Ponte da Barca: population and statistics
Ponte da Barca has a population of 11,115 (2025) across 182.1 km², or 61.0 people per km². It ranks 182 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +2.0% between 2021 and 2025.
- 11,115 residents
- 182.1 km²
- 61 people/km²
- 31 m
Key points
Among the 10 municipalities in Viana do Castelo, Ponte da Barca ranks No. 7 by population.
Electricity consumption per inhabitant: 2,540 kWh/inh. in Ponte da Barca, compared with an average of 5,017 kWh/inh. in Viana do Castelo and 4,549 kWh/inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 19.0% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 34° generates about 1,345 kWh a year here.
Ponte da Barca in numbers
Where is Ponte da Barca?
Population of Ponte da Barca over time
Ponte da Barca had 10,892 residents in 2021 and 11,115 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,892 |
| 2022 | 11,024 |
| 2023 | 11,121 |
| 2024 | 11,122 |
| 2025 | 11,115 |
Did you know?
- “Electricity consumption per inhabitant”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- “Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local)”: lower than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 25,506 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.0 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Arcos de Valdevez (20,450 residents), 5.6 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,380 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Ponte da Barca
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 | Ponte da Barca | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 30.7% | 28.0% | 26.9% | ranked 99 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 10.9% | 11.4% | 11.7% | ranked 199 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 282.0 | – | 229.9 | ranked 101 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 61.0 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 165 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 2.05% | – | 4.50% | ranked 216 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Ponte da Barca | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 7,110 | 123,631 | 3,573,416 | ranked 168 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 13.1% | 10.8% | 12.8% | ranked 148 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 18.8% | 19.4% | 16.8% | ranked 104 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 14.4% | 13.1% | 14.2% | ranked 149 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 8,350 | 155,259 | 5,970,677 | ranked 174 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 35.5% | 29.0% | 25.8% | ranked 89 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 12.1% | 10.8% | 13.1% | ranked 181 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 79.2% | 77.8% | 77.8% | ranked 132 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 13.2% | 15.2% | 13.6% | ranked 160 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 17.9% | 21.4% | 13.8% | ranked 131 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,173 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 144 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Ponte da Barca | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 15.3% | 21.2% | 18.6% | ranked 200 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 33.1% | 31.4% | 12.6% | ranked 24 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 2,540 kWh/inh. | 5,017 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 288 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Ponte da Barca | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 1,444 | 33,345 | 1,510,274 | ranked 184 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 129.8 | 138.0 | 128.1 | ranked 147 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 9,347 € | 10,704 € | 10,553 € | ranked 258 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 67.4 | 82.6 | 79.5 | ranked 274 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Ponte da Barca | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 6.0% | 6.0% | 7.0% | ranked 213 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,135 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 272 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Ponte da Barca | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 40,083 | 1,031,079 | 82,011,658 | ranked 151 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 360.5 | 422.3 | 275.0 | ranked 131 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 5.4% | – | 18.4% | ranked 160 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Ponte da Barca | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 11.1% | 15.8% | 13.2% | ranked 220 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Ponte da Barca
Business sectors: Ponte da Barca
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing19.0% ×2.4
- Construction15.0% ×2.1
- Wholesale and retail trade13.9% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services10.5% ×1.3
- Administrative and support services9.6% ×0.6
- Professional, scientific and technical6.6% ×0.6
- Health and social work6.6% ×0.8
- Manufacturing4.4% ×1.0
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ponte da Barca?
Ponte da Barca has 11,115 residents (2025), ranking 182 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Ponte da Barca?
Ponte da Barca covers 182.1 km², with a density of 61 people per km².
Is the population of Ponte da Barca growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Ponte da Barca went from 10,892 to 11,115, a change of +2.0%.
Where is Ponte da Barca?
Ponte da Barca is in Viana do Castelo. Latitude 41.800, longitude −8.417.
Electricity consumption per inhabitant: what is the figure for Ponte da Barca?
In Ponte da Barca, “Electricity consumption per inhabitant” stands at 2,540 kWh/inh. (2024), ranking 288 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 3,690 kWh/inh..
Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local): what is the figure for Ponte da Barca?
In Ponte da Barca, “Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local)” stands at 5.4% (2025), ranking 160 of 178 municipalities; the national median is 18.4%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Ponte da Barca?
In Ponte da Barca, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 34° produces about 1,345 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Ponte da Barca?
The nearest to Ponte da Barca are Arcos de Valdevez (5.6 km), Terras de Bouro (13 km), Ponte de Lima (14 km), Vila Verde (17 km), Paredes de Coura (17 km).
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