Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) releases a publication on the final results of the 2021 Census

The Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) is releasing today a publication analysing the key findings of the 2021 Census – Final Results of the 16th Population Census and the 6th Housing Census, focusing on the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM) and making comparisons, when possible, with the 2011 census operation.

The objective of this publication is to provide a comprehensive overview of the main demographic, socioeconomic, and housing characteristics of the Region, as well as to highlight the changes and developments that have taken place over the past decade.

The publication is structured into three main areas: population, households, family nuclei, and housing. Each section presents a set of indicators, with most of them being further disaggregated by parish.

Based on the analysis, the following key findings emerge:

According to the final results of the Census 2021, the resident population in the Autonomous Region of Madeira on April 19^th, 2021 (census day) is 250 744 persons, comprising 117,685 men (46.9%) and 133,059 women (53.1%).

The results indicate a decrease of 6.4% in the resident population compared to 2011, reversing the population growth trend of the past decade and marking the fourth population decline recorded since the first Population Census in 1864.

Regarding age structure, the census data indicate a decrease in the young population and an increase in the elderly population, with an ageing index of 156.7 elderly persons per 100 young persons in 2021. The average age in the Autonomous Region of Madeira is 44.4 years old.

There were 7,033 foreign residents in the Autonomous Region of Madeira in 2021, accounting for 2.8% of the total resident population in the Region. The Venezuelan community is the most represented among foreign residents.

In 2021, 21.2% of the Portuguese population residing in the Autonomous Region of Madeira had lived abroad for at least one year, with Venezuela being the main country of previous residence.

The educational level of the resident population has improved, with an increase in the proportion of the population aged 15 or over having higher education, which now represents 16.5%. The proportion of the population aged 15 or over with secondary and post-secondary education has also risen, reaching 23.8% in 2021.

The total active population in the Autonomous Region of Madeira is 114,452 persons, corresponding to an activity rate of 45.6%, slightly lower than in 2011.

The average size of private households in 2021 is 2.6 persons. The number of households consisting of only one person has increased in the last decade, now representing 23.6% of households.

The 2021 Census shows a decrease in the number of couples with children, and an increase in single-parent households, which now represent 63.0% of the family nuclei with couples and 23.9% of the total family nuclei, respectively.

According to the 2021 Census, the housing stock consists of 90,970 buildings and 131,187 dwellings, representing a decline of 1.1% in buildings and of a 1.2% increase in dwellings compared to 2011.

Of the 131,187 dwellings in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, 72.3% are occupied as usual residence, 13.9% are secondary residences, and 13.7% are vacant.

The majority of conventional dwellings of usual residence are owner-occupied (74.4%), with 66.3% of these owners having no financial obligations related to the acquisition of the property. The number of dwellings occupied under rental agreements has increased in the last decade, and the average monthly rent has also increased by 35.3% during this period.

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