The 18 districts and 2 autonomous regions of Portugal subdivided into their municipalities Portugal distritos ) and 2 autonomous regions (Portuguese: regiões autónomas), Azores and Madeira , that are further sub-divided into 308 municipalities (Portuguese: municípios or concelhos ). Usually, a municipality has the name of its biggest city, or at least, of its historically most important city or town, however, the municipality is, usually, much larger than the city or town after which it is named.
The municipality has been the most stable subdivision of Portugal since the foundation of the country in the 12th century. They have their origin in the foral
Each municipality is further subdivided into parishes (Portuguese: freguesias ), the municipalities in the north of the country usually have a higher number of parishes. Six municipalities are composed by only one municipality and Barcelos is the municipality with most parishes, 89. The parishes are administrated by a parish assembly .
Since the creation of a democratic local administration, in 1976, after the Carnation Revolution of April 25 , 1974 , the Portuguese municipalities are ruled by a municipal chamber , which is the executive body and is composed by the president of the municipality and a number of councillors proportional to the municipality's population, and by a municipal assembly , composed by the presidents of all the parishes that compose the municipality and by a number of directly elected deputies, at least, equal to the number of parish presidents plus one. Traditionally, the north and the autonomous regions are politicaly more conservative, while the south and the region of Lisbon are dominated by the left.
The biggest municipalities are those located in rural and inland areas where the dominating property is the latifundia , such as Beja, Évora or Portalegre, in the south, and also in other less populated areas, as Bragança or Castelo Branco.
The most populated municipalities are those located near the sea and specially, around the metropolitan areas of Lisbon , Oporto and Braga , being the less populated municipalities located in the inland regions of Alentejo and Trás-os-Montes . This municipalities combine the fact of being the less populated and those with a greater area, being, therefore, the less densely populated.
Overview
List
Aveiro
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Águeda 335.3 89 49,691 58 148 91 20
Albergaria-a-Velha 155.4 196 25,497 99 164 83 8
File:AND.png Anadia 216.6 150 31,671 86 146 93 15
Arouca 329.1 92 24,019 108 73 159 20
Aveiro 199.9 161 73,626 32 368 43 14
Castelo de Paiva 115.0 240 17,089 142 149 90 9
Espinho 21.1 305 31,703 85 1,503 14 5
Estarreja 108.4 245 28,279 91 261 56 7
Ílhavo 73.5 276 39,247 72 534 33 4
Mealhada 110.7 242 21,500 121 194 70 8
Murtosa 73.3 277 9,657 202 132 102 4
Oliveira de Azeméis 163.5 190 71,243 35 436 40 19
Oliveira do Bairro 87.3 260 22,365 115 256 59 6
Ovar 147.4 201 56,715 48 385 42 8
Santa Maria da Feira 215.1 151 142,295 17 662 29 31
São João da Madeira 7.9 308 21,538 119 2,726 6 1
Sever do Vouga 129.6 224 12,940 175 100 127 9
Vagos 169.9 185 23,205 111 137 99 11
Vale de Cambra 146.5 204 24,761 103 169 80 9
Beja
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Aljustrel 458.3 59 9,940 199 22 246 5
Almodôvar 777.9 18 7,650 232 10 301 8
Alvito 264.8 121 2,708 304 10 298 2
Barrancos 168.3 188 1,825 306 11 294 1
Beja 1,147.1 9 34,970 80 30 227 18
Castro Verde 569.4 40 7,702 230 14 284 5
Cuba 172.1 183 4,775 277 28 236 4
Ferreira do Alentejo 648.4 31 8,505 211 13 286 6
Mértola 1,292.8 6 7,996 223 6 307 9
Moura 958.4 13 16,411 147 17 265 8
Odemira 1,720.6 1 25,738 98 15 275 17
Ourique 663.4 29 5,842 261 9 303 6
Serpa 1,104.0 11 16,178 149 15 276 7
Vidigueira 316.0 101 6,019 259 19 256 4
Braga
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Amares 82.0 267 19,290 132 235 62 24
Barcelos 378.9 80 123,831 22 327 47 89
Braga 183.2 170 170,858 8 933 23 62
Cabeceiras de Basto 241.8 132 17,775 138 74 156 17
Celorico de Basto 181.1 173 20,128 129 111 119 22
Esposende 95.4 255 34,625 83 363 44 15
Fafe 219.1 146 53,528 54 244 61 36
Guimarães 241.3 133 161,876 14 671 27 69
Póvoa de Lanhoso 132.5 220 23,657 109 179 77 29
Terras de Bouro 277.5 114 7,955 224 29 234 17
Vieira do Minho 218.5 147 14,474 160 66 165 21
Vila Nova de Famalicão 201.7 159 131,690 19 653 30 49
Vila Verde 228.7 140 48,122 60 210 66 58
Vizela 24.7 303 23,528 110 953 22 7
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Alfândega da Fé 322.0 95 5,688 262 18 261 20
Bragança 1,173.6 8 34,774 82 30 230 49
Carrazeda de Ansiães 279.3 112 7,220 238 26 240 19
Freixo de Espada Cinta 244.0 130 4,014 284 16 267 6
Macedo de Cavaleiros 699.2 25 17,210 141 25 243 38
Miranda do Douro 487.2 53 7,707 229 16 269 17
Mirandela 659.0 30 25,780 97 39 209 37
Mogadouro 760.4 20 10,792 192 14 280 28
Torre de Moncorvo 531.6 47 9,408 205 18 260 17
Vila Flor 265.8 118 7,737 228 29 233 19
Vimioso 481.6 55 5,105 273 11 296 14
Vinhais 694.9 26 10,051 198 14 277 35
Castelo Branco
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Belmonte 118.8 234 7,662 231 64 167 5
Castelo Branco 1,438.2 3 55,034 51 38 210 25
Covilhã 555.6 44 53,501 55 96 131 31
Fundão 700.1 24 31,297 87 45 197 31
Idanha-a-Nova 1,416.4 4 10,929 191 8 305 17
Oleiros 471.1 56 6,212 253 13 285 12
Penamacor 563.9 42 6,160 255 11 293 12
Proença-a-Nova 395.3 75 9,610 203 24 244 6
Sertã 446.7 62 16,208 148 36 211 14
Vila de Rei 191.3 166 3,354 299 18 263 3
Vila Velha de Ródão 329.9 91 3,802 289 12 292 4
Coimbra
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Arganil 332.8 90 13,187 172 40 208 18
Cantanhede 390.9 77 38,590 74 99 128 19
Coimbra 319.4 97 142,408 16 446 39 31
Condeixa-a-Nova 138.7 210 16,459 146 119 112 10
Figueira da Foz 379.1 79 63,144 40 167 82 18
Góis 262.3 123 4,606 280 18 262 5
Lousã 138.4 211 17,252 140 125 106 6
Mira 124.0 231 13,146 173 106 123 4
Miranda do Corvo 126.4 228 13,400 171 106 124 5
Montemor-o-Velho 229 139 25,084 101 110 121 14
Oliveira do Hospital 234.5 137 21,901 116 93 135 21
Pampilhosa da Serra 396.5 73 4,756 278 12 289 10
Penacova 216.7 149 16,850 144 78 152 11
Penela 134.8 216 6,421 249 48 192 6
Soure 265.1 119 20,695 126 78 151 12
Tábua 199.8 162 12,452 177 62 170 15
Vila Nova de Poiares 84.5 262 7,291 236 86 140 4
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Alandroal 542.7 46 6,293 251 12 291 6
Arraiolos 683.8 27 7,382 234 11 295 11
Borba 145.2 206 7,545 233 52 183 4
Estremoz 513.8 50 15,064 154 29 232 13
Évora 1,307.0 5 55,619 49 43 201 19
Montemor-o-Novo 1,232.9 7 18,540 135 15 273 10
Mora 444.0 63 5,470 268 12 287 4
Mourão 278.6 113 3,348 300 12 288 3
Portel 601.2 36 7,078 240 12 290 8
Redondo 365.5 83 6,990 241 19 255 2
Reguengos de Monsaraz 463.8 57 11,460 184 25 242 5
Vendas Novas 222.4 142 11,957 181 54 180 2
Viana do Alentejo 393.6 76 5,639 263 14 278 3
Vila Viçosa 194.9 164 8,745 210 45 196 5
Faro
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Albufeira 140.6 209 35,281 77 251 60 5
Alcoutim 575.3 39 3,411 297 6 308 5
Aljezur 323.5 93 5,322 271 16 266 4
Castro Marim 300.9 105 6,495 246 22 247 4
Faro 201.6 160 58,305 46 289 52 6
Lagoa 88.3 259 22,658 113 257 58 6
Lagos 212.8 152 27,041 95 127 103 6
Loulé 764.2 19 62,295 41 82 146 11
Monchique 395.3 74 6,441 248 16 268 3
Olhão 130.9 223 42,272 69 323 48 5
Portimão 182.1 172 47,189 61 259 57 3
São Brás de Alportel 153.4 199 11,205 187 73 158 1
Silves 680.0 28 34,909 81 51 185 8
Tavira 607.0 34 25,105 100 41 203 9
Vila do Bispo 179.0 175 5,381 270 30 229 5
Vila Real de Santo António 60.9 289 18,158 136 298 51 3
Guarda
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Aguiar da Beira 206.9 155 6,270 252 30 228 13
Almeida 518.0 49 7,784 226 15 274 29
Celorico da Beira 247.2 128 8,752 209 35 214 22
Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo 508.6 51 6,884 242 14 283 17
Fornos de Algodres 131.5 222 5,435 269 41 204 16
Gouveia 300.6 106 15,792 150 53 182 22
Guarda 712.1 23 44,149 65 62 173 55
Manteigas 122.0 233 3,900 288 32 223 4
File:MED.png Mêda 286.1 110 6,000 260 21 250 16
Pinhel 484.5 54 10,436 196 22 248 27
Sabugal 822.7 15 14,222 164 17 264 40
Seia 435.7 65 27,574 93 63 168 29
Trancoso 361.5 85 10,639 193 29 231 29
Vila Nova de Foz Côa 398.2 71 8,249 218 21 252 17
Leiria
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Alcobaça 408.1 68 55,269 50 135 100 18
Alvaiázere 160.5 192 8,112 221 51 186 7
Ansião 176.2 176 13,673 167 78 153 8
Batalha 103.3 247 15,542 151 150 88 4
Bombarral 91.3 258 13,712 166 150 89 5
Caldas da Rainha 255.7 125 51,403 56 201 69 16
Castanheira de Pêra 66.8 286 3,464 295 52 184 2
Figueiró dos Vinhos 173.4 180 7,080 239 41 207 5
Leiria 565.6 41 124,701 21 220 64 29
Marinha Grande 187.1 169 38,030 75 203 67 3
Nazaré 82.4 265 14,904 156 181 76 3
Óbidos 141.6 208 11,187 188 79 149 9
Pedrógão Grande 128.8 225 4,262 283 33 222 3
File:PNI1.png Peniche 77.6 272 28,164 92 363 45 6
Pombal 626.1 33 58,617 44 94 134 17
Porto de Mós 261.6 124 24,775 102 95 132 13
Lisbon
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Alenquer 304.2 103 42,932 68 141 96 16
Amadora 23.8 304 176,239 7 7,405 1 11
Arruda dos Vinhos 78.0 271 11,210 186 144 94 4
Azambuja 262.7 122 21,508 120 82 145 9
Cadaval 174.9 178 14,385 162 82 144 10
Cascais 97.4 250 181,444 6 1,863 10 6
Lisbon 84.8 261 529,485 1 6,244 2 53
Loures 169.3 186 199,231 5 1,177 21 18
Lourinhã 147.2 202 24,601 106 167 81 11
Mafra 291.7 109 62,009 42 213 65 17
Odivelas 26.4 302 143,995 15 5,454 4 7
Oeiras 45.7 296 168,475 10 3,687 5 10
Sintra 319.2 98 409,482 2 1,283 18 20
Sobral de Monte Agraço 52.1 293 9,789 200 188 74 3
Torres Vedras 407.1 69 75,494 31 185 75 20
Vila Franca de Xira 317.7 100 133,224 18 419 41 11
Portalegre
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Alter do Chão 362.0 84 3,666 294 10 299 4
Arronches 314.8 102 3,278 301 10 297 3
Avis 606.0 35 5,054 274 8 304 8
Campo Maior 247.0 129 8,359 216 34 219 3
Castelo de Vide 264.9 120 3,780 291 14 279 4
Crato 398.0 72 3,995 285 10 300 6
Elvas 631.3 32 22,691 112 36 213 11
Fronteira 248.6 127 3,422 296 14 282 3
Gavião 294.6 108 4,453 281 15 271 5
Marvão 154.9 198 3,739 292 24 245 4
Monforte 420.3 66 3,241 302 8 306 4
Nisa 575.8 38 8,047 222 14 281 10
Ponte de Sor 839.7 14 17,593 139 21 251 7
Portalegre 447.1 61 24,756 104 55 177 10
Sousel 279.4 111 5,579 266 20 253 4
Oporto
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Amarante 301.5 104 61,029 202 40
Baião 174.5 179 21,564 124 20
Felgueiras 115.7 239 58,553 506 32
Gondomar 131.9 221 169,239 1,283 12
Lousada 96.0 252 46,322 483 25
Maia 83.1 263 130,254 1,567 17
Marco de Canaveses 201.9 158 53,961 267 31
Matosinhos 62.2 288 168,451 2,708 10
Oporto 41.3 299 238,954 5,786 15
Paços de Ferreira 71.0 279 54,801 772 16
Paredes 156.8 195 85,428 545 24
Penafiel 212.3 153 72,095 340 38
Póvoa de Varzim 82.1 266 65,452 797 12
Santo Tirso 136.5 214 71,623 525 24
Trofa 71.9 278 39,166 545 8
Valongo 75.1 275 91,274 1,215 5
Vila do Conde 149.0 200 75,981 510 30
Vila Nova de Gaia 168.7 187 300,868 1,783 24
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Abrantes 714.7 22 41,326 58 19
Alcanena 127.3 227 14,763 116 10
File:Almeirim CoA pt.jpg Almeirim 222.1 143 22,617 102 4
Alpiarça 95.4 254 8,198 86 1
Benavente 521.5 48 25,837 50 4
Cartaxo 158.2 193 24,465 155 8
Chamusca 746.0 21 11,313 15 7
Constância 80.4 269 3,796 47 3
Coruche 1,117.6 10 20,629 18 8
Entroncamento 13.7 307 20,065 1,465 2
Ferreira do Zêzere 190.4 167 9,345 49 9
Golegã 76.6 273 5,629 73 2
Mação 400.0 70 7,763 19 8
Ourém 416.6 67 49,269 118 18
Rio Maior 272.8 115 21,621 79 14
Salvaterra de Magos 242.0 131 20,908 86 6
Santarém 560.3 43 64,124 114 28
Sardoal 92.2 257 3,992 42 4
Tomar 351.2 86 42,983 122 16
Torres Novas 270.0 116 37,155 138 17
Vila Nova da Barquinha 49.6 294 7,878 159 5
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Alcácer do Sal 1,465.3 2 13,624 9 6
Alcochete 128.4 226 14,966 117 3
Almada 70.2 281 165,363 2,356 11
Barreiro 31.8 300 78,992 2,484 8
Grândola 807.5 16 14,454 18 5
Moita 55.3 291 70,226 1,270 6
Montijo 348.1 88 40,466 116 8
Palmela 462.9 58 58,222 126 5
Santiago do Cacém 1,059.8 12 30,203 28 11
Seixal 95.5 253 164,715 1,725 6
Sesimbra 195.0 163 44,046 226 3
Setúbal 171.9 184 120,117 699 8
Sines 202.6 156 13,613 67 2
Viana do Castelo
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Arcos de Valdevez 447.6 60 24,635 55 51
Caminha 137.4 213 16,926 123 20
Melgaço 238.1 136 9,739 41 18
Monção 211.3 154 19,842 94 33
Paredes de Coura 138.2 212 9,409 68 21
Ponte da Barca 182.2 171 13,026 71 25
Ponte de Lima 320.3 96 44,609 139 51
Valença 117.1 237 14,284 122 16
Viana do Castelo 318.6 99 90,654 285 40
Vila Nova de Cerveira 108.6 244 8,813 81 15
Vila Real
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Alijó 297.6 107 13,942 47 19
Boticas 322.0 94 6,116 19 16
Chaves 591.3 37 44,186 75 51
Mesão Frio 26.7 301 4,652 174 7
Mondim de Basto 172.1 182 8,470 49 8
Montalegre 805.8 17 12,150 15 35
Murça 189.4 168 6,476 34 9
Peso da Régua 94.9 256 17,987 190 12
Ribeira de Pena 217.5 148 7,251 33 7
Sabrosa 156.9 194 6,835 44 15
Santa Marta de Penaguião 69.3 283 8,400 121 10
Valpaços 548.8 45 19,154 35 31
Vila Pouca de Aguiar 437.1 64 15,100 35 18
Vila Real 378.8 81 50,499 133 30
Viseu
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Armamar 117.2 236 7,318 62 19
Carregal do Sal 116.9 238 10,555 90 7
Castro Daire 379.1 78 16,846 44 22
Cinfães 239.3 134 21,318 89 17
Lamego 165.4 189 27,054 164 24
Mangualde 219.3 145 21,158 96 18
Moimenta da Beira 220.0 144 11,053 50 20
Mortágua 251.2 126 10,365 41 10
Nelas 125.7 230 14,504 115 9
Oliveira de Frades 145.4 205 10,597 73 12
Penalva do Castelo 134.2 217 8,768 65 13
Penedono 133.7 219 3,378 25 9
Resende 123.4 232 11,978 97 15
Santa Comba Dão 112.0 241 12,393 111 9
São João da Pesqueira 266.1 117 8,367 31 14
São Pedro do Sul 349.0 87 19,215 55 19
Sátão 201.9 157 13,419 66 12
Sernancelhe 228.6 141 6,150 27 17
Tabuaço 133.9 218 6,501 49 17
Tarouca 100.1 248 8,303 83 10
Tondela 371.2 82 31,026 84 26
Vila Nova de Paiva 175.5 177 6,319 56 7
Viseu 507.1 52 96,810 191 34
Vouzela 193.7 165 11,807 61 12
Azores
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Angra do Heroísmo 239.0 135 35,103 147 19
Calheta 126.3 229 3,972 31 5
Corvo 17.1 306 451 26 0
Horta 173.1 181 15,224 88 13
Lagoa 45.6 297 14,698 322 5
Lajes das Flores 70.1 282 1,491 21 7
Lajes do Pico 155.3 197 4,840 31 6
Madalena 147.1 203 6,184 42 6
Nordeste 99.9 249 5,254 53 9
Ponta Delgada 233.0 138 64,516 277 24
Povoação 108.0 246 6,696 62 6
Ribeira Grande 180.2 174 29,318 163 14
Santa Cruz da Graciosa 60.7 290 4,777 79 4
Santa Cruz das Flores 70.9 280 2,500 35 4
São Roque do Pico 142.4 207 3,705 26 5
Velas 117.4 235 5,585 48 6
Vila da Praia da Vitória 161.3 191 20,342 126 11
Vila do Porto 96.9 251 5,511 57 5
Vila Franca do Campo 78.0 270 11,039 142 6
Madeira
Crest
Municipality
Area
Population
Density
No. of Parishes
Ruling Party[1]
Km²
Rank
Total
Rank
Pop/km²
Rank
Calheta 110.3 243 11,856 107 8
Câmara de Lobos 52.6 292 35,150 668 5
Funchal 75.7 274 100,847 1,332 10
Machico 67.6 285 21,321 315 5
Ponta do Sol 46.8 295 8,189 175 3
Porto Moniz 82.6 264 2,762 33 4
Porto Santo 42.4 298 4,388 103 1
Ribeira Brava 64.9 287 12,523 193 4
Santa Cruz 68.0 284 32,696 481 5
Santana 136.3 215 8,491 62 6
São Vicente 80.8 268 6,063 75 3
Maps
Ruling parties per municipality
Municipalities within each district or region
The 20 biggest and the 20 smallest municipalities
The 20 most and the 20 less populated municipalities
The 20 most and the 20 less densely populated municipalities
Notes
1. The colors in the "ruling party" field indicate the following parties or coalitions (in brackets, the number of presidencies):
2. All mayors were elected in the Portuguese local election of 2005 , held on October 9.
3. A cell with a green background denotes a municipality placed within the first twenty positions of the corresponding ranking. A red background denotes a municipality placed within the last twenty positions of the corresponding ranking.
4. All population, and therefore, all population density data is as of 2004 .
5. In the maps, the archipelagos of Azores and Madeira are not to scale and there are more than 308 different areas because some municipalities are not contiguous, forming enclaves .
References
See also
External links
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
.png?lang=en){kind=small}
Ruling parties per municipality
Municipalities within each district or region
The 20 biggest and the 20 smallest municipalities
The 20 most and the 20 less populated municipalities
The 20 most and the 20 less densely populated municipalities
