Sousel: population and statistics
Sousel has a population of 4,506 (2025) across 279.3 km², or 16.1 people per km². It ranks 268 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +2.3% between 2021 and 2025.
- 4,506 residents
- 279.3 km²
- 16 people/km²
- 279 m
Key points
Among the 15 municipalities in Portalegre, Sousel ranks No. 6 by population.
Buildings built before 1946: 32.8% in Sousel, compared with an average of 23.9% in Portalegre and 12.5% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 33.5% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 34° generates about 1,597 kWh a year here.
Sousel in numbers
Where is Sousel?
Population of Sousel over time
Sousel had 4,403 residents in 2021 and 4,506 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,403 |
| 2022 | 4,411 |
| 2023 | 4,473 |
| 2024 | 4,481 |
| 2025 | 4,506 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Portalegre for “Vacant dwellings”.
- “Buildings built before 1946”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Overnight stays in tourist accommodation”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 39,120 football pitches.
- Its population density is 7.7 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Fronteira, 11.0 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Estremoz (12,858 residents), 14 km away.
All indicators for Sousel
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 | Sousel | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 30.6% | 29.4% | 26.9% | ranked 102 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 11.2% | 11.8% | 11.7% | ranked 177 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 273.8 | – | 229.9 | ranked 107 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 16.1 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 256 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 2.34% | – | 4.50% | ranked 209 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Sousel | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 3,420 | 67,444 | 3,573,416 | ranked 273 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 32.8% | 23.9% | 12.8% | ranked 8 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 10.7% | 13.2% | 16.8% | ranked 292 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 9.2% | 12.9% | 14.2% | ranked 263 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 3,674 | 81,117 | 5,970,677 | ranked 269 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 27.5% | 26.2% | 25.8% | ranked 137 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 21.6% | 17.4% | 13.1% | ranked 9 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 77.0% | 72.2% | 77.8% | ranked 165 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 13.7% | 19.4% | 13.6% | ranked 150 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 2.5% | 21.0% | 13.8% | ranked 283 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 695 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 230 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Sousel | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 17.9% | 12.7% | 18.6% | ranked 166 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 4.2% | 4.8% | 12.6% | ranked 247 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 5,033 kWh/inh. | 4,687 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 72 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Sousel | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 663 | 13,328 | 1,510,274 | ranked 264 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 148.2 | 123.1 | 128.1 | ranked 73 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 10,261 € | 11,195 € | 10,553 € | ranked 176 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 74.6 | 86.5 | 79.5 | ranked 210 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Sousel | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 8.0% | 7.6% | 7.0% | ranked 91 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,229 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 189 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Sousel | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 4,385 | 480,475 | 82,011,658 | ranked 292 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 97.6 | 442.6 | 275.0 | ranked 250 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 39.9% | – | 18.4% | ranked 26 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Sousel | Portalegre | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 11.3% | 15.0% | 13.2% | ranked 213 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Sousel
Business sectors: Sousel
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing33.5% ×4.2
- Wholesale and retail trade16.9% ×1.2
- Administrative and support services7.7% ×0.5
- Professional, scientific and technical7.4% ×0.7
- Accommodation and food services6.8% ×0.8
- Education6.2% ×1.4
- Manufacturing5.6% ×1.2
- Construction4.7% ×0.7
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sousel?
Sousel has 4,506 residents (2025), ranking 268 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Sousel?
Sousel covers 279.3 km², with a density of 16 people per km².
Is the population of Sousel growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Sousel went from 4,403 to 4,506, a change of +2.3%.
Where is Sousel?
Sousel is in Portalegre. Latitude 38.953, longitude −7.676.
Buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Sousel?
In Sousel, “Buildings built before 1946” stands at 32.8% (2021), ranking 8 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 12.8%.
Overnight stays in tourist accommodation: what is the figure for Sousel?
In Sousel, “Overnight stays in tourist accommodation” stands at 4,385 (2025), ranking 292 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 38,935.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Sousel?
In Sousel, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 34° produces about 1,597 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Sousel?
The nearest to Sousel are Fronteira (11 km), Estremoz (14 km), Avis (21 km), Monforte (24 km), Borba (26 km).
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