Chaves: population and statistics
Chaves has a population of 38,014 (2025) across 591.2 km², or 64.3 people per km². It ranks 80 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +4.1% between 2021 and 2025.
- 38,014 residents
- 591.2 km²
- 64 people/km²
- 366 m
Key points
Among the 14 municipalities in Vila Real, Chaves ranks No. 2 by population.
Usual residences with central heating: 39.3% in Chaves, compared with an average of 30.2% in Vila Real and 13.8% nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 18.0% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 35° generates about 1,462 kWh a year here.
Chaves in numbers
Where is Chaves?
Population of Chaves over time
Chaves had 36,531 residents in 2021 and 38,014 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 36,531 |
| 2022 | 37,045 |
| 2023 | 37,508 |
| 2024 | 37,749 |
| 2025 | 38,014 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Vila Real for “Buildings”.
- Number 1 in Vila Real for “Usual residences with central heating”.
- “Usual residences with central heating”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local)”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 82,805 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Boticas, 17.4 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Felgueiras (57,432 residents), 74 km away.
All indicators for Chaves
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 | Chaves | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 33.0% | 32.5% | 26.9% | ranked 68 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 10.5% | 10.2% | 11.7% | ranked 221 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 314.7 | – | 229.9 | ranked 71 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 64.3 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 161 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 4.06% | – | 4.50% | ranked 168 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Chaves | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 22,605 | 119,688 | 3,573,416 | ranked 39 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 12.3% | 11.8% | 12.8% | ranked 165 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 17.2% | 17.2% | 16.8% | ranked 145 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 13.0% | 15.6% | 14.2% | ranked 182 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 28,612 | 142,736 | 5,970,677 | ranked 58 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 31.6% | 33.8% | 25.8% | ranked 115 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 12.9% | 10.9% | 13.1% | ranked 158 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 79.7% | 80.3% | 77.8% | ranked 124 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 14.2% | 12.7% | 13.6% | ranked 146 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 25.1% | 21.7% | 13.8% | ranked 94 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 1,151 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 146 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Chaves | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 9.7% | 11.0% | 18.6% | ranked 266 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 39.3% | 30.2% | 12.6% | ranked 10 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,476 kWh/inh. | 3,212 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 185 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Chaves | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 5,021 | 30,702 | 1,510,274 | ranked 77 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 133.9 | 164.5 | 128.1 | ranked 128 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 10,552 € | 10,158 € | 10,553 € | ranked 155 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 83.3 | 80.4 | 79.5 | ranked 121 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Chaves | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 8.5% | 7.8% | 7.0% | ranked 72 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,250 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 163 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Chaves | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 233,481 | 727,979 | 82,011,658 | ranked 53 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 616.3 | 389.0 | 275.0 | ranked 77 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 4.2% | – | 18.4% | ranked 167 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Chaves | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 16.4% | 16.0% | 13.2% | ranked 82 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Chaves
Business sectors: Chaves
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade18.0% ×1.3
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing17.0% ×2.1
- Accommodation and food services9.3% ×1.1
- Construction8.5% ×1.2
- Administrative and support services8.1% ×0.5
- Professional, scientific and technical7.9% ×0.8
- Health and social work7.6% ×1.0
- Education5.5% ×1.3
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Chaves?
Chaves has 38,014 residents (2025), ranking 80 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Chaves?
Chaves covers 591.2 km², with a density of 64 people per km².
Is the population of Chaves growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Chaves went from 36,531 to 38,014, a change of +4.1%.
Where is Chaves?
Chaves is in Vila Real. Latitude 41.740, longitude −7.471.
Usual residences with central heating: what is the figure for Chaves?
In Chaves, “Usual residences with central heating” stands at 39.3% (2021), ranking 10 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 12.6%.
Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local): what is the figure for Chaves?
In Chaves, “Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local)” stands at 4.2% (2025), ranking 167 of 178 municipalities; the national median is 18.4%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Chaves?
In Chaves, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 35° produces about 1,462 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Chaves?
The nearest to Chaves are Boticas (17 km), Valpaços (20 km), Montalegre (27 km), Vila Pouca de Aguiar (32 km), Ribeira de Pena (37 km).
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