Porto Santo: population and statistics
Porto Santo has a population of 6,916 (2025) across 43.0 km², or 161 people per km². It ranks 221 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +17.4% between 2021 and 2025.
- 6,916 residents
- 43.0 km²
- 161 people/km²
- 83 m
Key points
Among the 11 municipalities in Região Autónoma da Madeira, Porto Santo ranks No. 8 by population.
Buildings built before 1946: 2.9% in Porto Santo, compared with an average of 11.4% in Região Autónoma da Madeira and 12.5% nationally.
Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants: 7,356 in Porto Santo, compared with an average of 3,738 in Região Autónoma da Madeira and 722.7 nationally.
Largest business sector: Accommodation and food services, with 20.4% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 30° generates about 1,537 kWh a year here.
Porto Santo in numbers
Where is Porto Santo?
Population of Porto Santo over time
Porto Santo had 5,892 residents in 2021 and 6,916 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,892 |
| 2022 | 6,144 |
| 2023 | 6,345 |
| 2024 | 6,549 |
| 2025 | 6,916 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Região Autónoma da Madeira for “Population change over 4 years”.
- Number 1 in Região Autónoma da Madeira for “Population change between 2021 and 2025”.
- “Buildings built before 1946”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Usual residences without heating”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 6,024 football pitches.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Machico (20,812 residents), 54 km away.
All indicators for Porto Santo
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 | Porto Santo | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 22.5% | 21.9% | 26.9% | ranked 240 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 9.2% | 11.8% | 11.7% | ranked 264 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 245.4 | – | 229.9 | ranked 138 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 160.8 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 88 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 17.38% | – | 4.50% | ranked 8 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Porto Santo | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 3,547 | 90,970 | 3,573,416 | ranked 264 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 2.9% | 11.4% | 12.8% | ranked 306 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 31.3% | 20.7% | 16.8% | ranked 5 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 13.4% | 17.1% | 14.2% | ranked 169 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 4,550 | 131,037 | 5,970,677 | ranked 252 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 33.5% | 12.9% | 25.8% | ranked 101 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 19.1% | 13.5% | 13.1% | ranked 32 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 74.7% | 74.4% | 77.8% | ranked 199 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 14.6% | 17.7% | 13.6% | ranked 139 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 14.1% | 33.5% | 13.8% | ranked 148 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 2,409 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 37 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Porto Santo | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 91.7% | 88.8% | 18.6% | ranked 5 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 2.1% | 1.8% | 12.6% | ranked 292 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 5,141 kWh/inh. | 3,395 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 69 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Porto Santo | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 594 | 33,694 | 1,510,274 | ranked 274 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 93.6 | 129.2 | 128.1 | ranked 297 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 14,594 € | 11,784 € | 10,553 € | ranked 8 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 97.2 | 88.5 | 79.5 | ranked 42 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Porto Santo | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 12.5% | 12.1% | 7.0% | ranked 9 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,418 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 60 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Porto Santo | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 495,264 | 9,926,753 | 82,011,658 | ranked 24 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 7,356 | 3,738 | 275.0 | ranked 2 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 4.8% | – | 18.4% | ranked 163 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Porto Santo | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 13.5% | 17.8% | 13.2% | ranked 144 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Porto Santo
Business sectors: Porto Santo
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Accommodation and food services20.4% ×2.4
- Administrative and support services17.8% ×1.1
- Wholesale and retail trade13.3% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical8.1% ×0.8
- Arts, entertainment and recreation5.7% ×1.8
- Health and social work5.4% ×0.7
- Construction5.1% ×0.7
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing4.9% ×0.6
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Porto Santo?
Porto Santo has 6,916 residents (2025), ranking 221 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Porto Santo?
Porto Santo covers 43.0 km², with a density of 161 people per km².
Is the population of Porto Santo growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Porto Santo went from 5,892 to 6,916, a change of +17.4%.
Where is Porto Santo?
Porto Santo is in Região Autónoma da Madeira. Latitude 33.062, longitude −16.356.
Buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Porto Santo?
In Porto Santo, “Buildings built before 1946” stands at 2.9% (2021), ranking 306 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 12.8%.
Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants: what is the figure for Porto Santo?
In Porto Santo, “Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants” stands at 7,356 (2025), ranking 2 of 306 municipalities; the national median is 275.0.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Porto Santo?
In Porto Santo, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 30° produces about 1,537 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Porto Santo?
The nearest to Porto Santo are Machico (54 km), Santana (56 km), Santa Cruz (62 km), Funchal (70 km), São Vicente (71 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.
