Viana do Castelo: population and statistics
Viana do Castelo has a population of 92,860 (2025) across 319.0 km², or 291 people per km². It ranks 30 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +6.9% between 2021 and 2025.
- 92,860 residents
- 319.0 km²
- 291 people/km²
- 82 m
Key points
Among the 10 municipalities in Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo ranks No. 1 by population.
Electricity consumption per inhabitant: 7,071 kWh/inh. in Viana do Castelo, compared with an average of 5,017 kWh/inh. in Viana do Castelo and 4,549 kWh/inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 15.6% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 35° generates about 1,464 kWh a year here.
Viana do Castelo in numbers
Where is Viana do Castelo?
Population of Viana do Castelo over time
Viana do Castelo had 86,869 residents in 2021 and 92,860 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 86,869 |
| 2022 | 89,419 |
| 2023 | 91,336 |
| 2024 | 92,564 |
| 2025 | 92,860 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Viana do Castelo for “Population”.
- Number 1 in Viana do Castelo for “Population density”.
- “Buildings”: higher than in 95% of municipalities.
- “Electricity consumption per inhabitant”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- “Enterprises”: higher than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 44,681 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.3 times the national average.
All indicators for Viana do Castelo
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 | Viana do Castelo | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 26.0% | 28.0% | 26.9% | ranked 170 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 12.0% | 11.4% | 11.7% | ranked 123 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 217.0 | – | 229.9 | ranked 173 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 291.1 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 60 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 6.90% | – | 4.50% | ranked 93 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Viana do Castelo | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 33,527 | 123,631 | 3,573,416 | ranked 17 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 10.1% | 10.8% | 12.8% | ranked 220 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) | 12.1% | 13.1% | 14.2% | ranked 206 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 49,171 | 155,259 | 5,970,677 | ranked 28 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 22.5% | 29.0% | 25.8% | ranked 177 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 10.4% | 10.8% | 13.1% | ranked 234 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 73.5% | 77.8% | 77.8% | ranked 217 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 19.7% | 15.2% | 13.6% | ranked 65 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 31.4% | 21.4% | 13.8% | ranked 73 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,810 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 67 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Viana do Castelo | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 24.7% | 21.2% | 18.6% | ranked 113 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 29.8% | 31.4% | 12.6% | ranked 44 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 7,071 kWh/inh. | 5,017 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 24 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Viana do Castelo | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 11,593 | 33,345 | 1,510,274 | ranked 32 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 126.9 | 138.0 | 128.1 | ranked 163 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 11,967 € | 10,704 € | 10,553 € | ranked 62 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 92.4 | 82.6 | 79.5 | ranked 63 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Viana do Castelo | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 6.1% | 6.0% | 7.0% | ranked 204 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,446 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 48 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Viana do Castelo | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 382,544 | 1,031,079 | 82,011,658 | ranked 34 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 412.6 | 422.3 | 275.0 | ranked 116 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 11.9% | – | 18.4% | ranked 117 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Viana do Castelo | Viana do Castelo | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 20.5% | 15.8% | 13.2% | ranked 42 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Viana do Castelo
Business sectors: Viana do Castelo
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade15.6% ×1.1
- Construction12.0% ×1.7
- Administrative and support services11.9% ×0.7
- Professional, scientific and technical9.5% ×0.9
- Health and social work9.0% ×1.2
- Accommodation and food services7.7% ×0.9
- Education6.8% ×1.6
- Manufacturing6.2% ×1.4
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Viana do Castelo?
Viana do Castelo has 92,860 residents (2025), ranking 30 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Viana do Castelo?
Viana do Castelo covers 319.0 km², with a density of 291 people per km².
Is the population of Viana do Castelo growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Viana do Castelo went from 86,869 to 92,860, a change of +6.9%.
Where is Viana do Castelo?
Viana do Castelo is in Viana do Castelo. Latitude 41.700, longitude −8.833.
Buildings: what is the figure for Viana do Castelo?
In Viana do Castelo, “Buildings” stands at 33,527 (2021), ranking 17 of 308 municipalities; the national median is 7,916.
Electricity consumption per inhabitant: what is the figure for Viana do Castelo?
In Viana do Castelo, “Electricity consumption per inhabitant” stands at 7,071 kWh/inh. (2024), ranking 24 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 3,690 kWh/inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Viana do Castelo?
In Viana do Castelo, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 35° produces about 1,464 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Viana do Castelo?
The nearest to Viana do Castelo are Caminha (15 km), Esposende (19 km), Ponte de Lima (22 km), Barcelos (26 km), Vila Nova de Cerveira (27 km).
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