DREM releases the second edition of the Territorial Portrait of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, focused on territorial dynamics

The Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) has made available, on October 20, 2023, which marks the European Statistics Day, the Territorial Portrait of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM). The second edition of this report is dedicated to territorial dynamics and is based on the final results of the 16^th General Population Census and 6^th General Housing Census (Census 2021). Specifically, this publication aims to provide a detailed view of the region, exploring aspects such as territorial occupation, territorial mobility through changes of residence, and the functional organization of areas in terms of commuting to work and study locations.

This release is accompanied by a story map, an interactive digital publication that allows for spatial analysis and interactive visualisation, incorporating images and descriptive texts.

Based on the Census 2021 concerning territorial dynamics in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, the following observations were made:

Territorial Occupation:

- In 2021, there was a higher population concentration in the southern coastal areas of Madeira, especially in the region between Câmara de Lobos and Machico.

- There were 313.0 inhabitants per square kilometre, with a significant contrast between the population density in predominantly urban areas (759.0 inhabitants/km²) and rural areas (49.4 inhabitants/km²).

- Between 2011 and 2021, the resident population in the region decreased by 6.4%. However, several parishes experienced population growth in the last decade, with Água de Pena (+12.9%), Sé (+8.3%), Jardim do Mar (+5.4%), Caniço (+2.9%), São Martinho (+1.7%), Calheta (+0.8%), and Tabua (+0.2%) being the exceptions.

- There were 639 statistical locations in the region, with Funchal being the largest population centre, housing 105,701 inhabitants (42.2% of the region's population).

- The majority of statistical locations (98.3%) had fewer than 1,500 inhabitants (628 locations), and in 333 locations, the population did not exceed 100 residents.

- The proportion of buildings (30.8%) in the municipality of Funchal was lower than that of traditional family accommodations (39.9%), indicating a prevalence of high-rise construction in the territory.

Territorial Mobility: Changes of Residence:

- In 2021, 12.4% of the resident population in the region (31,170 persons) had changed their place of residence compared to December 31, 2019, marking an increase in territorial mobility compared to 2011 (9.7%).

- Over the past decade, the geographical scope of residence changes expanded, with 49.4% of the population who moved coming from another municipality (23.8% in 2011).

- The proportion of the population that resided abroad on December 31, 2019, was 11.8% (8.5% in 2011), with the territories with the greatest capacity to attract this resident population located in the northern and western parts of Madeira Island.

- Among the 3,691 changes of residence for the population coming from abroad, the majority had previously resided in the United Kingdom (32.8%) or Venezuela (21.8%).

Functional Organisation of Territories: Commuting to Work and Study Locations:

- Funchal was the most important employment and study centre in the Region, with the highest attraction rates for employees (34.3%) and students (30.4%), as well as the lowest repulsion rates (11.8% and 11.2%, respectively).

-  Santa Cruz stood out for its high repulsion rate: 55.8% of the employed population and 47.6% of resident students worked or studied in another municipality.

- Of the 28,968 employed residents who commuted to another municipality within the region for work, 64.7% entered Funchal (18,748 employees), with the majority coming from Santa Cruz (46.9%) or Câmara de Lobos (29.2%).

- Of the 8,451 student residents who commuted to another municipality for study purposes, 79.6% entered Funchal (6,731 students), with the majority coming from Santa Cruz (45.4%) and Câmara de Lobos (28.3%).

- More than half of the employed (71.0%) or student (52.4%) resident population used light vehicles as their primary mode of transportation for commuting between home and work or home and study.

- The employed or student population that used light vehicles for commuting had an average travel time of 15.7 minutes, whereas those using public transportation took 30.6 minutes on average (an additional 14.9 minutes) for their home-to-work or home-to-study journeys.

For more information, please click on:

• Publication (Portuguese only)
• Storymap (Portuguese only)

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