Ponta do Sol: population and statistics
Ponta do Sol has a population of 8,806 (2025) across 46.2 km², or 190 people per km². It ranks 197 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +6.6% between 2021 and 2025.
- 8,806 residents
- 46.2 km²
- 190 people/km²
- 27 m
Key points
Among the 11 municipalities in Região Autónoma da Madeira, Ponta do Sol ranks No. 7 by population.
Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100): 62.5 in Ponta do Sol, compared with an average of 88.5 in Região Autónoma da Madeira and 100.7 nationally.
Usual residences without heating: 91.8% in Ponta do Sol, compared with an average of 88.8% in Região Autónoma da Madeira and 30.7% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 46.5% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 28° generates about 1,551 kWh a year here.
Ponta do Sol in numbers
Where is Ponta do Sol?
Population of Ponta do Sol over time
Ponta do Sol had 8,257 residents in 2021 and 8,806 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,257 |
| 2022 | 8,377 |
| 2023 | 8,568 |
| 2024 | 8,746 |
| 2025 | 8,806 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Região Autónoma da Madeira for “Buildings built before 1946”.
- Number 1 in Região Autónoma da Madeira for “Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants”.
- “Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100)”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Usual residences without heating”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Unemployment rate”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 6,473 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Ribeira Brava, 3.9 km away.
All indicators for Ponta do Sol
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 | Ponta do Sol | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 22.4% | 21.9% | 26.9% | ranked 242 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 12.1% | 11.8% | 11.7% | ranked 115 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 184.9 | – | 229.9 | ranked 223 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 190.5 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 78 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 6.65% | – | 4.50% | ranked 99 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Ponta do Sol | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 4,456 | 90,970 | 3,573,416 | ranked 239 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 16.4% | 11.4% | 12.8% | ranked 95 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 22.0% | 20.7% | 16.8% | ranked 56 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 21.5% | 17.1% | 14.2% | ranked 26 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 4,888 | 131,037 | 5,970,677 | ranked 236 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 20.1% | 12.9% | 25.8% | ranked 195 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 14.6% | 13.5% | 13.1% | ranked 114 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 80.6% | 74.4% | 77.8% | ranked 109 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 8.4% | 17.7% | 13.6% | ranked 247 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 7.8% | 33.5% | 13.8% | ranked 222 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,797 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 69 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Ponta do Sol | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 91.8% | 88.8% | 18.6% | ranked 4 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 1.0% | 1.8% | 12.6% | ranked 305 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 2,726 kWh/inh. | 3,395 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 277 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Ponta do Sol | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 1,694 | 33,694 | 1,510,274 | ranked 167 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 197.7 | 129.2 | 128.1 | ranked 21 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 8,754 € | 11,784 € | 10,553 € | ranked 288 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 62.5 | 88.5 | 79.5 | ranked 306 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Ponta do Sol | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 11.2% | 12.1% | 7.0% | ranked 20 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,146 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 259 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Ponta do Sol | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 109,861 | 9,926,753 | 82,011,658 | ranked 87 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 1,252 | 3,738 | 275.0 | ranked 35 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 18.1% | – | 18.4% | ranked 91 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Ponta do Sol | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 12.4% | 17.8% | 13.2% | ranked 184 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Ponta do Sol
Business sectors: Ponta do Sol
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing46.5% ×5.8
- Accommodation and food services12.8% ×1.5
- Administrative and support services7.7% ×0.5
- Wholesale and retail trade7.3% ×0.5
- Construction5.5% ×0.8
- Professional, scientific and technical3.9% ×0.4
- Arts, entertainment and recreation2.9% ×0.9
- Other service activities2.8% ×0.6
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ponta do Sol?
Ponta do Sol has 8,806 residents (2025), ranking 197 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Ponta do Sol?
Ponta do Sol covers 46.2 km², with a density of 190 people per km².
Is the population of Ponta do Sol growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Ponta do Sol went from 8,257 to 8,806, a change of +6.6%.
Where is Ponta do Sol?
Ponta do Sol is in Região Autónoma da Madeira. Latitude 32.681, longitude −17.104.
Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100): what is the figure for Ponta do Sol?
In Ponta do Sol, “Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100)” stands at 62.5 (2023), ranking 306 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 79.5.
Usual residences without heating: what is the figure for Ponta do Sol?
In Ponta do Sol, “Usual residences without heating” stands at 91.8% (2021), ranking 4 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 18.6%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Ponta do Sol?
In Ponta do Sol, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 28° produces about 1,551 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Ponta do Sol?
The nearest to Ponta do Sol are Ribeira Brava (3.9 km), Calheta (Madeira) (8.2 km), Câmara de Lobos (13 km), São Vicente (14 km), Funchal (18 km).
Coat of arms: CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · Flag: CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons. Coats of arms and flags are shown for identification only; this site is not affiliated with any public authority.
