Madeira Gains More Than 2800 New Residents in One Year
At the end of 2024, Madeira had 259,440 residents - the highest figure since 2014. The population has grown for six straight years, with 2,818 more people than in 2023. This rise is mainly due to migration: while the natural population change (births minus deaths) remained negative at -781, it improved compared to -1,040 the year before. Migration alone added 3,599 people to the region’s population.
All Municipalities See Growth, São Vicente Leads
Every municipality in Madeira saw an increase in population in 2024. The highest growth rates were recorded in São Vicente (29.9 per thousand), Porto Santo (27.5‰), and Porto Moniz (27.35‰). Despite the overall rise, population density varied widely across the region. Funchal remained the most densely populated area, with 1,418.6 people per square kilometer. Porto Moniz had the lowest density, with just 31.3 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Fewer Young People, More Seniors
The age structure of the population continues to shift. The number of children under 15 years old dropped again, now representing only 11.9% of the population. In contrast, the percentage of residents aged 65 or older increased to 21.3%. The median age in Madeira rose from 46.9 years in 2023 to 47.2 in 2024, showing the region’s ongoing aging trend.
The age structure of the population continues to shift. The number of children under 15 years old dropped again, now representing only 11.9% of the population. In contrast, the percentage of residents aged 65 or older increased to 21.3%
Birth Rate Rises Slightly, Deaths Fall
There were 1,793 live births in Madeira in 2024, 46 more than the previous year - a 2.6% increase. The average number of children per woman aged 15 to 49 also went up slightly, from 1.22 in 2023 to 1.25 in 2024. Meanwhile, the number of deaths decreased significantly. A total of 2,574 deaths were recorded, 217 fewer than in 2023, representing a 7.8% decline.
Marriages Reach 17-Year High
In 2024, Madeira recorded 1,225 marriages - the highest number in 17 years. This resulted in a gross marriage rate of 4.7 per thousand residents. At the same time, the number of marriages that ended due to the death of a spouse dropped to its lowest level since records began in 1981.
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