Elvas: population and statistics
Elvas has a population of 21,929 (2025) across 631.3 km², or 34.7 people per km². It ranks 117 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +2.5% between 2021 and 2025.
- 21,929 residents
- 631.3 km²
- 35 people/km²
- 331 m
Key points
Among the 15 municipalities in Portalegre, Elvas ranks No. 2 by population.
Owner-occupied usual residences: 65.6% in Elvas, compared with an average of 72.2% in Portalegre and 69.8% nationally.
Unemployment rate: 10.8% in Elvas, compared with an average of 7.6% in Portalegre and 8.2% 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 1,610 kWh a year here.
Elvas in numbers
Where is Elvas?
Population of Elvas over time
Elvas had 21,395 residents in 2021 and 21,929 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,395 |
| 2022 | 21,538 |
| 2023 | 21,828 |
| 2024 | 21,987 |
| 2025 | 21,929 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Portalegre for “Rented usual residences”.
- Number 1 in Portalegre for “Unemployment rate”.
- “Owner-occupied usual residences”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- “Unemployment rate”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 88,416 football pitches.
- Its population density is 3.6 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Campo Maior, 17.1 km away.
All indicators for Elvas
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 | Elvas | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 24.8% | 29.4% | 26.9% | ranked 193 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 13.5% | 11.8% | 11.7% | ranked 32 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 183.8 | – | 229.9 | ranked 225 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 34.7 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 205 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 2.50% | – | 4.50% | ranked 205 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Elvas | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 9,291 | 67,444 | 3,573,416 | ranked 138 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 24.4% | 23.9% | 12.8% | ranked 37 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 13.7% | 13.2% | 16.8% | ranked 239 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) | 13,411 | 81,117 | 5,970,677 | ranked 109 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 15.8% | 26.2% | 25.8% | ranked 220 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 20.3% | 17.4% | 13.1% | ranked 21 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 65.6% | 72.2% | 77.8% | ranked 287 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 25.9% | 19.4% | 13.6% | ranked 22 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 34.2% | 21.0% | 13.8% | ranked 66 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 923 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 177 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Elvas | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 13.5% | 12.7% | 18.6% | ranked 219 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 4.5% | 4.8% | 12.6% | ranked 242 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,733 kWh/inh. | 4,687 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 150 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Elvas | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 2,742 | 13,328 | 1,510,274 | ranked 114 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 125.6 | 123.1 | 128.1 | ranked 173 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 10,771 € | 11,195 € | 10,553 € | ranked 138 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 90.6 | 86.5 | 79.5 | ranked 69 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Elvas | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 10.8% | 7.6% | 7.0% | ranked 24 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,237 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 184 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Elvas | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 140,826 | 480,475 | 82,011,658 | ranked 72 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 641.3 | 442.6 | 275.0 | ranked 70 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 16.6% | – | 18.4% | ranked 96 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Elvas | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 15.3% | 15.0% | 13.2% | ranked 99 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Elvas
Business sectors: Elvas
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 trade16.8% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical10.5% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services10.2% ×0.6
- Accommodation and food services9.4% ×1.1
- Health and social work6.6% ×0.8
- Other service activities5.3% ×1.0
- Construction5.0% ×0.7
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Elvas?
Elvas has 21,929 residents (2025), ranking 117 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Elvas?
Elvas covers 631.3 km², with a density of 35 people per km².
Is the population of Elvas growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Elvas went from 21,395 to 21,929, a change of +2.5%.
Where is Elvas?
Elvas is in Portalegre. Latitude 38.880, longitude −7.163.
Owner-occupied usual residences: what is the figure for Elvas?
In Elvas, “Owner-occupied usual residences” stands at 65.6% (2021), ranking 287 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 77.8%.
Unemployment rate: what is the figure for Elvas?
In Elvas, “Unemployment rate” stands at 10.8% (2021), ranking 24 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 7.0%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Elvas?
In Elvas, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 34° produces about 1,610 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Elvas?
The nearest to Elvas are Campo Maior (17 km), Borba (26 km), Vila Viçosa (28 km), Arronches (28 km), Alandroal (29 km).
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