DREM releases the transport statistics for the third quarter of 2025 and a time series for the period 1976-2024
The Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) releases transport data for the third quarter of 2025, encompassing various modes of transportation in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM).
Land transport – Rise in transfers of ownership of used vehicles from January to September 2025 and decline in new vehicle acquisitions
According to the data collected by the Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM), from January to September of 2025, bus passenger transport services recorded a total of 19.5 million users in urban lines. Urban lines carried 12.7 million passengers, while interurban lines accounted for 6.9 million.
In the first nine months of 2025, about 1 136.8 thousand tickets were sold by cable cars installed in the Region (+2.5% than in the same period of 2024). Of these, 93.2% were sold to adults, 5.1% to children and the remaining 1.7% to other users (e.g. farmers, residents, students, etc.). For the same period, total revenue stood at approximately 15.7 million euros, a 15.2% increase year-on-year. It's worth noting that in the third quarter of 2025, there were a year-over-year slight decrease in ticket sales (-0.5%), as well as in revenue (+16.8%).
Moreover, the Registers of the Region recorded, in the 3rd quarter of 2025, the transfer of ownership of 4 271 used vehicles, 87.8% of which were passenger cars and 8.4% were light commercial vehicles. There were also 164 cargo vehicles registered, representing 3.8% of the total. Compared to the 3rd quarter of 2024, the number of registrations rose by 462, meaning a year-on-year increase of 12.1%. In the first nine months of 2025, this indicator showed growth (+8.9%) compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
According to the information collected by ACAP - Associação Automóvel de Portugal - from the Institute of Records and Notary, from January to September of 2025, a total of 4 186 new vehicles were purchased by residents of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 12.5%. However, in the 3rd quarter of 2025, 1 303 new vehicles were registered, a decrease of 643 vehicles (-33.0%). It should be noted that this variable corresponds to vehicle purchases made by entities resident in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, including those made by car rental companies, and not to sales by automobile dealerships operating in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
Provisional data provided by the Madeira Regional Command of the Public Security Police (PSP) show that, from January to September of 2025, 3 024 reported road accidents with police intervention, which means a year-on-year increase of 6.6%. The number of victims was 1 036 (145 more than the same period in 2024), of that number of victims, 959 were counted as minor injuries, 65 as serious injuries and 12 as fatalities.
Air transport – Passenger movement at the Autonomous Region of Madeira’s airports grew by 13.1% in the first nine months of 2025
The airports of Madeira e Porto Santo recorded a movement of approximately 1.7 million passengers, in the 3rd quarter of 2025, showing a 15.7% increase vis-à-vis the same period in 2024. This growth was due to the increase of +16.0% at Madeira airport and +11.3% at Porto Santo airport. Between January and September 2025, passengers transported amounted to 4 357.0 thousand, which represents an increase of 13.1% when compared to the same period of the previous year.
In the first nine months under review, the occupancy of aircraft handled at the airports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira was around 85.9%, with Madeira airport reaching 86.3% and Porto Santo at 80.5%. In the same period last year, the occupancy rate was higher, at 88.0%, 88.5%, in the same order. At Porto Santo airport, it was lower (80.0%). In the 3rd quarter of 2025, the occupancy rate was lower, registering 88.2% at the airports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (-1.8 pp compared to the same period of 2024), 88.6% at Madeira airport (-2.0 pp compared to the 3rd quarter of 2024) and 84.0% at Porto Santo airport (-0.1 pp compared to the same reference period).
Regarding air cargo, in the 3rd quarter of this year, the airports of Madeira and Porto Santo had a decrease of 5.2% towards the same quarter of 2024. In both airports, unloaded goods increased by 21.8% year-on-year and loaded goods decreased by 69.5%. In the year-to-date, the changes were -8.3%, +14.9%, and -55.3%, respectively.
Maritime transport – Goods movement in ports registered a slight increase in the period from January to September 2025
Regarding maritime transport, in the first nine months of 2025, there were 184 cruise ships entering the ports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (more 23 than the same period last year). The number of passengers in transit (403 495) also increased compared to the same period in 2024 (+4.5%).
Between January and September, the Port of Funchal received 402 359 passengers in transit, the majority Europeans (90.3%). The main nationalities were German (39.6% of the total; +12.0% than in the same period of 2024) and British (38.3% of the total; -9.9% than in 2024). It should also be noted that American passengers in transit at the Port of Funchal (8.8% of the total) increased by 4.3% compared to 2024. The nationality that contributed to this increase was the Brazilian (1.2% of the total; +377.3% than in 2024).
On the Madeira-Porto Santo line, the number of passengers was approximately 319.6 thousand, having increased by 0.9% compared to the same nine months of 2024. In the third quarter of 2024, the number of passengers on this line (173,3 thousand) also grew by +0.9% year-over-year.
The movement of goods in the ports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, in the period of reference, was positive towards the same period last year (+2.3%). This change contributed to the increase observed in the unloading (+2.7%) and the decrease in the loading (-1,7%). It's worth noting that in the third quarter of 2025, the year-over-year slight increase in the total movement of goods was +0.1%.
From January to September 2025, a total of 1 810 recreational vessels entered the Region's marinas, with 3 814 crew members and passengers, representing year-on-year increases of 16.3% and 6.8%, respectively.
For the period 1976-2024
DREM releases a time series of Transport Statistics
The Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) released today, on its website, the updated time series of Transport Statistics, which includes data up to 2024. The series contains 130 tables, making it the most extensive series published by DREM.
The information is organised into three chapters:
Land Transport – Data on regular public bus services, traffic accidents, vehicles sold, tickets sold, and revenue from cable cars, licensed taxis, insured vehicle fleet, and road traffic.
Air Transport – Information on commercial aircraft movement, passengers, cargo, and mail at the airports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
Maritime Transport – Data on the movement of vessels, passengers, and cargo at the ports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
For more information, go to: