|
List of municipalities of Portugal
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This is a list of the municipalities of Portugal. Portugal is divided into 18 districts (Portuguese: distritos) and 2 autonomous regions (Portuguese: regiões autónomas), Azores and Madeira. The districts and autonomous regions are further sub-divided into 308 municipalities (Portuguese: municípios or concelhos). Usually, a municipality has the name of its biggest town or city, or at least, of its historically most important town or city, however, the municipality is, usually, much larger than the city or town after which it is named.
The 18 districts and 2 autonomous regions of Portugal, subdivided into their municipalities.
History and division of the municipalities
The municipality has been the most stable subdivision of Portugal since the foundation of the country in the 12th century. They have their origin in the foral, a legal document, issued by the king, which assigned privileges to a town or a region. The present subdivisions have their origins in the 19th century.
As a general rule, each municipality is further subdivided into parishes (Portuguese: freguesias); the municipalities in the north of the country usually have a higher number of parishes. Five municipalities are composed of only one parish, and Barcelos is the municipality with most parishes: 89. Corvo is, by law, the only municipality with no parishes.
Since the creation of a democratic local administration in 1976, after the Carnation Revolution of April 25, 1974, the Portuguese municipalities have been ruled by a bicameral system. The municipal chamber is the executive body, and is composed of the president of the municipality and a number of councillors proportional to the municipality's population. The municipal assembly is composed of the presidents of all the parishes that compose the municipality, and by a number of directly elected deputies which is at least equal to the number of parish presidents plus one. The parishes are administrated by a parish assembly. Traditionally, the north and the autonomous regions are politically more conservative, while the south and the region of Lisbon are dominated by the Left.
The biggest municipalities are those located in rural and inland areas where the dominating property type is the latifundia, such as Beja, Évora or Portalegre in the south, and also in other less populated areas, such as Bragança or Castelo Branco.
The most populated municipalities are those located near the sea, and especially around the metropolitan areas of Lisbon, Porto and Braga, while the less populated municipalities are located in the inland regions of Alentejo and Trás-os-Montes. The municipalities with the lowest population densities are also found in these inland regions, with smaller populations distributed over a greater area.
Overview
List
Aveiro
| Crest |
Municipality |
Area |
Population |
Density |
No. of Parishes |
Ruling Party[1] |
| km² |
Rank |
Total |
Rank |
Pop/km² |
Rank |
 |
Águeda
|
335.3
|
89
|
49,691
|
58
|
148
|
91
|
20
|
PS
|
 |
Albergaria-a-Velha
|
155.4
|
196
|
25,497
|
99
|
164
|
83
|
8
|
PSD
|
 |
Anadia
|
216.6
|
150
|
31,671
|
86
|
146
|
93
|
15
|
PSD
|
 |
Arouca
|
329.1
|
92
|
24,019
|
108
|
73
|
159
|
20
|
PS
|
 |
Aveiro
|
199.9
|
161
|
73,626
|
32
|
368
|
43
|
14
|
PSD – PP
|
 |
Castelo de Paiva
|
115.0
|
240
|
17,089
|
142
|
149
|
90
|
9
|
PSD
|
 |
Espinho
|
21.1
|
305
|
31,703
|
85
|
1,503
|
14
|
5
|
PS
|
 |
Estarreja
|
108.4
|
245
|
28,279
|
91
|
261
|
56
|
7
|
PSD – PP
|
 |
Ílhavo
|
73.5
|
276
|
39,247
|
72
|
534
|
33
|
4
|
PSD
|
 |
Mealhada
|
110.7
|
242
|
21,500
|
121
|
194
|
70
|
8
|
PS
|
 |
Murtosa
|
73.3
|
277
|
9,657
|
202
|
132
|
102
|
4
|
PSD
|
 |
Oliveira de Azeméis
|
163.5
|
190
|
71,243
|
35
|
436
|
40
|
19
|
PSD
|
 |
Oliveira do Bairro
|
87.3
|
260
|
22,365
|
115
|
256
|
59
|
6
|
PSD
|
 |
Ovar
|
147.4
|
201
|
56,715
|
48
|
385
|
42
|
8
|
PS
|
 |
Santa Maria da Feira
|
215.1
|
151
|
142,295
|
17
|
662
|
29
|
31
|
PSD
|
 |
São João da Madeira
|
7.9
|
308
|
21,538
|
119
|
2,726
|
6
|
1
|
PSD
|
 |
Sever do Vouga
|
129.6
|
224
|
12,940
|
175
|
100
|
127
|
9
|
PS
|
 |
Vagos
|
169.9
|
185
|
23,205
|
111
|
137
|
99
|
11
|
PSD
|
 |
Vale de Cambra
|
146.5
|
204
|
24,761
|
103
|
169
|
80
|
9
|
PSD
|
Beja
| Crest |
Municipality |
Area |
Population |
Density |
No. of Parishes |
Ruling Party[1] |
| km² |
Rank |
Total |
Rank |
Pop/km² |
Rank |
 |
Aljustrel
|
458.3
|
59
|
9,940
|
199
|
22
|
246
|
5
|
CDU
|
 |
Almodôvar
|
777.9
|
18
|
7,650
|
232
|
10
|
301
|
8
|
PSD
|
 |
Alvito
|
264.8
|
121
|
2,708
|
304
|
10
|
298
|
2
|
Ind.
|
 |
Barrancos
|
168.3
|
188
|
1,825
|
306
|
11
|
294
|
1
|
CDU
|
 |
Beja
|
1,147.1
|
9
|
34,970
|
80
|
30
|
227
|
18
|
CDU
|
 |
Castro Verde
|
569.4
|
40
|
7,702
|
230
|
14
|
284
|
5
|
CDU
|
 |
Cuba
|
172.1
|
183
|
4,775
|
277
|
28
|
236
|
4
|
PS
|
 |
Ferreira do Alentejo
|
648.4
|
31
|
8,505
|
211
|
13
|
286
|
6
|
PS
|
 |
Mértola
|
1,292.8
|
6
|
7,996
|
223
|
6
|
307
|
9
|
PS
|
 |
Moura
|
958.4
|
13
|
16,411
|
147
|
17
|
265
|
8
|
CDU
|
 |
Odemira
|
1,720.6
|
1
|
25,738
|
98
|
15
|
275
|
17
|
PS
|
 |
Ourique
|
663.4
|
29
|
5,842
|
261
|
9
|
303
|
6
|
PS
|
 |
Serpa
|
1,104.0
|
11
|
16,178
|
149
|
15
|
276
|
7
|
CDU
|
 |
Vidigueira
|
316.0
|
101
|
6,019
|
259
|
19
|
256
|
4
|
CDU
|
Braga
| Crest |
Municipality |
Area |
Population |
Density |
No. of Parishes |
Ruling Party[1] |
| km² |
Rank |
Total |
Rank |
Pop/km² |
Rank |
 |
Amares
|
82.0
|
267
|
19,290
|
132
|
235
|
62
|
24
|
PS
|
 |
Barcelos
|
378.9
|
80
|
123,831
|
22
|
327
|
47
|
89
|
PSD
|
 |
Braga
|
183.2
|
170
|
170,858
|
8
|
933
|
23
|
62
|
PS
|
 |
Cabeceiras de Basto
|
241.8
|
132
|
17,775
|
138
|
74
|
156
|
17
|
PS
|
 |
Celorico de Basto
|
181.1
|
173
|
20,128
|
129
|
111
|
119
|
22
|
PSD
|
 |
Esposende
|
95.4
|
255
|
34,625
|
83
|
363
|
44
|
15
|
PSD
|
 |
Fafe
|
219.1
|
146
|
53,528
|
54
|
244
|
61
|
36
|
PS
|
 |
Guimarães
|
241.3
|
133
|
161,876
|
14
|
671
|
27
|
69
|
PS
|
 |
Póvoa de Lanhoso
|
132.5
|
220
|
23,657
|
109
|
179
|
77
|
29
|
PSD
|
 |
Terras de Bouro
|
277.5
|
114
|
7,955
|
224
|
29
|
234
|
17
|
PSD
|
 |
Vieira do Minho
|
218.5
|
147
|
14,474
|
160
|
66
|
165
|
21
|
PSD – PP
|
 |
Vila Nova de Famalicão
|
201.7
|
159
|
131,690
|
19
|
653
|
30
|
49
|
PSD – PP
|
 |
Vila Verde
|
228.7
|
140
|
48,122
|
60
|
210
|
66
|
58
|
PSD
|
 |
Vizela
|
24.7
|
303
|
23,528
|
110
|
953
|
22
|
7
|
PS
|
Bragança
| Crest |
Municipality |
Area |
Population |
Density |
No. of Parishes |
Ruling Party[1] |
| km² |
Rank |
Total |
Rank |
Pop/km² |
Rank |
 |
Alfândega da Fé
|
322.0
|
95
|
5,688
|
262
|
18
|
261
|
20
|
PSD
|
 |
Bragança
|
1,173.6
|
8
|
34,774
|
82
|
30
|
230
|
49
|
PSD
|
 |
Carrazeda de Ansiães
|
279.3
|
112
|
7,220
|
238
|
26
|
240
|
19
|
PSD
|
 |
Freixo de Espada à Cinta
|
244.0
|
130
|
4,014
|
284
|
16
|
267
|
6
|
PS
|
 |
Macedo de Cavaleiros
|
699.2
|
25
|
17,210
|
141
|
25
|
243
|
38
|
PSD
|
 |
Miranda do Douro
|
487.2
|
53
|
7,707
|
229
|
16
|
269
|
17
|
PSD
|
 |
Mirandela
|
659.0
|
30
|
25,780
|
97
|
39
|
209
|
37
|
PSD
|
 |
Mogadouro
|
760.4
|
20
|
10,792
|
192
|
14
|
280
|
28
|
PSD
|
 |
Torre de Moncorvo
|
531.6
|
47
|
9,408
|
205
|
18
|
260
|
17
|
PS
|
 |
Vila Flor
|
265.8
|
118
|
7,737
|
228
|
29
|
233
|
19
|
PS
|
 |
Vimioso
|
481.6
|
55
|
5,105
|
273
|
11
|
296
|
14
|
PSD
|
 |
Vinhais
|
694.9
|
26
|
10,051
|
198
|
14
|
277
|
35
|
PS
|
Castelo Branco
| Crest |
Municipality |
Area |
Population |
Density |
No. of Parishes |
Ruling Party[1] |
| km² |
Rank |
Total |
Rank |
Pop/km² |
Rank |
 |
Belmonte
|
118.8
|
234
|
7,662
|
231
|
64
|
167
|
5
|
PS
|
 |
Castelo Branco
|
1,438.2
|
3
|
55,034
|
51
|
38
|
210
|
25
|
PS
|
 |
Covilhã
|
555.6
|
44
|
53,501
|
55
|
96
|
131
|
31
|
PSD
|
 |
Fundão
|
700.1
|
24
|
31,297
|
87
|
45
|
197
|
31
|
PSD
|
 |
Idanha-a-Nova
|
1,416.4
|
4
|
10,929
|
191
|
8
|
305
|
17
|
PS
|
 |
Oleiros
|
471.1
|
56
|
6,212
|
253
|
13
|
285
|
12
|
PSD
|
 |
Penamacor
|
563.9
|
42
|
6,160
|
255
|
11
|
293
|
12
|
PS
|
 |
Proença-a-Nova
|
395.3
|
75
|
9,610
|
203
|
24
|
244
|
6
|
PS
|
 |
Sertã
|
446.7
|
62
|
16,208
|
148
|
36
|
211
|
14
|
PS
|
 |
Vila de Rei
|
191.3
|
166
|
3,354
|
299
|
18
|
263
|
3
|
PSD
|
 |
Vila Velha de Ródão
|
329.9
|
91
|
3,802
|
289
|
12
|
292
|
4
|
PS
|
Coimbra
| Crest |
Municipality |
Area |
Population |
Density |
No. of Parishes |
Ruling Party[1] |
| km² |
Rank |
Total |
Rank |
Pop/km² |
Rank |
 |
Arganil
|
332.8
|
90
|
13,187
|
172
|
40
|
208
|
18
|
PSD
|
 |
Cantanhede
|
390.9
|
77
|
38,590
|
74
|
99
|
128
|
19
|
PSD
|
 |
Coimbra
|
319.4
|
97
|
142,408
|
16
|
446
|
39
|
31
|
PSD – PP – PPM
|
 |
Condeixa-a-Nova
|
138.7
|
210
|
16,459
|
146
|
119
|
112
|
10
|
PS
|
 |
Figueira da Foz
|
379.1
|
79
|
63,144
|
40
|
167
|
82
|
18
|
PSD
|
 |
Góis
|
262.3
|
123
|
4,606
|
280
|
18
|
262
|
5
|
PS
|
 |
Lousã
|
138.4
|
211
|
17,252
|
140
|
125
|
106
|
6
|
PS
|
 |
Mira
|
124.0
|
231
|
13,146
|
173
|
106
|
123
|
4
|
PS
|
 |
Miranda do Corvo
|
126.4
|
228
|
13,400
|
171
|
106
|
124
|
5
|
PSD – PP
|
 |
Montemor-o-Velho
|
229
|
139
|
25,084
|
101
|
110
|
121
|
14
|
PSD – PP
|
 |
Oliveira do Hospital
|
234.5
|
137
|
21,901
|
116
|
93
|
135
|
21
|
PSD
|
 |
Pampilhosa da Serra
|
396.5
|
73
|
4,756
|
278
|
12
|
289
|
10
|
PSD
|
 |
Penacova
|
216.7
|
149
|
16,850
|
144
|
78
|
152
|
11
|
PSD
|
 |
Penela
|
134.8
|
216
|
6,421
|
249
|
48
|
192
|
6
|
PSD
|
 |
Soure
|
265.1
|
119
|
20,695
|
126
|
78
|
151
|
12
|
PS
|
 |
Tábua
|
199.8
|
162
|
12,452
|
177
|
62
|
170
|
15
|
PS
|
 |
Vila Nova de Poiares
|
84.5
|
262
|
7,291
|
236
|
86
|
140
|
4
|
PSD
|
Évora
| Crest |
Municipality |
Area |
Population |
Density |
No. of Parishes |
Ruling Party[1] |
| km² |
Rank |
Total |
Rank |
Pop/km² |
Rank |
 |
Alandroal
|
542.7
|
46
|
6,293
|
251
|
12
|
291
|
6
|
PS
|
 |
Arraiolos
|
683.8
|
27
|
7,382
|
234
|
11
|
295
|
11
|
CDU
|
 |
Borba
|
145.2
|
206
|
7,545
|
233
|
52
|
183
|
4
|
PS
|
 |
Estremoz
|
513.8
|
50
|
15,064
|
154
|
29
|
232
|
13
|
PS
|
 |
Évora
|
1,307.0
|
5
|
55,619
|
49
|
43
|
201
|
19
|
PS
|
 |
Montemor-o-Novo
|
1,232.9
|
7
|
18,540
|
135
|
15
|
273
|
10
|
CDU
|
 |
Mora
|
444.0
|
63
|
5,470
|
268
|
12
|
287
|
4
|
CDU
|
 |
Mourão
|
278.6
|
113
|
3,348
|
300
|
12
|
288
|
3
|
PS
|
 |
Portel
|
601.2
|
36
|
7,078
|
240
|
12
|
290
|
8
|
PS
|
 |
Redondo
|
365.5
|
83
|
6,990
|
241
|
19
|
255
|
2
|
Ind.
|
 |
Reguengos de Monsaraz
|
463.8
|
57
|
11,460
|
184
|
25
|
242
|
5
|
PS
|
 |
Vendas Novas
|
222.4
|
142
|
11,957
|
181
|
54
|
180
|
2
|
CDU
|
 |
Viana do Alentejo
|
393.6
|
76
|
5,639
|
263
|
14
|
278
|
3
|
CDU
|
 |
Vila Viçosa
|
194.9
|
164
|
8,745
|
210
|
45
|
196
|
5
|
CDU
|
Faro
| Crest |
Municipality |
Area |
Population |
Density |
No. of Parishes |
Ruling Party[1] |
| km² |
Rank |
Total |
Rank |
Pop/km² |
Rank |
 |
Albufeira
|
140.6
|
209
|
35,281
|
77
|
251
|
60
|
5
|
PSD
|
 |
Alcoutim
|
575.3
|
39
|
3,411
|
297
|
6
|
308
|
5
|
PSD
|
 |
Aljezur
|
323.5
|
93
|
5,322
|
271
|
16
|
266
|
4
|
PS
|
 |
Castro Marim
|
300.9
|
105
|
6,495
|
246
|
22
|
247
|
4
|
PSD
|
 |
Faro
|
201.6
|
160
|
58,305
|
46
|
289
|
52
|
6
|
PS
|
 |
Lagoa
|
88.3
|
259
|
22,658
|
113
|
257
|
58
|
6
|
PSD
|
 |
Lagos
|
212.8
|
152
|
27,041
|
95
|
127
|
103
|
6
|
PS
|
 |
Loulé
|
764.2
|
19
|
62,295
|
41
|
82
|
146
|
11
|
PSD
|
 |
Monchique
|
395.3
|
74
|
6,441
|
248
|
16
|
268
|
3
|
PS
|
 |
Olhão
|
130.9
|
223
|
42,272
|
69
|
323
|
48
|
5
|
PS
|
 |
Portimão
|
182.1
|
172
|
47,189
|
61
|
259
|
57
|
3
|
PS
|
 |
São Brás de Alportel
|
153.4
|
199
|
11,205
|
187
|
73
|
158
|
1
|
PS
|
 |
Silves
|
680.0
|
28
|
34,909
|
81
|
51
|
185
|
8
|
PSD
|
 |
Tavira
|
607.0
|
34
|
25,105
|
100
|
41
|
203
|
9
|
PSD
|
 |
Vila do Bispo
|
179.0
|
175
|
5,381
|
270
|
30
|
229
|
5
|
PSD
|
 |
Vila Real de Santo António
|
60.9
|
289
|
18,158
|
136
|
298
|
51
|
3
|
PSD
|
Guarda
| Crest |
Municipality |
Area |
Population |
Density |
No. of Parishes |
Ruling Party[1] |
| km² |
Rank |
Total |
Rank |
Pop/km² |
Rank |
 |
Aguiar da Beira
|
206.9
|
155
|
6,270
|
252
|
30
|
228
|
13
|
PSD
|
 |
Almeida
|
518.0
|
49
|
7,784
|
226
|
15
|
274
|
29
|
PSD
|
 |
Celorico da Beira
|
247.2
|
128
|
8,752
|
209
|
35
|
214
|
22
|
PS
|
 |
Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo
|
508.6
|
51
|
6,884
|
242
|
14
|
283
|
17
|
PSD
|
 |
Fornos de Algodres
|
131.5
|
222
|
5,435
|
269
|
41
|
204
|
16
|
PSD
|
 |
Gouveia
|
300.6
|
106
|
15,792
|
150
|
53
|
182
|
22
|
PSD
|
 |
Guarda
|
712.1
|
23
|
44,149
|
65
|
62
|
173
|
55
|
PS
|
 |
Manteigas
|
122.0
|
233
|
3,900
|
288
|
32
|
223
|
4
|
PSD
|
 |
Mêda
|
286.1
|
110
|
6,000
|
260
|
21
|
250
|
16
|
PSD
|
 |
Pinhel
|
484.5
|
54
|
10,436
|
196
|
22
|
248
|
27
|
PSD
|
 |
Sabugal
|
822.7
|
15
|
14,222
|
164
|
17
|
264
|
40
|
PSD
|
 |
Seia
|
435.7
|
65
|
27,574
|
93
|
63
|
168
|
29
|
PS
|
 |
Trancoso
|
361.5
|
85
|
10,639
|
193
|
29
|
231
|
29
|
PSD
|
 |
Vila Nova de Foz Côa
|
398.2
|
71
|
8,249
|
218
|
21
|
252
|
17
|
PS
|
Leiria
| Crest |
Municipality |
Area |
Population |
Density |
No. of Parishes |
Ruling Party[1] |
| km² |
Rank |
Total |
Rank |
Pop/km² |
Rank |
 |
Alcobaça
|
408.1
|
68
|
55,269
|
50
|
135
|
100
|
18
|
PSD
|
 |
Alvaiázere
|
160.5
|
192
|
8,112
|
221
|
51
|
186
|
7
|
PSD
|
 |
Ansião
|
176.2
|
176
|
13,673
|
167
|
78
|
153
|
8
|
PSD
|
 |
Batalha
|
103.3
|
247
|
15,542
|
151
|
150
|
88
|
4
|
PSD
|
 |
Bombarral
|
91.3
|
258
|
13,712
|
166
|
150
|
89
|
5
|
PSD
|
 |
Caldas da Rainha
|
255.7
|
125
|
51,403
|
56
|
201
|
69
|
16
|
PSD
|
 |
Castanheira de Pera
|
66.8
|
286
|
3,464
|
295
|
52
|
184
|
2
|
PS
|
 |
Figueiró dos Vinhos
|
173.4
|
180
|
7,080
|
239
|
41
|
207
|
5
|
PSD
|
 |
Leiria
|
565.6
|
41
|
124,701
|
21
|
220
|
64
|
29
|
PSD
|
 |
Marinha Grande
|
187.1
|
169
|
38,030
|
75
|
203
|
67
|
3
|
CDU
|
 |
Nazaré
|
82.4
|
265
|
14,904
|
156
|
181
|
76
|
3
|
PSD
|
 |
Óbidos
|
141.6
|
208
|
11,187
|
188
|
79
|
149
|
9
|
PSD
|
 |
Pedrógão Grande
|
128.8
|
225
|
4,262
|
283
|
33
|
222
|
3
|
PSD
|
 |
Peniche
|
77.6
|
272
|
28,164
|
92
|
363
|
45
|
6
|
CDU
|
 |
Pombal
|
626.1
|
33
|
58,617
|
44
|
94
|
134
|
17
|
PSD
|
 |
Porto de Mós
|
261.6
|
124
|
24,775
|
102
|
95
|
132
|
13
|
PS
|
Lisboa
| Crest |
Municipality |
Area |
Population |
Density |
No. of Parishes |
Ruling Party[1] |
| km² |
Rank |
Total |
Rank |
Pop/km² |
Rank |
 |
Alenquer
|
304.2
|
103
|
42,932
|
68
|
141
|
96
|
16
|
PS
|
 |
Amadora
|
23.8
|
304
|
176,239
|
7
|
7,405
|
1
|
11
|
PS
|
 |
Arruda dos Vinhos
|
78.0
|
271
|
11,210
|
186
|
144
|
94
|
4
|
PSD
|
 |
Azambuja
|
262.7
|
122
|
21,508
|
120
|
82
|
145
|
9
|
PS
|
 |
Cadaval
|
174.9
|
178
|
14,385
|
162
|
82
|
144
|
10
|
PSD
|
 |
Cascais
|
97.4
|
250
|
181,444
|
6
|
1,863
|
10
|
6
|
PSD – PP
|
 |
Lisboa
|
84.8
|
261
|
529,485
|
1
|
6,244
|
2
|
| |
