Ribeira Brava: population and statistics
Ribeira Brava has a population of 13,172 (2025) across 65.5 km², or 201 people per km². It ranks 163 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +5.2% between 2021 and 2025.
- 13,172 residents
- 65.5 km²
- 201 people/km²
- 20 m
Key points
Among the 11 municipalities in Região Autónoma da Madeira, Ribeira Brava ranks No. 5 by population.
Usual residences without heating: 92.2% in Ribeira Brava, compared with an average of 88.8% in Região Autónoma da Madeira and 30.7% nationally.
Unemployment rate: 13.7% in Ribeira Brava, compared with an average of 12.1% in Região Autónoma da Madeira and 8.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 25.9% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 27° generates about 1,475 kWh a year here.
Ribeira Brava in numbers
Where is Ribeira Brava?
Population of Ribeira Brava over time
Ribeira Brava had 12,521 residents in 2021 and 13,172 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,521 |
| 2022 | 12,621 |
| 2023 | 12,812 |
| 2024 | 13,047 |
| 2025 | 13,172 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Região Autónoma da Madeira for “Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair”.
- “Usual residences without heating”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Unemployment rate”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair”: higher than in 95% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 9,167 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Ponta do Sol, 3.9 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Câmara de Lobos (32,808 residents), 9.4 km away.
All indicators for Ribeira Brava
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 | Ribeira Brava | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 22.9% | 21.9% | 26.9% | ranked 227 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 11.9% | 11.8% | 11.7% | ranked 133 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 192.7 | – | 229.9 | ranked 210 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 201.3 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 75 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 5.20% | – | 4.50% | ranked 135 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Ribeira Brava | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 6,122 | 90,970 | 3,573,416 | ranked 194 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 12.8% | 11.4% | 12.8% | ranked 154 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 24.6% | 20.7% | 16.8% | ranked 31 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 22.9% | 17.1% | 14.2% | ranked 15 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 6,971 | 131,037 | 5,970,677 | ranked 194 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 17.0% | 12.9% | 25.8% | ranked 213 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 15.4% | 13.5% | 13.1% | ranked 95 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 85.0% | 74.4% | 77.8% | ranked 50 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 5.8% | 17.7% | 13.6% | ranked 289 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 12.2% | 33.5% | 13.8% | ranked 164 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,589 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 88 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Ribeira Brava | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 92.2% | 88.8% | 18.6% | ranked 3 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 1.3% | 1.8% | 12.6% | ranked 303 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 2,497 kWh/inh. | 3,395 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 291 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Ribeira Brava | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 1,462 | 33,694 | 1,510,274 | ranked 183 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 114.1 | 129.2 | 128.1 | ranked 226 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 9,019 € | 11,784 € | 10,553 € | ranked 278 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 70.5 | 88.5 | 79.5 | ranked 245 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Ribeira Brava | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 13.7% | 12.1% | 7.0% | ranked 5 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,203 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 208 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Ribeira Brava | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 102,518 | 9,926,753 | 82,011,658 | ranked 90 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 782.0 | 3,738 | 275.0 | ranked 55 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 24.9% | – | 18.4% | ranked 61 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Ribeira Brava | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 13.3% | 17.8% | 13.2% | ranked 150 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Ribeira Brava
Business sectors: Ribeira Brava
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing25.9% ×3.2
- Accommodation and food services13.7% ×1.6
- Administrative and support services12.0% ×0.7
- Wholesale and retail trade10.6% ×0.7
- Construction6.4% ×0.9
- Transport and storage5.5% ×1.5
- Health and social work5.3% ×0.7
- Professional, scientific and technical4.9% ×0.5
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ribeira Brava?
Ribeira Brava has 13,172 residents (2025), ranking 163 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Ribeira Brava?
Ribeira Brava covers 65.5 km², with a density of 201 people per km².
Is the population of Ribeira Brava growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Ribeira Brava went from 12,521 to 13,172, a change of +5.2%.
Where is Ribeira Brava?
Ribeira Brava is in Região Autónoma da Madeira. Latitude 32.672, longitude −17.064.
Usual residences without heating: what is the figure for Ribeira Brava?
In Ribeira Brava, “Usual residences without heating” stands at 92.2% (2021), ranking 3 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 18.6%.
Unemployment rate: what is the figure for Ribeira Brava?
In Ribeira Brava, “Unemployment rate” stands at 13.7% (2021), ranking 5 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 7.0%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Ribeira Brava?
In Ribeira Brava, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 27° produces about 1,475 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Ribeira Brava?
The nearest to Ribeira Brava are Ponta do Sol (3.9 km), Câmara de Lobos (9.4 km), Calheta (Madeira) (12 km), São Vicente (14 km), Funchal (14 km).
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