Calheta (Madeira): population and statistics
Calheta (Madeira) has a population of 11,611 (2025) across 111.5 km², or 104 people per km². It ranks 178 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +9.2% between 2021 and 2025.
- 11,611 residents
- 111.5 km²
- 104 people/km²
- 370 m
Key points
Among the 11 municipalities in Região Autónoma da Madeira, Calheta (Madeira) ranks No. 6 by population.
Usual residences without heating: 88.4% in Calheta (Madeira), compared with an average of 88.8% in Região Autónoma da Madeira and 30.7% nationally.
Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants: 3,857 in Calheta (Madeira), compared with an average of 3,738 in Região Autónoma da Madeira and 722.7 nationally.
Largest business sector: Accommodation and food services, with 32.1% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 27° generates about 1,490 kWh a year here.
Calheta (Madeira) in numbers
Where is Calheta (Madeira)?
Population of Calheta (Madeira) over time
Calheta (Madeira) had 10,636 residents in 2021 and 11,611 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,636 |
| 2022 | 11,001 |
| 2023 | 11,268 |
| 2024 | 11,542 |
| 2025 | 11,611 |
Did you know?
- “Usual residences without heating”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Buildings built since 2001”: higher than in 95% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 15,616 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Ponta do Sol, 8.2 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Câmara de Lobos (32,808 residents), 21 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,960 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Calheta (Madeira)
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 | Calheta (Madeira) | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 25.9% | 21.9% | 26.9% | ranked 173 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 11.4% | 11.8% | 11.7% | ranked 167 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 226.5 | – | 229.9 | ranked 157 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 104.1 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 121 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 9.17% | – | 4.50% | ranked 56 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Calheta (Madeira) | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 7,160 | 90,970 | 3,573,416 | ranked 166 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 11.3% | 11.4% | 12.8% | ranked 185 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 26.9% | 20.7% | 16.8% | ranked 16 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 17.6% | 17.1% | 14.2% | ranked 71 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 7,630 | 131,037 | 5,970,677 | ranked 184 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 23.9% | 12.9% | 25.8% | ranked 166 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 18.7% | 13.5% | 13.1% | ranked 38 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 84.6% | 74.4% | 77.8% | ranked 58 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 7.3% | 17.7% | 13.6% | ranked 267 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 5.6% | 33.5% | 13.8% | ranked 251 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,637 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 83 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Calheta (Madeira) | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 88.4% | 88.8% | 18.6% | ranked 8 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 1.7% | 1.8% | 12.6% | ranked 294 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,626 kWh/inh. | 3,395 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 162 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Calheta (Madeira) | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 1,912 | 33,694 | 1,510,274 | ranked 149 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 169.7 | 129.2 | 128.1 | ranked 48 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 9,059 € | 11,784 € | 10,553 € | ranked 275 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 68.4 | 88.5 | 79.5 | ranked 270 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Calheta (Madeira) | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 11.7% | 12.1% | 7.0% | ranked 14 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,383 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 75 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Calheta (Madeira) | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 446,548 | 9,926,753 | 82,011,658 | ranked 28 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 3,857 | 3,738 | 275.0 | ranked 10 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 20.9% | – | 18.4% | ranked 70 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Calheta (Madeira) | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 12.6% | 17.8% | 13.2% | ranked 173 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Calheta (Madeira)
Business sectors: Calheta (Madeira)
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Accommodation and food services32.1% ×3.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing25.9% ×3.2
- Administrative and support services9.5% ×0.6
- Wholesale and retail trade6.7% ×0.5
- Construction4.7% ×0.7
- Professional, scientific and technical3.2% ×0.3
- Arts, entertainment and recreation3.0% ×1.0
- Real estate2.7% ×0.6
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Calheta (Madeira)?
Calheta (Madeira) has 11,611 residents (2025), ranking 178 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Calheta (Madeira)?
Calheta (Madeira) covers 111.5 km², with a density of 104 people per km².
Is the population of Calheta (Madeira) growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Calheta (Madeira) went from 10,636 to 11,611, a change of +9.2%.
Where is Calheta (Madeira)?
Calheta (Madeira) is in Região Autónoma da Madeira. Latitude 32.733, longitude −17.167.
Usual residences without heating: what is the figure for Calheta (Madeira)?
In Calheta (Madeira), “Usual residences without heating” stands at 88.4% (2021), ranking 8 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 18.6%.
Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants: what is the figure for Calheta (Madeira)?
In Calheta (Madeira), “Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants” stands at 3,857 (2025), ranking 10 of 306 municipalities; the national median is 275.0.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Calheta (Madeira)?
In Calheta (Madeira), a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 27° produces about 1,490 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Calheta (Madeira)?
The nearest to Calheta (Madeira) are Ponta do Sol (8.2 km), Ribeira Brava (12 km), São Vicente (14 km), Porto Moniz (15 km), Câmara de Lobos (21 km).
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