Santa Cruz: population and statistics
Santa Cruz has a population of 44,132 (2025) across 81.5 km², or 542 people per km². It ranks 70 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +4.3% between 2021 and 2025.
- 44,132 residents
- 81.5 km²
- 542 people/km²
- 275 m
Key points
Among the 11 municipalities in Região Autónoma da Madeira, Santa Cruz ranks No. 2 by population.
Population aged 65 and over: 16.9% in Santa Cruz, compared with an average of 21.9% in Região Autónoma da Madeira and 23.3% nationally.
Buildings built since 2001: 28.8% in Santa Cruz, compared with an average of 20.7% in Região Autónoma da Madeira and 17.3% nationally.
Largest business sector: Administrative and support services, with 18.5% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 26° generates about 1,466 kWh a year here.
Santa Cruz in numbers
Where is Santa Cruz?
Population of Santa Cruz over time
Santa Cruz had 42,317 residents in 2021 and 44,132 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 42,317 |
| 2022 | 42,810 |
| 2023 | 43,330 |
| 2024 | 43,871 |
| 2025 | 44,132 |
Did you know?
- “Population aged 65 and over”: lower than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Buildings built since 2001”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Usual residences without heating”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 11,415 football pitches.
- Its population density is 4.4 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Machico, 7.6 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Funchal (113,443 residents), 8.5 km away.
All indicators for Santa Cruz
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 | Santa Cruz | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 16.9% | 21.9% | 26.9% | ranked 302 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 13.4% | 11.8% | 11.7% | ranked 35 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 126.3 | – | 229.9 | ranked 300 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 541.5 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 35 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 4.29% | – | 4.50% | ranked 158 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Santa Cruz | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 12,472 | 90,970 | 3,573,416 | ranked 93 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 8.3% | 11.4% | 12.8% | ranked 250 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 28.8% | 20.7% | 16.8% | ranked 9 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 15.5% | 17.1% | 14.2% | ranked 121 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 20,373 | 131,037 | 5,970,677 | ranked 86 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 12.0% | 12.9% | 25.8% | ranked 244 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 11.3% | 13.5% | 13.1% | ranked 213 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 80.6% | 74.4% | 77.8% | ranked 109 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 12.1% | 17.7% | 13.6% | ranked 183 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 41.6% | 33.5% | 13.8% | ranked 46 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 2,500 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 31 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Santa Cruz | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 86.4% | 88.8% | 18.6% | ranked 10 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 2.2% | 1.8% | 12.6% | ranked 288 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,354 kWh/inh. | 3,395 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 196 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Santa Cruz | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 4,532 | 33,694 | 1,510,274 | ranked 84 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 104.6 | 129.2 | 128.1 | ranked 271 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 12,057 € | 11,784 € | 10,553 € | ranked 56 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 76.9 | 88.5 | 79.5 | ranked 177 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Santa Cruz | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 11.3% | 12.1% | 7.0% | ranked 17 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,343 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 98 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Santa Cruz | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 1,189,413 | 9,926,753 | 82,011,658 | ranked 13 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 2,703 | 3,738 | 275.0 | ranked 14 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 4.5% | – | 18.4% | ranked 166 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Santa Cruz | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 19.6% | 17.8% | 13.2% | ranked 49 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Santa Cruz
Business sectors: Santa Cruz
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Administrative and support services18.5% ×1.1
- Accommodation and food services13.0% ×1.6
- Wholesale and retail trade12.2% ×0.8
- Health and social work9.6% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical9.0% ×0.9
- Other service activities6.2% ×1.2
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing5.4% ×0.7
- Arts, entertainment and recreation5.1% ×1.6
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz has 44,132 residents (2025), ranking 70 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz covers 81.5 km², with a density of 542 people per km².
Is the population of Santa Cruz growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Santa Cruz went from 42,317 to 44,132, a change of +4.3%.
Where is Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz is in Região Autónoma da Madeira. Latitude 32.675, longitude −16.831.
Population aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Santa Cruz?
In Santa Cruz, “Population aged 65 and over” stands at 16.9% (2025), ranking 302 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 26.9%.
Buildings built since 2001: what is the figure for Santa Cruz?
In Santa Cruz, “Buildings built since 2001” stands at 28.8% (2021), ranking 9 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 16.8%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Santa Cruz?
In Santa Cruz, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 26° produces about 1,466 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Santa Cruz?
The nearest to Santa Cruz are Machico (7.6 km), Funchal (8.5 km), Câmara de Lobos (13 km), Santana (14 km), Ribeira Brava (22 km).
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