Sesimbra: population and statistics
Sesimbra has a population of 59,440 (2025) across 195.7 km², or 304 people per km². It ranks 49 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +8.2% between 2021 and 2025.
- 59,440 residents
- 195.7 km²
- 304 people/km²
- 8 m
Key points
Among the 13 municipalities in Setúbal, Sesimbra ranks No. 8 by population.
Buildings built before 1946: 3.0% in Sesimbra, compared with an average of 7.1% in Setúbal and 12.5% nationally.
Population under 15: 14.1% in Sesimbra, compared with an average of 13.5% in Setúbal and 12.4% nationally.
Largest business sector: Administrative and support services, with 21.7% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 34° generates about 1,631 kWh a year here.
Sesimbra in numbers
Where is Sesimbra?
Population of Sesimbra over time
Sesimbra had 54,924 residents in 2021 and 59,440 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 54,924 |
| 2022 | 56,725 |
| 2023 | 58,124 |
| 2024 | 58,956 |
| 2025 | 59,440 |
Did you know?
- “Buildings built before 1946”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Population under 15”: higher than in 95% of municipalities.
- “Electricity consumption per inhabitant”: lower than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 27,412 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.5 times the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Setúbal (141,266 residents), 20 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 6,524 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Sesimbra
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 | Sesimbra | Setúbal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 20.4% | 21.4% | 26.9% | ranked 274 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 14.1% | 13.5% | 11.7% | ranked 15 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 144.2 | – | 229.9 | ranked 284 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 303.7 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 58 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 8.22% | – | 4.50% | ranked 74 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Sesimbra | Setúbal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 21,593 | 211,746 | 3,573,416 | ranked 43 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 3.0% | 7.1% | 12.8% | ranked 305 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 27.6% | 19.1% | 16.8% | ranked 14 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 7.3% | 11.7% | 14.2% | ranked 291 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 33,163 | 477,444 | 5,970,677 | ranked 48 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 31.0% | 13.3% | 25.8% | ranked 121 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 7.0% | 10.0% | 13.1% | ranked 301 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 75.0% | 69.6% | 77.8% | ranked 195 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 17.4% | 22.9% | 13.6% | ranked 95 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 34.1% | 64.1% | 13.8% | ranked 67 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 2,765 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 22 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Sesimbra | Setúbal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 28.4% | 34.1% | 18.6% | ranked 90 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 6.9% | 5.5% | 12.6% | ranked 196 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 2,731 kWh/inh. | 5,636 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 276 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Sesimbra | Setúbal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 7,194 | 109,683 | 1,510,274 | ranked 51 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 123.8 | 112.4 | 128.1 | ranked 181 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 12,625 € | 12,664 € | 10,553 € | ranked 35 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 91.8 | 99.5 | 79.5 | ranked 65 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Sesimbra | Setúbal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 8.0% | 9.3% | 7.0% | ranked 91 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,303 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 117 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Sesimbra | Setúbal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 273,281 | 2,595,728 | 82,011,658 | ranked 46 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 461.6 | 278.7 | 275.0 | ranked 103 of 306 |
Education
| Indicator | Sesimbra | Setúbal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 19.6% | 21.5% | 13.2% | ranked 49 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Sesimbra
Business sectors: Sesimbra
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Administrative and support services21.7% ×1.3
- Wholesale and retail trade12.7% ×0.9
- Accommodation and food services9.9% ×1.2
- Construction9.6% ×1.3
- Professional, scientific and technical8.9% ×0.9
- Health and social work6.5% ×0.8
- Other service activities6.4% ×1.3
- Real estate4.9% ×1.1
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sesimbra?
Sesimbra has 59,440 residents (2025), ranking 49 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Sesimbra?
Sesimbra covers 195.7 km², with a density of 304 people per km².
Is the population of Sesimbra growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Sesimbra went from 54,924 to 59,440, a change of +8.2%.
Where is Sesimbra?
Sesimbra is in Setúbal. Latitude 38.444, longitude −9.100.
Buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Sesimbra?
In Sesimbra, “Buildings built before 1946” stands at 3.0% (2021), ranking 305 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 12.8%.
Population under 15: what is the figure for Sesimbra?
In Sesimbra, “Population under 15” stands at 14.1% (2025), ranking 15 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 11.7%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Sesimbra?
In Sesimbra, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 34° produces about 1,631 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Sesimbra?
The nearest to Sesimbra are Setúbal (20 km), Seixal (22 km), Palmela (22 km), Barreiro (24 km), Moita (25 km).
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