Nelas: population and statistics
Nelas has a population of 13,941 (2025) across 125.7 km², or 111 people per km². It ranks 157 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +5.8% between 2021 and 2025.
- 13,941 residents
- 125.7 km²
- 111 people/km²
- 423 m
Key points
Among the 24 municipalities in Viseu, Nelas ranks No. 7 by population.
Electricity consumption per inhabitant: 13,034 kWh/inh. in Nelas, compared with an average of 4,171 kWh/inh. in Viseu and 4,549 kWh/inh. nationally.
Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: 96.2 in Nelas, compared with an average of 127.7 in Viseu and 134.6 nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 15.0% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 35° generates about 1,497 kWh a year here.
Nelas in numbers
Where is Nelas?
Population of Nelas over time
Nelas had 13,180 residents in 2021 and 13,941 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,180 |
| 2022 | 13,344 |
| 2023 | 13,560 |
| 2024 | 13,810 |
| 2025 | 13,941 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Viseu for “Electricity consumption per inhabitant”.
- “Electricity consumption per inhabitant”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 17,606 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Mangualde, 11.6 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Seia (21,597 residents), 16 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,988 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Nelas
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 | Nelas | Viseu | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population aged 65 and over (2025) | 30.3% | 28.7% | 26.9% | ranked 105 of 307 | |
| Population under 15 (2025) | 12.1% | 11.5% | 11.7% | ranked 115 of 307 | |
| Ageing index (older people per 100 young people) (2025) | 251.3 | – | 229.9 | ranked 131 of 307 | |
| Population density (inhabitants per km²) (2025) | 110.9 inh./km² | – | 69.6 inh./km² | ranked 116 of 307 | |
| Population change between 2021 and 2025 (2025) | 5.77% | – | 4.50% | ranked 118 of 307 |
Housing
| Indicator | Nelas | Viseu | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings (2021) | 7,409 | 207,281 | 3,573,416 | ranked 162 of 308 | |
| Buildings built before 1946 (2021) | 12.3% | 11.7% | 12.8% | ranked 165 of 307 | |
| Buildings built since 2001 (2021) | 16.1% | 18.7% | 16.8% | ranked 180 of 307 | |
| Buildings in need of medium or extensive repair (2021) | 14.5% | 16.7% | 14.2% | ranked 145 of 307 | |
| Conventional family dwellings (2021) | 8,843 | 245,876 | 5,970,677 | ranked 161 of 308 | |
| Dwellings used as secondary residences (2021) | 22.7% | 27.4% | 25.8% | ranked 175 of 307 | |
| Vacant dwellings (2021) | 17.5% | 14.0% | 13.1% | ranked 52 of 307 | |
| Owner-occupied usual residences (2021) | 82.8% | 80.7% | 77.8% | ranked 85 of 307 | |
| Rented usual residences (2021) | 11.1% | 12.7% | 13.6% | ranked 201 of 307 | |
| Usual residences in buildings with 3 or more dwellings (2021) | 19.7% | 20.4% | 13.8% | ranked 123 of 307 | |
| Median selling price of housing per m² (2025) | 807 €/m² | – | 1,108 €/m² | ranked 204 of 305 |
Energy
| Indicator | Nelas | Viseu | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residences without heating (2021) | 13.1% | 13.6% | 18.6% | ranked 224 of 307 | |
| Usual residences with central heating (2021) | 30.7% | 32.3% | 12.6% | ranked 38 of 307 | |
| Electricity consumption per inhabitant (2024) | 13,034 kWh/inh. | 4,171 kWh/inh. | 3,690 kWh/inh. | ranked 9 of 307 |
Economy
| Indicator | Nelas | Viseu | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2023) | 1,305 | 45,832 | 1,510,274 | ranked 196 of 308 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2023) | 96.2 | 127.7 | 128.1 | ranked 290 of 307 | |
| Declared gross income per inhabitant (2024) | 10,590 € | 10,408 € | 10,553 € | ranked 150 of 307 | |
| Purchasing power per capita (Portugal = 100) (2023) | 78.9 | 81.7 | 79.5 | ranked 157 of 307 |
Employment
| Indicator | Nelas | Viseu | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (2021) | 6.8% | 7.4% | 7.0% | ranked 160 of 307 | |
| Average monthly earnings of employees (2024) | 1,392 € | – | 1,258 € | ranked 69 of 307 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Nelas | Viseu | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays in tourist accommodation (2025) | 69,990 | 1,062,144 | 82,011,658 | ranked 119 of 307 | |
| Overnight stays per 100 inhabitants (2025) | 504.4 | 291.8 | 275.0 | ranked 93 of 306 | |
| Share of overnight stays in local accommodation (alojamento local) (2025) | 7.1% | – | 18.4% | ranked 147 of 178 |
Education
| Indicator | Nelas | Viseu | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population with completed higher education (2021) | 14.0% | 16.1% | 13.2% | ranked 130 of 307 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Nelas
Business sectors: Nelas
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade15.0% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services13.8% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing13.6% ×1.7
- Professional, scientific and technical9.0% ×0.9
- Health and social work7.9% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services7.3% ×0.9
- Construction7.1% ×1.0
- Manufacturing6.3% ×1.4
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Nelas?
Nelas has 13,941 residents (2025), ranking 157 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Nelas?
Nelas covers 125.7 km², with a density of 111 people per km².
Is the population of Nelas growing?
Between 2021 and 2025, the population of Nelas went from 13,180 to 13,941, a change of +5.8%.
Where is Nelas?
Nelas is in Viseu. Latitude 40.517, longitude −7.850.
Electricity consumption per inhabitant: what is the figure for Nelas?
In Nelas, “Electricity consumption per inhabitant” stands at 13,034 kWh/inh. (2024), ranking 9 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 3,690 kWh/inh..
Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Nelas?
In Nelas, “Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 96.2 (2023), ranking 290 of 307 municipalities; the national median is 128.1.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Nelas?
In Nelas, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 35° produces about 1,497 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Nelas?
The nearest to Nelas are Mangualde (12 km), Carregal do Sal (16 km), Seia (16 km), Viseu (17 km), Oliveira do Hospital (17 km).
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