Fronteira: population and statistics
Fronteira has a population of 2,957 (2025) across 248.6 km², or 11.9 people per km². It ranks 295 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +0.7% between 2021 and 2025.
- 2,957 residents
- 248.6 km²
- 12 people/km²
- 228 m
Key points
Among the 15 municipalities in Portalegre, Fronteira ranks No. 12 by population.
Buildings built since 2001: 9.4% in Fronteira, compared with an average of 13.2% in Portalegre and 17.3% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 35.3% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 34° generates about 1,592 kWh a year here.
Fronteira in numbers
Where is Fronteira?
Population of Fronteira over time
Fronteira had 2,936 residents in 2021 and 2,957 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,936 |
| 2022 | 2,971 |
| 2023 | 3,014 |
| 2024 | 2,987 |
| 2025 | 2,957 |
Did you know?
- “Buildings built since 2001”: lower than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Enterprises”: lower than in 93% of municipalities.
- “Overnight stays in tourist accommodation”: lower than in 91% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 34,818 football pitches.
- Its population density is 10.4 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Sousel (4,506 residents), 11 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 6,368 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Fronteira
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 | Fronteira | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 33.6% | 29.4% | 26.9% | ranked 63 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 9.8% | 11.8% | 11.7% | ranked 248 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 343.6 | – | 229.9 | ranked 60 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 11.9 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 274 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 0.72% | – | 4.50% | ranked 243 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Fronteira | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 2,454 | 67,444 | 3,573,416 | ranked 294 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 24.2% | 23.9% | 12.8% | ranked 39 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 9.4% | 13.2% | 16.8% | ranked 302 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 8.8% | 12.9% | 14.2% | ranked 273 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 2,565 | 81,117 | 5,970,677 | ranked 295 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 35.6% | 26.2% | 25.8% | ranked 88 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 17.7% | 17.4% | 13.1% | ranked 49 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 76.8% | 72.2% | 77.8% | ranked 166 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 16.0% | 19.4% | 13.6% | ranked 118 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 2.2% | 21.0% | 13.8% | ranked 289 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 564 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 260 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Fronteira | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 16.9% | 12.7% | 18.6% | ranked 177 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 4.2% | 4.8% | 12.6% | ranked 247 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,746 kWh/inh. | 4,687 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 149 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Fronteira | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 468 | 13,328 | 1,510,274 | ranked 286 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 155.3 | 123.1 | 128.1 | ranked 64 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 11,220 € | 11,195 € | 10,553 € | ranked 112 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 77.5 | 86.5 | 79.5 | ranked 165 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Fronteira | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 6.3% | 7.6% | 7.0% | ranked 192 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,211 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 204 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Fronteira | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 5,851 | 480,475 | 82,011,658 | ranked 280 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 196.9 | 442.6 | 275.0 | ranked 195 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 16.1% | – | 18.4% | ranked 101 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Fronteira | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 12.1% | 15.0% | 13.2% | ranked 192 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Fronteira
Business sectors: Fronteira
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing35.3% ×4.4
- Wholesale and retail trade15.4% ×1.1
- Administrative and support services13.0% ×0.8
- Accommodation and food services7.7% ×0.9
- Construction6.8% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical4.9% ×0.5
- Manufacturing4.5% ×1.0
- Other service activities4.5% ×0.9
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Fronteira?
Fronteira has 2,957 residents (2025), ranking 295 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Fronteira?
Fronteira covers 248.6 km², with a density of 12 people per km².
Is the population of Fronteira growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Fronteira went from 2,936 to 2,957, a change of +0.7%.
Where is Fronteira?
Fronteira is in Portalegre. Latitude 39.050, longitude −7.650.
Buildings built since 2001: what is the figure for Fronteira?
In Fronteira, “Buildings built since 2001” stands at 9.4% (2021), ranking 302 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 16.8%.
Enterprises: what is the figure for Fronteira?
In Fronteira, “Enterprises” stands at 468 (2023), ranking 286 of 308 municipalities; the national median is 1,858.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Fronteira?
In Fronteira, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 34° produces about 1,592 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Fronteira?
The nearest to Fronteira are Sousel (11 km), Alter do Chão (17 km), Monforte (19 km), Avis (20 km), Estremoz (24 km).
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