Ribeira de Pena: population and statistics
Ribeira de Pena has a population of 5,836 (2025) across 217.5 km², or 26.8 people per km². It ranks 239 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −0.7% between 2021 and 2025.
- 5,836 residents
- 217.5 km²
- 27 people/km²
- 559 m
Key points
Among the 14 municipalities in Vila Real, Ribeira de Pena ranks No. 10 by population.
Declared gross income per inhabitant: 8,214 € in Ribeira de Pena, compared with an average of 10,158 € in Vila Real and 12,214 € nationally.
Population with completed higher education: 8.5% in Ribeira de Pena, compared with an average of 16.0% in Vila Real and 21.5% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 34.2% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 33° generates about 1,374 kWh a year here.
Ribeira de Pena in numbers
Where is Ribeira de Pena?
Population of Ribeira de Pena over time
Ribeira de Pena had 5,879 residents in 2021 and 5,836 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,879 |
| 2022 | 5,834 |
| 2023 | 5,875 |
| 2024 | 5,861 |
| 2025 | 5,836 |
Did you know?
- “Declared gross income per inhabitant”: lower than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Population with completed higher education”: lower than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Vacant dwellings”: lower than in 96% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 30,457 football pitches.
- Its population density is 4.6 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Vila Pouca de Aguiar (11,794 residents), 14 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,496 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Ribeira de Pena
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 | Ribeira de Pena | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 32.8% | 32.5% | 26.9% | ranked 71 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) | 313.9 | – | 229.9 | ranked 72 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 26.8 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 226 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | −0.73% | – | 4.50% | ranked 266 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Ribeira de Pena | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 4,698 | 119,688 | 3,573,416 | ranked 228 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 13.9% | 11.8% | 12.8% | ranked 132 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 17.8% | 17.2% | 16.8% | ranked 130 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 16.9% | 15.6% | 14.2% | ranked 85 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 5,043 | 142,736 | 5,970,677 | ranked 232 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 44.4% | 33.8% | 25.8% | ranked 31 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 7.9% | 10.9% | 13.1% | ranked 293 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 85.0% | 80.3% | 77.8% | ranked 50 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 5.4% | 12.7% | 13.6% | ranked 292 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 6.8% | 21.7% | 13.8% | ranked 237 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 385 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 293 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Ribeira de Pena | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 10.2% | 11.0% | 18.6% | ranked 264 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 27.9% | 30.2% | 12.6% | ranked 58 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 2,919 kWh/inh. | 3,212 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 258 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Ribeira de Pena | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 790 | 30,702 | 1,510,274 | ranked 246 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 134.5 | 164.5 | 128.1 | ranked 125 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 8,214 € | 10,158 € | 10,553 € | ranked 302 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 66.1 | 80.4 | 79.5 | ranked 285 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Ribeira de Pena | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 8.0% | 7.8% | 7.0% | ranked 91 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,286 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 132 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Ribeira de Pena | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 36,047 | 727,979 | 82,011,658 | ranked 162 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) | 20.8% | – | 18.4% | ranked 72 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Ribeira de Pena | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 8.5% | 16.0% | 13.2% | ranked 298 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Ribeira de Pena
Business sectors: Ribeira de Pena
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing34.2% ×4.3
- Administrative and support services12.0% ×0.7
- Wholesale and retail trade11.3% ×0.8
- Construction9.5% ×1.3
- Accommodation and food services8.7% ×1.0
- Health and social work4.9% ×0.6
- Other service activities4.1% ×0.8
- Professional, scientific and technical3.9% ×0.4
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ribeira de Pena?
Ribeira de Pena has 5,836 residents (2025), ranking 239 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Ribeira de Pena?
Ribeira de Pena covers 217.5 km², with a density of 27 people per km².
Is the population of Ribeira de Pena growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Ribeira de Pena went from 5,879 to 5,836, a change of −0.7%.
Where is Ribeira de Pena?
Ribeira de Pena is in Vila Real. Latitude 41.517, longitude −7.800.
Declared gross income per inhabitant: what is the figure for Ribeira de Pena?
In Ribeira de Pena, “Declared gross income per inhabitant” stands at 8,214 € (2024), ranking 302 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 10,553 €.
Population with completed higher education: what is the figure for Ribeira de Pena?
In Ribeira de Pena, “Population with completed higher education” stands at 8.5% (2021), ranking 298 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 13.2%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Ribeira de Pena?
In Ribeira de Pena, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 33° produces about 1,374 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Ribeira de Pena?
The nearest to Ribeira de Pena are Vila Pouca de Aguiar (14 km), Cabeceiras de Basto (17 km), Mondim de Basto (18 km), Boticas (22 km), Celorico de Basto (22 km).
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