Alcanena: population and statistics
Alcanena has a population of 13,313 (2025) across 127.3 km², or 105 people per km². It ranks 162 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +5.1% between 2021 and 2025.
- 13,313 residents
- 127.3 km²
- 105 people/km²
- 91 m
Key points
Among the 21 municipalities in Santarém, Alcanena ranks No. 13 by population.
Vacant dwellings: 22.6% in Alcanena, compared with an average of 17.0% in Santarém and 11.7% nationally.
Unemployment rate: 4.3% in Alcanena, compared with an average of 6.4% in Santarém and 8.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 24.9% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 34° generates about 1,566 kWh a year here.
Alcanena in numbers
Where is Alcanena?
Population of Alcanena over time
Alcanena had 12,662 residents in 2021 and 13,313 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,662 |
| 2022 | 12,936 |
| 2023 | 13,189 |
| 2024 | 13,281 |
| 2025 | 13,313 |
Did you know?
- “Vacant dwellings”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Unemployment rate”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 17,833 football pitches.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Torres Novas (36,208 residents), 12 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 6,264 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Alcanena
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 | Alcanena | Santarém | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 28.9% | 25.9% | 26.9% | ranked 125 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 11.7% | 12.4% | 11.7% | ranked 149 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 246.8 | – | 229.9 | ranked 136 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 104.6 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 120 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 5.14% | – | 4.50% | ranked 136 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Alcanena | Santarém | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 6,571 | 209,481 | 3,573,416 | ranked 183 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 18.4% | 14.1% | 12.8% | ranked 72 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 12.5% | 16.3% | 16.8% | ranked 267 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 18.4% | 15.4% | 14.2% | ranked 60 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 8,025 | 269,099 | 5,970,677 | ranked 177 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 12.4% | 16.5% | 25.8% | ranked 239 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 22.6% | 17.0% | 13.1% | ranked 6 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 74.4% | 76.3% | 77.8% | ranked 202 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 15.4% | 15.7% | 13.6% | ranked 129 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 20.9% | 28.2% | 13.8% | ranked 112 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 820 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 200 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Alcanena | Santarém | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 18.2% | 18.9% | 18.6% | ranked 159 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 9.5% | 10.0% | 12.6% | ranked 177 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 5,501 kWh/inh. | 5,083 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 57 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Alcanena | Santarém | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 1,596 | 49,990 | 1,510,274 | ranked 170 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 121.0 | 109.6 | 128.1 | ranked 196 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 10,477 € | 11,476 € | 10,553 € | ranked 160 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 83.2 | 89.6 | 79.5 | ranked 123 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Alcanena | Santarém | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 4.3% | 6.4% | 7.0% | ranked 289 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,401 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 66 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Alcanena | Santarém | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 16,821 | 1,894,213 | 82,011,658 | ranked 224 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 126.5 | 405.7 | 275.0 | ranked 227 of 306 |
Education
| Indicator | Alcanena | Santarém | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 12.9% | 16.8% | 13.2% | ranked 162 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Alcanena
Business sectors: Alcanena
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade24.9% ×1.7
- Administrative and support services12.6% ×0.8
- Manufacturing11.5% ×2.5
- Professional, scientific and technical8.1% ×0.8
- Accommodation and food services7.3% ×0.9
- Other service activities5.6% ×1.1
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing5.4% ×0.7
- Construction5.3% ×0.7
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Alcanena?
Alcanena has 13,313 residents (2025), ranking 162 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Alcanena?
Alcanena covers 127.3 km², with a density of 105 people per km².
Is the population of Alcanena growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Alcanena went from 12,662 to 13,313, a change of +5.1%.
Where is Alcanena?
Alcanena is in Santarém. Latitude 39.467, longitude −8.667.
Vacant dwellings: what is the figure for Alcanena?
In Alcanena, “Vacant dwellings” stands at 22.6% (2021), ranking 6 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 13.1%.
Unemployment rate: what is the figure for Alcanena?
In Alcanena, “Unemployment rate” stands at 4.3% (2021), ranking 289 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 7.0%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Alcanena?
In Alcanena, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 34° produces about 1,566 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Alcanena?
The nearest to Alcanena are Torres Novas (12 km), Entroncamento (17 km), Golegã (17 km), Porto de Mós (20 km), Vila Nova da Barquinha (20 km).
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