Horta: population and statistics
Horta has a population of 15,173 (2025) across 173.1 km², or 87.7 people per km². It ranks 149 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +3.4% between 2021 and 2025.
- 15,173 residents
- 173.1 km²
- 88 people/km²
- 63 m
Key points
Among the 19 municipalities in Região Autónoma dos Açores, Horta ranks No. 5 by population.
Buildings built since 2001: 32.5% in Horta, compared with an average of 22.6% in Região Autónoma dos Açores and 17.3% nationally.
Unemployment rate: 3.8% in Horta, compared with an average of 6.9% in Região Autónoma dos Açores and 8.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 23.9% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 31° generates about 1,239 kWh a year here.
Horta in numbers
Where is Horta?
Population of Horta over time
Horta had 14,671 residents in 2021 and 15,173 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,671 |
| 2022 | 14,835 |
| 2023 | 14,995 |
| 2024 | 15,131 |
| 2025 | 15,173 |
Did you know?
- “Buildings built since 2001”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Unemployment rate”: lower than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Usual residences with central heating”: lower than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 24,238 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Madalena, 9.6 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Angra do Heroísmo (34,774 residents), 124 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,956 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Horta
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 | Horta | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 21.3% | 18.9% | 26.9% | ranked 262 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 12.4% | 13.6% | 11.7% | ranked 89 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 171.7 | – | 229.9 | ranked 252 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 87.7 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 138 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 3.42% | – | 4.50% | ranked 183 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Horta | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 6,587 | 100,478 | 3,573,416 | ranked 182 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 11.2% | 15.1% | 12.8% | ranked 191 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 32.5% | 22.6% | 16.8% | ranked 4 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 6.7% | 9.7% | 14.2% | ranked 295 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 7,385 | 113,159 | 5,970,677 | ranked 186 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 12.3% | 10.8% | 25.8% | ranked 240 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 11.4% | 12.2% | 13.1% | ranked 210 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 75.3% | 74.6% | 77.8% | ranked 187 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 15.0% | 17.2% | 13.6% | ranked 133 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 8.5% | 11.4% | 13.8% | ranked 214 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,252 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 133 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Horta | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 67.1% | 76.7% | 18.6% | ranked 28 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 2.5% | 2.9% | 12.6% | ranked 286 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,198 kWh/inh. | 3,350 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 220 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Horta | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 2,479 | 31,396 | 1,510,274 | ranked 124 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 165.3 | 129.0 | 128.1 | ranked 53 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 12,996 € | 12,184 € | 10,553 € | ranked 23 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 86.6 | 87.8 | 79.5 | ranked 96 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Horta | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 3.8% | 6.9% | 7.0% | ranked 297 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,380 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 77 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Horta | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 207,659 | 3,109,259 | 82,011,658 | ranked 55 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 1,370 | 1,270 | 275.0 | ranked 33 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 28.0% | – | 18.4% | ranked 51 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Horta | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 17.2% | 16.0% | 13.2% | ranked 72 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Horta
Business sectors: Horta
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing23.9% ×3.0
- Administrative and support services13.0% ×0.8
- Wholesale and retail trade10.6% ×0.7
- Accommodation and food services9.6% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical8.1% ×0.8
- Construction6.8% ×1.0
- Health and social work6.0% ×0.8
- Other service activities4.7% ×0.9
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Horta?
Horta has 15,173 residents (2025), ranking 149 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Horta?
Horta covers 173.1 km², with a density of 88 people per km².
Is the population of Horta growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Horta went from 14,671 to 15,173, a change of +3.4%.
Where is Horta?
Horta is in Região Autónoma dos Açores. Latitude 38.533, longitude −28.633.
Buildings built since 2001: what is the figure for Horta?
In Horta, “Buildings built since 2001” stands at 32.5% (2021), ranking 4 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 16.8%.
Unemployment rate: what is the figure for Horta?
In Horta, “Unemployment rate” stands at 3.8% (2021), ranking 297 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 7.0%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Horta?
In Horta, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 31° produces about 1,239 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Horta?
The nearest to Horta are Madalena (9.6 km), São Roque do Pico (28 km), Lajes do Pico (37 km), Velas (40 km), Calheta (Açores) (54 km).
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