Vila Nova de Gaia: population and statistics
Vila Nova de Gaia has a population of 323,202 (2025) across 168.5 km², or 1,919 people per km². It ranks 3 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +5.4% between 2021 and 2025.
- 323,202 residents
- 168.5 km²
- 1,919 people/km²
- 59 m
Key points
Among the 18 municipalities in Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia ranks No. 1 by population.
Largest business sector: Administrative and support services, with 27.5% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 36° generates about 1,506 kWh a year here.
Vila Nova de Gaia in numbers
Where is Vila Nova de Gaia?
Population of Vila Nova de Gaia over time
Vila Nova de Gaia had 306,649 residents in 2021 and 323,202 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 306,649 |
| 2022 | 313,065 |
| 2023 | 318,087 |
| 2024 | 321,729 |
| 2025 | 323,202 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Porto for “Population”.
- Number 1 in Porto for “Buildings”.
- “Buildings”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Enterprises”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Population density (inhabitants per km²)”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 23,594 football pitches.
- Its population density is 15.5 times the national average.
All indicators for Vila Nova de Gaia
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 | Vila Nova de Gaia | Porto | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 22.9% | 22.5% | 26.9% | ranked 227 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 12.0% | 11.9% | 11.7% | ranked 123 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 191.8 | – | 229.9 | ranked 214 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 1,919 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 12 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 5.40% | – | 4.50% | ranked 129 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Vila Nova de Gaia | Porto | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 65,829 | 443,980 | 3,573,416 | ranked 1 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 13.3% | 14.0% | 12.8% | ranked 142 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 13.6% | 15.9% | 16.8% | ranked 241 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 16.3% | 14.8% | 14.2% | ranked 103 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 144,146 | 859,324 | 5,970,677 | ranked 3 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 6.5% | 8.7% | 25.8% | ranked 293 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 9.4% | 10.2% | 13.1% | ranked 261 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 64.8% | 65.0% | 77.8% | ranked 294 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 27.7% | 26.8% | 13.6% | ranked 11 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 57.5% | 49.9% | 13.8% | ranked 23 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 2,474 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 33 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Vila Nova de Gaia | Porto | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 34.3% | 33.5% | 18.6% | ranked 65 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 16.6% | 15.9% | 12.6% | ranked 121 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,690 kWh/inh. | 4,155 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 154 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Vila Nova de Gaia | Porto | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 48,342 | 251,449 | 1,510,274 | ranked 4 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 152.0 | 134.0 | 128.1 | ranked 68 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 12,746 € | 12,304 € | 10,553 € | ranked 31 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 101.2 | 103.8 | 79.5 | ranked 29 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Vila Nova de Gaia | Porto | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 11.2% | 9.8% | 7.0% | ranked 20 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,496 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 30 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Vila Nova de Gaia | Porto | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 1,192,707 | 9,936,349 | 82,011,658 | ranked 12 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 369.9 | 521.2 | 275.0 | ranked 126 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 7.2% | – | 18.4% | ranked 146 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Vila Nova de Gaia | Porto | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 22.9% | 21.7% | 13.2% | ranked 24 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Vila Nova de Gaia
Business sectors: Vila Nova de Gaia
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Administrative and support services27.5% ×1.7
- Wholesale and retail trade12.1% ×0.8
- Professional, scientific and technical9.8% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services8.5% ×1.0
- Health and social work7.9% ×1.0
- Construction5.2% ×0.7
- Other service activities5.2% ×1.0
- Education4.8% ×1.1
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Vila Nova de Gaia?
Vila Nova de Gaia has 323,202 residents (2025), ranking 3 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Vila Nova de Gaia?
Vila Nova de Gaia covers 168.5 km², with a density of 1,919 people per km².
Is the population of Vila Nova de Gaia growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Vila Nova de Gaia went from 306,649 to 323,202, a change of +5.4%.
Where is Vila Nova de Gaia?
Vila Nova de Gaia is in Porto. Latitude 41.133, longitude −8.617.
Buildings: what is the figure for Vila Nova de Gaia?
In Vila Nova de Gaia, “Buildings” stands at 65,829 (2021), ranking 1 of 308 municipalities; the national median is 7,916.
Enterprises: what is the figure for Vila Nova de Gaia?
In Vila Nova de Gaia, “Enterprises” stands at 48,342 (2023), ranking 4 of 308 municipalities; the national median is 1,858.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Vila Nova de Gaia?
In Vila Nova de Gaia, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 36° produces about 1,506 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Vila Nova de Gaia?
The nearest to Vila Nova de Gaia are Porto (1.9 km), Gondomar (7.2 km), Matosinhos (8.2 km), Maia (11 km), Valongo (11 km).
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