São Vicente: population and statistics
São Vicente has a population of 5,027 (2025) across 78.8 km², or 63.8 people per km². It ranks 258 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +7.2% between 2021 and 2025.
- 5,027 residents
- 78.8 km²
- 64 people/km²
- 122 m
Key points
Among the 11 municipalities in Região Autónoma da Madeira, São Vicente ranks No. 10 by population.
Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants: 4,857 in São Vicente, compared with an average of 3,738 in Região Autónoma da Madeira and 722.7 nationally.
Usual residences without heating: 86.1% in São Vicente, compared with an average of 88.8% in Região Autónoma da Madeira and 30.7% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 30.1% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 26° generates about 1,355 kWh a year here.
São Vicente in numbers
Where is São Vicente?
Population of São Vicente over time
São Vicente had 4,690 residents in 2021 and 5,027 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,690 |
| 2022 | 4,676 |
| 2023 | 4,755 |
| 2024 | 4,954 |
| 2025 | 5,027 |
Did you know?
- “Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Usual residences without heating”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Unemployment rate”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 11,042 football pitches.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Calheta (Madeira) (11,611 residents), 14 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,420 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for São Vicente
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 | São Vicente | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 27.6% | 21.9% | 26.9% | ranked 143 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 11.0% | 11.8% | 11.7% | ranked 188 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 252.1 | – | 229.9 | ranked 128 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 63.8 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 163 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 7.19% | – | 4.50% | ranked 84 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | São Vicente | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 3,689 | 90,970 | 3,573,416 | ranked 261 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 6.0% | 11.4% | 12.8% | ranked 287 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 25.7% | 20.7% | 16.8% | ranked 21 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 11.7% | 17.1% | 14.2% | ranked 218 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 3,783 | 131,037 | 5,970,677 | ranked 268 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 32.1% | 12.9% | 25.8% | ranked 111 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 14.8% | 13.5% | 13.1% | ranked 111 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 86.4% | 74.4% | 77.8% | ranked 36 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 6.4% | 17.7% | 13.6% | ranked 281 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 2.5% | 33.5% | 13.8% | ranked 283 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,289 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 127 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | São Vicente | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 86.1% | 88.8% | 18.6% | ranked 11 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 2.0% | 1.8% | 12.6% | ranked 293 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,629 kWh/inh. | 3,395 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 161 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | São Vicente | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 804 | 33,694 | 1,510,274 | ranked 245 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 169.1 | 129.2 | 128.1 | ranked 50 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 9,455 € | 11,784 € | 10,553 € | ranked 250 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 65.2 | 88.5 | 79.5 | ranked 294 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | São Vicente | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 11.8% | 12.1% | 7.0% | ranked 13 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,104 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 286 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | São Vicente | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 242,374 | 9,926,753 | 82,011,658 | ranked 51 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 4,857 | 3,738 | 275.0 | ranked 6 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 16.2% | – | 18.4% | ranked 100 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | São Vicente | Região Autónoma da Madeira | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 11.8% | 17.8% | 13.2% | ranked 199 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: São Vicente
Business sectors: São Vicente
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing30.1% ×3.8
- Accommodation and food services22.8% ×2.7
- Wholesale and retail trade10.2% ×0.7
- Construction7.0% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services6.6% ×0.4
- Professional, scientific and technical5.0% ×0.5
- Health and social work4.0% ×0.5
- Other service activities3.1% ×0.6
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of São Vicente?
São Vicente has 5,027 residents (2025), ranking 258 of 308 municipalities.
How big is São Vicente?
São Vicente covers 78.8 km², with a density of 64 people per km².
Is the population of São Vicente growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of São Vicente went from 4,690 to 5,027, a change of +7.2%.
Where is São Vicente?
São Vicente is in Região Autónoma da Madeira. Latitude 32.797, longitude −17.043.
Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants: what is the figure for São Vicente?
In São Vicente, “Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants” stands at 4,857 (2025), ranking 6 of 306 municipalities; the national median is 275.0.
Usual residences without heating: what is the figure for São Vicente?
In São Vicente, “Usual residences without heating” stands at 86.1% (2021), ranking 11 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 18.6%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in São Vicente?
In São Vicente, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 26° produces about 1,355 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border São Vicente?
The nearest to São Vicente are Calheta (Madeira) (14 km), Porto Moniz (14 km), Ribeira Brava (14 km), Ponta do Sol (14 km), Santana (17 km).
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