In 2015
Population of the Autonomous Region of Madeira maintained downward trend
According to the Resident Population Estimates, 256,424 persons were residing in the Autonomous Region of Madeira on the 31st of December of 2015, which represents a negative change rate of 0.9% when compared to same date of 2014. Of that total, 119,635 were men and 136,789 women. The population of the Region has been dropping consecutively since 2011.
The decrease in the resident population is explained by both the negative balance in net migration (-1,598) and by the negative natural change (-664 persons). The municipality of Santa Cruz was the only one in which the crude rate of population change was positive, while the lowest values were registered in the northern municipalities of Porto Moniz and Santana (-2.1% and -2.0%, respectively).
In 2015, the population density of the Autonomous Region of Madeira stood at 321.3 inhabitants per km2. Funchal had the highest value (1,392.9 pop/km2) and Porto Moniz the lowest (29.5 pop/km2).
In the reference year, the proportion of youth population (15 years old and under) represented 14.8% of the total population (15.2% in 2014), while the proportion of the population aged 65 and over rose to 15.6% (15.2% in 2014). The ageing ratio topped 100 for the first time, reaching 105.8, i.e., 105.8 older persons (65 and over) per 100 young persons. In 2014, the ratio was 99.8.
In 2015, the total fertility rate stood at 1.10 (meaning 1.10 children per woman aged between 15 and 49). In 2014 this indicator was lower (0.95).