Arcos de Valdevez: population and statistics
Arcos de Valdevez has a population of 20,450 (2025) across 447.6 km², or 45.7 people per km². It ranks 122 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +2.9% between 2021 and 2025.
- 20,450 residents
- 447.6 km²
- 46 people/km²
- 31 m
Key points
Among the 10 municipalities in Viana do Castelo, Arcos de Valdevez ranks No. 3 by population.
Usual residences with central heating: 33.2% in Arcos de Valdevez, compared with an average of 31.4% in Viana do Castelo and 13.8% nationally.
Population aged 65 and over: 35.3% in Arcos de Valdevez, compared with an average of 28.0% in Viana do Castelo and 23.3% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 22.6% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 35° generates about 1,375 kWh a year here.
Arcos de Valdevez in numbers
Where is Arcos de Valdevez?
Population of Arcos de Valdevez over time
Arcos de Valdevez had 19,879 residents in 2021 and 20,450 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,879 |
| 2022 | 20,145 |
| 2023 | 20,416 |
| 2024 | 20,441 |
| 2025 | 20,450 |
Did you know?
- “Usual residences with central heating”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 62,689 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.7 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Ponte da Barca, 5.6 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Ponte de Lima (42,933 residents), 17 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,500 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Arcos de Valdevez
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 | Arcos de Valdevez | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 35.3% | 28.0% | 26.9% | ranked 53 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 10.0% | 11.4% | 11.7% | ranked 240 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 352.1 | – | 229.9 | ranked 54 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 45.7 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 184 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 2.87% | – | 4.50% | ranked 199 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Arcos de Valdevez | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 15,723 | 123,631 | 3,573,416 | ranked 73 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 10.5% | 10.8% | 12.8% | ranked 209 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 20.0% | 19.4% | 16.8% | ranked 87 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 15.2% | 13.1% | 14.2% | ranked 134 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 17,795 | 155,259 | 5,970,677 | ranked 90 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 40.2% | 29.0% | 25.8% | ranked 55 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 10.6% | 10.8% | 13.1% | ranked 231 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 81.7% | 77.8% | 77.8% | ranked 95 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 11.2% | 15.2% | 13.6% | ranked 198 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 14.1% | 21.4% | 13.8% | ranked 148 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 943 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 176 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Arcos de Valdevez | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 14.4% | 21.2% | 18.6% | ranked 209 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 33.2% | 31.4% | 12.6% | ranked 23 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 5,073 kWh/inh. | 5,017 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 70 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Arcos de Valdevez | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 2,977 | 33,345 | 1,510,274 | ranked 108 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 145.8 | 138.0 | 128.1 | ranked 84 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 9,564 € | 10,704 € | 10,553 € | ranked 237 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 72.5 | 82.6 | 79.5 | ranked 224 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Arcos de Valdevez | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 6.2% | 6.0% | 7.0% | ranked 199 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,222 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 196 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Arcos de Valdevez | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 96,677 | 1,031,079 | 82,011,658 | ranked 95 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 472.9 | 422.3 | 275.0 | ranked 101 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 7.1% | – | 18.4% | ranked 147 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Arcos de Valdevez | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 10.8% | 15.8% | 13.2% | ranked 230 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Arcos de Valdevez
Business sectors: Arcos de Valdevez
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing22.6% ×2.8
- Wholesale and retail trade14.1% ×1.0
- Construction13.3% ×1.9
- Accommodation and food services10.3% ×1.2
- Administrative and support services7.8% ×0.5
- Health and social work6.8% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical6.1% ×0.6
- Manufacturing4.2% ×0.9
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Arcos de Valdevez?
Arcos de Valdevez has 20,450 residents (2025), ranking 122 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Arcos de Valdevez?
Arcos de Valdevez covers 447.6 km², with a density of 46 people per km².
Is the population of Arcos de Valdevez growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Arcos de Valdevez went from 19,879 to 20,450, a change of +2.9%.
Where is Arcos de Valdevez?
Arcos de Valdevez is in Viana do Castelo. Latitude 41.850, longitude −8.417.
Usual residences with central heating: what is the figure for Arcos de Valdevez?
In Arcos de Valdevez, “Usual residences with central heating” stands at 33.2% (2021), ranking 23 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 12.6%.
Population aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Arcos de Valdevez?
In Arcos de Valdevez, “Population aged 65 and over” stands at 35.3% (2025), ranking 53 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 26.9%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Arcos de Valdevez?
In Arcos de Valdevez, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 35° produces about 1,375 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Arcos de Valdevez?
The nearest to Arcos de Valdevez are Ponte da Barca (5.6 km), Paredes de Coura (14 km), Ponte de Lima (17 km), Terras de Bouro (18 km), Vila Verde (22 km).
Coat of arms: CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · Flag: CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons. Coats of arms and flags are shown for identification only; this site is not affiliated with any public authority.
