Madalena: population and statistics
Madalena has a population of 6,850 (2025) across 147.1 km², or 46.6 people per km². It ranks 223 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +7.7% between 2021 and 2025.
- 6,850 residents
- 147.1 km²
- 47 people/km²
- 19 m
Key points
Among the 19 municipalities in Região Autónoma dos Açores, Madalena ranks No. 8 by population.
Buildings built since 2001: 36.3% in Madalena, compared with an average of 22.6% in Região Autónoma dos Açores and 17.3% nationally.
Unemployment rate: 3.9% in Madalena, compared with an average of 6.9% in Região Autónoma dos Açores and 8.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 34.3% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 30° generates about 1,113 kWh a year here.
Madalena in numbers
Where is Madalena?
Population of Madalena over time
Madalena had 6,363 residents in 2021 and 6,850 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,363 |
| 2022 | 6,468 |
| 2023 | 6,613 |
| 2024 | 6,737 |
| 2025 | 6,850 |
Did you know?
- “Buildings built since 2001”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Unemployment rate”: lower than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Usual residences with central heating”: lower than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 20,605 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.7 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Horta (15,173 residents), 9.6 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,452 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Madalena
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 | Madalena | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 20.3% | 18.9% | 26.9% | ranked 276 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 13.7% | 13.6% | 11.7% | ranked 26 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 147.8 | – | 229.9 | ranked 281 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 46.6 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 183 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 7.65% | – | 4.50% | ranked 78 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Madalena | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 3,440 | 100,478 | 3,573,416 | ranked 270 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 6.7% | 15.1% | 12.8% | ranked 276 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 36.3% | 22.6% | 16.8% | ranked 1 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 18.6% | 9.7% | 14.2% | ranked 56 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 3,620 | 113,159 | 5,970,677 | ranked 271 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 22.4% | 10.8% | 25.8% | ranked 178 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 12.0% | 12.2% | 13.1% | ranked 190 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 75.2% | 74.6% | 77.8% | ranked 189 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 16.1% | 17.2% | 13.6% | ranked 115 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 3.6% | 11.4% | 13.8% | ranked 273 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,025 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 165 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Madalena | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 73.9% | 76.7% | 18.6% | ranked 24 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 2.7% | 2.9% | 12.6% | ranked 284 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,571 kWh/inh. | 3,350 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 170 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Madalena | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 1,153 | 31,396 | 1,510,274 | ranked 209 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 174.4 | 129.0 | 128.1 | ranked 42 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 11,430 € | 12,184 € | 10,553 € | ranked 97 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 83.2 | 87.8 | 79.5 | ranked 123 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Madalena | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 3.9% | 6.9% | 7.0% | ranked 295 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,222 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 194 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Madalena | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 117,183 | 3,109,259 | 82,011,658 | ranked 81 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 1,725 | 1,270 | 275.0 | ranked 30 of 306 |
Education
| Indicator | Madalena | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 13.8% | 16.0% | 13.2% | ranked 135 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Madalena
Business sectors: Madalena
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing34.3% ×4.3
- Wholesale and retail trade10.9% ×0.8
- Accommodation and food services10.6% ×1.3
- Administrative and support services10.6% ×0.7
- Manufacturing5.5% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical5.3% ×0.5
- Construction5.1% ×0.7
- Health and social work4.2% ×0.5
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Madalena?
Madalena has 6,850 residents (2025), ranking 223 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Madalena?
Madalena covers 147.1 km², with a density of 47 people per km².
Is the population of Madalena growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Madalena went from 6,363 to 6,850, a change of +7.7%.
Where is Madalena?
Madalena is in Região Autónoma dos Açores. Latitude 38.536, longitude −28.523.
Buildings built since 2001: what is the figure for Madalena?
In Madalena, “Buildings built since 2001” stands at 36.3% (2021), ranking 1 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 16.8%.
Unemployment rate: what is the figure for Madalena?
In Madalena, “Unemployment rate” stands at 3.9% (2021), ranking 295 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 7.0%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Madalena?
In Madalena, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 30° produces about 1,113 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Madalena?
The nearest to Madalena are Horta (9.6 km), São Roque do Pico (18 km), Lajes do Pico (28 km), Velas (32 km), Calheta (Açores) (45 km).
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