Santa Cruz da Graciosa: population and statistics
Santa Cruz da Graciosa has a population of 4,074 (2025) across 60.7 km², or 67.2 people per km². It ranks 276 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −1.4% between 2021 and 2025.
- 4,074 residents
- 60.7 km²
- 67 people/km²
- 36 m
Key points
Among the 19 municipalities in Região Autónoma dos Açores, Santa Cruz da Graciosa ranks No. 14 by population.
Usual residences with central heating: 0.9% in Santa Cruz da Graciosa, compared with an average of 2.9% in Região Autónoma dos Açores and 13.8% nationally.
Buildings built before 1946: 31.2% in Santa Cruz da Graciosa, compared with an average of 15.1% in Região Autónoma dos Açores and 12.5% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 45.2% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 32° generates about 1,317 kWh a year here.
Santa Cruz da Graciosa in numbers
Where is Santa Cruz da Graciosa?
Population of Santa Cruz da Graciosa over time
Santa Cruz da Graciosa had 4,131 residents in 2021 and 4,074 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,131 |
| 2022 | 4,133 |
| 2023 | 4,123 |
| 2024 | 4,074 |
| 2025 | 4,074 |
Did you know?
- “Usual residences with central heating”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Buildings built before 1946”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Population under 15”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 8,496 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Velas, 47.6 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Madalena (6,850 residents), 75 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,268 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Santa Cruz da Graciosa
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 da Graciosa | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 24.1% | 18.9% | 26.9% | ranked 206 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) | 175.4 | – | 229.9 | ranked 241 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 67.2 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 156 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | −1.38% | – | 4.50% | ranked 275 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Santa Cruz da Graciosa | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 2,791 | 100,478 | 3,573,416 | ranked 287 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 31.2% | 15.1% | 12.8% | ranked 14 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 11.7% | 22.6% | 16.8% | ranked 281 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 23.2% | 9.7% | 14.2% | ranked 14 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 2,889 | 113,159 | 5,970,677 | ranked 289 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 32.7% | 10.8% | 25.8% | ranked 107 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 12.1% | 12.2% | 13.1% | ranked 181 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 79.9% | 74.6% | 77.8% | ranked 122 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 12.9% | 17.2% | 13.6% | ranked 168 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 2.6% | 11.4% | 13.8% | ranked 282 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 428 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 284 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Santa Cruz da Graciosa | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 85.8% | 76.7% | 18.6% | ranked 13 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 0.9% | 2.9% | 12.6% | ranked 306 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,337 kWh/inh. | 3,350 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 200 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Santa Cruz da Graciosa | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 591 | 31,396 | 1,510,274 | ranked 276 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 143.3 | 129.0 | 128.1 | ranked 90 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 10,911 € | 12,184 € | 10,553 € | ranked 128 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 77.3 | 87.8 | 79.5 | ranked 167 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Santa Cruz da Graciosa | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 5.7% | 6.9% | 7.0% | ranked 226 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,316 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 112 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Santa Cruz da Graciosa | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 18,435 | 3,109,259 | 82,011,658 | ranked 218 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 452.5 | 1,270 | 275.0 | ranked 109 of 306 |
Education
| Indicator | Santa Cruz da Graciosa | Região Autónoma dos Açores | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 12.0% | 16.0% | 13.2% | ranked 193 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Santa Cruz da Graciosa
Business sectors: Santa Cruz da Graciosa
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing45.2% ×5.7
- Wholesale and retail trade9.8% ×0.7
- Accommodation and food services8.5% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services8.0% ×0.5
- Construction4.7% ×0.7
- Manufacturing4.4% ×1.0
- Transport and storage3.9% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical3.6% ×0.3
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Santa Cruz da Graciosa?
Santa Cruz da Graciosa has 4,074 residents (2025), ranking 276 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Santa Cruz da Graciosa?
Santa Cruz da Graciosa covers 60.7 km², with a density of 67 people per km².
Is the population of Santa Cruz da Graciosa growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Santa Cruz da Graciosa went from 4,131 to 4,074, a change of −1.4%.
Where is Santa Cruz da Graciosa?
Santa Cruz da Graciosa is in Região Autónoma dos Açores. Latitude 39.083, longitude −28.017.
Usual residences with central heating: what is the figure for Santa Cruz da Graciosa?
In Santa Cruz da Graciosa, “Usual residences with central heating” stands at 0.9% (2021), ranking 306 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 12.6%.
Buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Santa Cruz da Graciosa?
In Santa Cruz da Graciosa, “Buildings built before 1946” stands at 31.2% (2021), ranking 14 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 12.8%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Santa Cruz da Graciosa?
In Santa Cruz da Graciosa, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 32° produces about 1,317 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Santa Cruz da Graciosa?
The nearest to Santa Cruz da Graciosa are Velas (48 km), Calheta (Açores) (54 km), São Roque do Pico (68 km), Madalena (75 km), Lajes do Pico (79 km).
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