Póvoa de Varzim: population and statistics
Póvoa de Varzim has a population of 72,364 (2025) across 82.2 km², or 880 people per km². It ranks 39 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +9.9% between 2021 and 2025.
- 72,364 residents
- 82.2 km²
- 880 people/km²
- 21 m
Key points
Among the 18 municipalities in Porto, Póvoa de Varzim ranks No. 9 by population.
Vacant dwellings: 7.3% in Póvoa de Varzim, compared with an average of 10.2% in Porto and 11.7% nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 18.8% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 36° generates about 1,505 kWh a year here.
Póvoa de Varzim in numbers
Where is Póvoa de Varzim?
Population of Póvoa de Varzim over time
Póvoa de Varzim had 65,874 residents in 2021 and 72,364 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 65,874 |
| 2022 | 68,103 |
| 2023 | 70,149 |
| 2024 | 71,581 |
| 2025 | 72,364 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Porto for “Dwellings used as secondary residences”.
- Number 1 in Porto for “Usual residences without heating”.
- “Vacant dwellings”: lower than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Population density (inhabitants per km²)”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 11,514 football pitches.
- Its population density is 7.1 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Vila do Conde, 4.7 km away.
All indicators for Póvoa de Varzim
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 | Póvoa de Varzim | Porto | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 21.8% | 22.5% | 26.9% | ranked 252 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 12.5% | 11.9% | 11.7% | ranked 84 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 174.7 | – | 229.9 | ranked 243 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 880.2 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 24 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 9.85% | – | 4.50% | ranked 49 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Póvoa de Varzim | Porto | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 17,629 | 443,980 | 3,573,416 | ranked 64 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 6.7% | 14.0% | 12.8% | ranked 276 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 21.9% | 15.9% | 16.8% | ranked 57 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 13.4% | 14.8% | 14.2% | ranked 169 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 36,143 | 859,324 | 5,970,677 | ranked 39 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 27.8% | 8.7% | 25.8% | ranked 134 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 7.3% | 10.2% | 13.1% | ranked 299 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 70.4% | 65.0% | 77.8% | ranked 250 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 21.3% | 26.8% | 13.6% | ranked 52 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 48.2% | 49.9% | 13.8% | ranked 37 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 2,271 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 44 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Póvoa de Varzim | Porto | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 40.6% | 33.5% | 18.6% | ranked 39 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 16.2% | 15.9% | 12.6% | ranked 124 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,119 kWh/inh. | 4,155 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 233 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Póvoa de Varzim | Porto | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 9,574 | 251,449 | 1,510,274 | ranked 36 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 136.5 | 134.0 | 128.1 | ranked 118 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 11,295 € | 12,304 € | 10,553 € | ranked 103 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 95.0 | 103.8 | 79.5 | ranked 52 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Póvoa de Varzim | Porto | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 8.3% | 9.8% | 7.0% | ranked 78 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,324 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 110 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Póvoa de Varzim | Porto | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 293,229 | 9,936,349 | 82,011,658 | ranked 42 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 407.4 | 521.2 | 275.0 | ranked 117 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 11.8% | – | 18.4% | ranked 118 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Póvoa de Varzim | Porto | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 19.1% | 21.7% | 13.2% | ranked 52 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Póvoa de Varzim
Business sectors: Póvoa de Varzim
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade18.8% ×1.3
- Administrative and support services13.4% ×0.8
- Professional, scientific and technical9.6% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing9.5% ×1.2
- Health and social work8.4% ×1.1
- Construction7.9% ×1.1
- Accommodation and food services6.7% ×0.8
- Other service activities6.5% ×1.3
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Póvoa de Varzim?
Póvoa de Varzim has 72,364 residents (2025), ranking 39 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Póvoa de Varzim?
Póvoa de Varzim covers 82.2 km², with a density of 880 people per km².
Is the population of Póvoa de Varzim growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Póvoa de Varzim went from 65,874 to 72,364, a change of +9.9%.
Where is Póvoa de Varzim?
Póvoa de Varzim is in Porto. Latitude 41.392, longitude −8.757.
Vacant dwellings: what is the figure for Póvoa de Varzim?
In Póvoa de Varzim, “Vacant dwellings” stands at 7.3% (2021), ranking 299 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 13.1%.
Population density (inhabitants per km²): what is the figure for Póvoa de Varzim?
In Póvoa de Varzim, “Population density (inhabitants per km²)” stands at 880.2 inh./km² (2025), ranking 24 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 69.6 inh./km².
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Póvoa de Varzim?
In Póvoa de Varzim, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 36° produces about 1,505 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Póvoa de Varzim?
The nearest to Póvoa de Varzim are Vila do Conde (4.7 km), Esposende (16 km), Trofa (18 km), Barcelos (20 km), Vila Nova de Famalicão (20 km).
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