Palmela: population and statistics
Palmela has a population of 77,044 (2025) across 465.1 km², or 166 people per km². It ranks 38 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +13.4% between 2021 and 2025.
- 77,044 residents
- 465.1 km²
- 166 people/km²
- 222 m
Key points
Among the 13 municipalities in Setúbal, Palmela ranks No. 6 by population.
Buildings built before 1946: 4.0% in Palmela, compared with an average of 7.1% in Setúbal and 12.5% nationally.
Largest business sector: Administrative and support services, with 16.7% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 34° generates about 1,628 kWh a year here.
Palmela in numbers
Where is Palmela?
Population of Palmela over time
Palmela had 67,917 residents in 2021 and 77,044 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 67,917 |
| 2022 | 70,663 |
| 2023 | 73,249 |
| 2024 | 75,326 |
| 2025 | 77,044 |
Did you know?
- “Buildings built before 1946”: lower than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Average monthly earnings of employees”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Declared gross income per inhabitant”: higher than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 65,143 football pitches.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Setúbal (141,266 residents), 4.8 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 6,512 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Palmela
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 | Palmela | Setúbal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 19.7% | 21.4% | 26.9% | ranked 284 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 13.9% | 13.5% | 11.7% | ranked 21 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 142.1 | – | 229.9 | ranked 287 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 165.6 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 86 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 13.44% | – | 4.50% | ranked 21 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Palmela | Setúbal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 22,560 | 211,746 | 3,573,416 | ranked 40 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 4.0% | 7.1% | 12.8% | ranked 302 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 22.5% | 19.1% | 16.8% | ranked 53 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 13.2% | 11.7% | 14.2% | ranked 177 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 34,651 | 477,444 | 5,970,677 | ranked 44 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 12.3% | 13.3% | 25.8% | ranked 240 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 10.9% | 10.0% | 13.1% | ranked 224 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 74.3% | 69.6% | 77.8% | ranked 204 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 17.0% | 22.9% | 13.6% | ranked 106 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 42.8% | 64.1% | 13.8% | ranked 42 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 2,263 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 45 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Palmela | Setúbal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 28.1% | 34.1% | 18.6% | ranked 91 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 5.7% | 5.5% | 12.6% | ranked 210 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 6,511 kWh/inh. | 5,636 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 32 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Palmela | Setúbal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 8,375 | 109,683 | 1,510,274 | ranked 39 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 114.3 | 112.4 | 128.1 | ranked 224 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 13,362 € | 12,664 € | 10,553 € | ranked 20 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 96.2 | 99.5 | 79.5 | ranked 45 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Palmela | Setúbal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 8.0% | 9.3% | 7.0% | ranked 91 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,739 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 10 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Palmela | Setúbal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 58,773 | 2,595,728 | 82,011,658 | ranked 129 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 77.1 | 278.7 | 275.0 | ranked 265 of 306 |
Education
| Indicator | Palmela | Setúbal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 21.3% | 21.5% | 13.2% | ranked 37 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Palmela
Business sectors: Palmela
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Administrative and support services16.7% ×1.0
- Wholesale and retail trade14.7% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical9.4% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing8.5% ×1.1
- Construction8.0% ×1.1
- Health and social work8.0% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services6.1% ×0.7
- Other service activities5.6% ×1.1
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Palmela?
Palmela has 77,044 residents (2025), ranking 38 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Palmela?
Palmela covers 465.1 km², with a density of 166 people per km².
Is the population of Palmela growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Palmela went from 67,917 to 77,044, a change of +13.4%.
Where is Palmela?
Palmela is in Setúbal. Latitude 38.567, longitude −8.899.
Buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Palmela?
In Palmela, “Buildings built before 1946” stands at 4.0% (2021), ranking 302 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 12.8%.
Average monthly earnings of employees: what is the figure for Palmela?
In Palmela, “Average monthly earnings of employees” stands at 1,739 € (2024), ranking 10 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 1,258 €.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Palmela?
In Palmela, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 34° produces about 1,628 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Palmela?
The nearest to Palmela are Setúbal (4.8 km), Moita (12 km), Montijo (17 km), Barreiro (18 km), Seixal (20 km).
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