Rio Maior: population and statistics
Rio Maior has a population of 25,412 (2025) across 272.8 km², or 93.2 people per km². It ranks 104 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +15.6% between 2021 and 2025.
- 25,412 residents
- 272.8 km²
- 93 people/km²
- 60 m
Key points
Among the 21 municipalities in Santarém, Rio Maior ranks No. 8 by population.
Electricity consumption per inhabitant: 7,253 kWh/inh. in Rio Maior, compared with an average of 5,083 kWh/inh. in Santarém and 4,549 kWh/inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 18.3% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 34° generates about 1,553 kWh a year here.
Rio Maior in numbers
Where is Rio Maior?
Population of Rio Maior over time
Rio Maior had 21,983 residents in 2021 and 25,412 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,983 |
| 2022 | 23,126 |
| 2023 | 24,464 |
| 2024 | 25,306 |
| 2025 | 25,412 |
Did you know?
- “Population change between 2021 and 2025”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Electricity consumption per inhabitant”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 38,202 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Cadaval, 15.1 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Caldas da Rainha (58,983 residents), 19 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 6,212 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Rio Maior
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 | Rio Maior | Santarém | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 21.2% | 25.9% | 26.9% | ranked 264 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 13.4% | 12.4% | 11.7% | ranked 35 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 159.2 | – | 229.9 | ranked 273 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 93.2 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 129 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 15.60% | – | 4.50% | ranked 13 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Rio Maior | Santarém | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 9,616 | 209,481 | 3,573,416 | ranked 130 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 15.3% | 14.1% | 12.8% | ranked 107 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 18.8% | 16.3% | 16.8% | ranked 104 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 15.3% | 15.4% | 14.2% | ranked 129 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 12,239 | 269,099 | 5,970,677 | ranked 121 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 14.0% | 16.5% | 25.8% | ranked 227 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 17.0% | 17.0% | 13.1% | ranked 62 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 75.8% | 76.3% | 77.8% | ranked 175 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 15.8% | 15.7% | 13.6% | ranked 124 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 24.6% | 28.2% | 13.8% | ranked 96 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,233 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 138 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Rio Maior | Santarém | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 21.2% | 18.9% | 18.6% | ranked 133 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 11.6% | 10.0% | 12.6% | ranked 160 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 7,253 kWh/inh. | 5,083 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 22 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Rio Maior | Santarém | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 2,684 | 49,990 | 1,510,274 | ranked 116 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 109.7 | 109.6 | 128.1 | ranked 249 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 10,553 € | 11,476 € | 10,553 € | ranked 154 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 88.2 | 89.6 | 79.5 | ranked 85 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Rio Maior | Santarém | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 5.0% | 6.4% | 7.0% | ranked 268 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,330 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 106 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Rio Maior | Santarém | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 28,707 | 1,894,213 | 82,011,658 | ranked 178 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 113.2 | 405.7 | 275.0 | ranked 238 of 306 |
Education
| Indicator | Rio Maior | Santarém | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 14.1% | 16.8% | 13.2% | ranked 125 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Rio Maior
Business sectors: Rio Maior
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade18.3% ×1.3
- Administrative and support services11.4% ×0.7
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing11.3% ×1.4
- Construction7.8% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical7.5% ×0.7
- Accommodation and food services7.4% ×0.9
- Manufacturing7.1% ×1.5
- Health and social work5.8% ×0.7
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Rio Maior?
Rio Maior has 25,412 residents (2025), ranking 104 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Rio Maior?
Rio Maior covers 272.8 km², with a density of 93 people per km².
Is the population of Rio Maior growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Rio Maior went from 21,983 to 25,412, a change of +15.6%.
Where is Rio Maior?
Rio Maior is in Santarém. Latitude 39.333, longitude −8.933.
Population change between 2021 and 2025: what is the figure for Rio Maior?
In Rio Maior, “Population change between 2021 and 2025” stands at 15.60% (2025), ranking 13 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 4.50%.
Electricity consumption per inhabitant: what is the figure for Rio Maior?
In Rio Maior, “Electricity consumption per inhabitant” stands at 7,253 kWh/inh. (2024), ranking 22 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 3,690 kWh/inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Rio Maior?
In Rio Maior, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 34° produces about 1,553 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Rio Maior?
The nearest to Rio Maior are Cadaval (15 km), Caldas da Rainha (19 km), Óbidos (20 km), Bombarral (20 km), Santarém (24 km).
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