Melgaço: population and statistics
Melgaço has a population of 7,111 (2025) across 238.2 km², or 29.8 people per km². It ranks 216 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −2.4% between 2021 and 2025.
- 7,111 residents
- 238.2 km²
- 30 people/km²
- 115 m
Key points
Among the 10 municipalities in Viana do Castelo, Melgaço ranks No. 10 by population.
Usual residences with central heating: 40.0% in Melgaço, compared with an average of 31.4% in Viana do Castelo and 13.8% nationally.
Population under 15: 8.2% in Melgaço, compared with an average of 11.4% in Viana do Castelo and 12.4% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 38.3% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 35° generates about 1,331 kWh a year here.
Melgaço in numbers
Where is Melgaço?
Population of Melgaço over time
Melgaço had 7,287 residents in 2021 and 7,111 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,287 |
| 2022 | 7,187 |
| 2023 | 7,197 |
| 2024 | 7,166 |
| 2025 | 7,111 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Viana do Castelo for “Population aged 65 and over”.
- Number 1 in Viana do Castelo for “Ageing index (older people per 100 young people)”.
- “Usual residences with central heating”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Population under 15”: lower than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100)”: lower than in 97% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 33,368 football pitches.
- Its population density is 4.2 times lower than the national average.
All indicators for Melgaço
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 | Melgaço | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 41.2% | 28.0% | 26.9% | ranked 12 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 8.2% | 11.4% | 11.7% | ranked 297 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 500.5 | – | 229.9 | ranked 10 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 29.8 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 217 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | −2.42% | – | 4.50% | ranked 291 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Melgaço | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 7,194 | 123,631 | 3,573,416 | ranked 165 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 9.4% | 10.8% | 12.8% | ranked 237 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 13.4% | 19.4% | 16.8% | ranked 252 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 14.8% | 13.1% | 14.2% | ranked 140 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 7,836 | 155,259 | 5,970,677 | ranked 180 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 45.8% | 29.0% | 25.8% | ranked 24 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 10.4% | 10.8% | 13.1% | ranked 234 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 88.0% | 77.8% | 77.8% | ranked 19 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 5.9% | 15.2% | 13.6% | ranked 287 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 8.9% | 21.4% | 13.8% | ranked 203 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 710 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 222 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Melgaço | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 10.6% | 21.2% | 18.6% | ranked 260 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 40.0% | 31.4% | 12.6% | ranked 8 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,401 kWh/inh. | 5,017 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 194 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Melgaço | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 1,236 | 33,345 | 1,510,274 | ranked 202 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 171.7 | 138.0 | 128.1 | ranked 44 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 9,774 € | 10,704 € | 10,553 € | ranked 215 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 64.9 | 82.6 | 79.5 | ranked 298 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Melgaço | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 4.6% | 6.0% | 7.0% | ranked 281 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,162 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 247 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Melgaço | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 51,769 | 1,031,079 | 82,011,658 | ranked 135 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 725.2 | 422.3 | 275.0 | ranked 59 of 306 |
Education
| Indicator | Melgaço | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 10.0% | 15.8% | 13.2% | ranked 262 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Melgaço
Business sectors: Melgaço
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing38.3% ×4.8
- Wholesale and retail trade10.6% ×0.7
- Construction9.0% ×1.3
- Accommodation and food services8.5% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services8.4% ×0.5
- Professional, scientific and technical5.0% ×0.5
- Manufacturing4.7% ×1.0
- Other service activities4.0% ×0.8
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Melgaço?
Melgaço has 7,111 residents (2025), ranking 216 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Melgaço?
Melgaço covers 238.2 km², with a density of 30 people per km².
Is the population of Melgaço growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Melgaço went from 7,287 to 7,111, a change of −2.4%.
Where is Melgaço?
Melgaço is in Viana do Castelo. Latitude 42.117, longitude −8.267.
Usual residences with central heating: what is the figure for Melgaço?
In Melgaço, “Usual residences with central heating” stands at 40.0% (2021), ranking 8 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 12.6%.
Population under 15: what is the figure for Melgaço?
In Melgaço, “Population under 15” stands at 8.2% (2025), ranking 297 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 11.7%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Melgaço?
In Melgaço, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 35° produces about 1,331 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Melgaço?
The nearest to Melgaço are Monção (18 km), Valença (32 km), Arcos de Valdevez (32 km), Paredes de Coura (33 km), Ponte da Barca (37 km).
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