão went from 3,069 to 3,194, a change of +4.1%.
Where is Alter do Chão?
Alter do Chão is in Portalegre. Latitude 39.200, longitude −7.667.
Population density (inhabitants per km²): what is the figure for Alter do Chão?
In Alter do Chão, “Population density (inhabitants per km²)” stands at 8.8 inh./km² (2025), ranking 295 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 69.6 inh./km².
Enterprises: what is the figure for Alter do Chão?
In Alter do Chão, “Enterprises” stands at 376 (2023), ranking 293 of 308 municipalities; the national median is 1,858.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Alter do Chão?
In Alter do Chão, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 35° produces about 1,583 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Alter do Chão?
The nearest to Alter do Chão are Crato (9.4 km), Fronteira (17 km), Avis (25 km), Portalegre (25 km), Monforte (26 km).
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