Sabrosa: population and statistics
Sabrosa has a population of 5,576 (2025) across 156.9 km², or 35.5 people per km². It ranks 248 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +1.3% between 2021 and 2025.
- 5,576 residents
- 156.9 km²
- 36 people/km²
- 560 m
Key points
Among the 14 municipalities in Vila Real, Sabrosa ranks No. 11 by population.
Vacant dwellings: 6.0% in Sabrosa, compared with an average of 10.9% in Vila Real and 11.7% nationally.
Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: 186.9 in Sabrosa, compared with an average of 164.5 in Vila Real and 134.6 nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 53.9% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 35° generates about 1,486 kWh a year here.
Sabrosa in numbers
Where is Sabrosa?
Population of Sabrosa over time
Sabrosa had 5,507 residents in 2021 and 5,576 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,507 |
| 2022 | 5,535 |
| 2023 | 5,528 |
| 2024 | 5,523 |
| 2025 | 5,576 |
Did you know?
- “Vacant dwellings”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 91% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 21,978 football pitches.
- Its population density is 3.5 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Alijó (10,096 residents), 8.5 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,944 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Sabrosa
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 | Sabrosa | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 35.4% | 32.5% | 26.9% | ranked 52 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 9.2% | 10.2% | 11.7% | ranked 264 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 383.5 | – | 229.9 | ranked 42 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 35.5 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 203 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 1.25% | – | 4.50% | ranked 235 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Sabrosa | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 4,659 | 119,688 | 3,573,416 | ranked 233 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 19.8% | 11.8% | 12.8% | ranked 56 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 14.0% | 17.2% | 16.8% | ranked 231 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 15.4% | 15.6% | 14.2% | ranked 124 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 4,815 | 142,736 | 5,970,677 | ranked 242 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 46.9% | 33.8% | 25.8% | ranked 18 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 6.0% | 10.9% | 13.1% | ranked 306 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 85.1% | 80.3% | 77.8% | ranked 48 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 6.9% | 12.7% | 13.6% | ranked 272 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 4.5% | 21.7% | 13.8% | ranked 266 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 825 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 198 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Sabrosa | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 11.1% | 11.0% | 18.6% | ranked 255 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 23.2% | 30.2% | 12.6% | ranked 82 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 3,368 kWh/inh. | 3,212 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 195 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Sabrosa | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 1,033 | 30,702 | 1,510,274 | ranked 216 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 186.9 | 164.5 | 128.1 | ranked 30 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 9,403 € | 10,158 € | 10,553 € | ranked 254 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 67.3 | 80.4 | 79.5 | ranked 275 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Sabrosa | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 7.0% | 7.8% | 7.0% | ranked 152 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,256 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 157 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Sabrosa | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 34,831 | 727,979 | 82,011,658 | ranked 163 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 627.6 | 389.0 | 275.0 | ranked 75 of 306 |
Education
| Indicator | Sabrosa | Vila Real | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 9.7% | 16.0% | 13.2% | ranked 267 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Sabrosa
Business sectors: Sabrosa
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing53.9% ×6.8
- Wholesale and retail trade10.2% ×0.7
- Accommodation and food services7.3% ×0.9
- Administrative and support services6.4% ×0.4
- Construction5.9% ×0.8
- Professional, scientific and technical3.8% ×0.4
- Manufacturing3.6% ×0.8
- Health and social work2.1% ×0.3
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sabrosa?
Sabrosa has 5,576 residents (2025), ranking 248 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Sabrosa?
Sabrosa covers 156.9 km², with a density of 36 people per km².
Is the population of Sabrosa growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Sabrosa went from 5,507 to 5,576, a change of +1.3%.
Where is Sabrosa?
Sabrosa is in Vila Real. Latitude 41.265, longitude −7.575.
Vacant dwellings: what is the figure for Sabrosa?
In Sabrosa, “Vacant dwellings” stands at 6.0% (2021), ranking 306 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 13.1%.
Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Sabrosa?
In Sabrosa, “Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 186.9 (2023), ranking 30 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 128.1.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Sabrosa?
In Sabrosa, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 35° produces about 1,486 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Sabrosa?
The nearest to Sabrosa are Alijó (8.5 km), Vila Real (15 km), Tabuaço (17 km), Murça (18 km), Armamar (19 km).
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