Sunny Towns, Different Crowds: A Closer Look at the Algarve Population
Understanding the Algarve population might sound like a simple case of looking up a number—but if you’ve ever tried to figure out how many people live in, say, Albufeira or Tavira, you’ll know it’s anything but straightforward.
This blog post isn’t just about stats. It’s about the reality behind the numbers, the quirks of Portuguese data, and what the true human geography of the Algarve actually looks like.
The Algarve: A Region Full of Contrast
Before we dive in, it’s worth setting the scene. The Algarve is more than just beaches and retirement dreams. It’s a tapestry of fishing villages, luxury resorts, historical towns, and quiet rural communities, all knitted together across Portugal’s southernmost region.
The total population of the Algarve, officially known as the District of Faro, currently stands at 451,006 people. That figure comes from INE (Instituto Nacional de Estatística), Portugal’s statistics agency. But here’s the catch: that number is for the entire district, and INE typically reports figures by municipality, not individual towns or localities.
So if you want to know how many people live in a specific town like Lagos, Olhão, or Armação de Pêra, you’re in for a bit of a ride.
The Data Dilemma: Towns vs. Municipalities
Let me tell you—trying to get accurate town-level population data for the Algarve was like peeling an onion. Each layer revealed a different kind of complication.
Here’s the problem: most official sources, like INE, publish population figures by concelhos (municipalities), not by freguesias (parishes) or localidades (urban areas). That might not sound like a big deal—until you realise that many Algarve municipalities cover a whole constellation of villages and towns. For example:
- Loulé municipality includes Quarteira, Almancil, Boliqueime, and Loulé town itself.
- Albufeira might include Ferreiras and Olhos de Água.
- Vila Real de Santo António includes Monte Gordo and Vila Nova de Cacela.
So when you read that “Loulé has 70,000 residents,” it’s not clear where those people actually live unless you break it down.
Cracking the Algarve Population Code
Eventually, I found a helpful and well-organized source in www.citypopulation.de, a fantastic site that aggregates population data from INE and organizes it into urban areas and localities. It was a game-changer.
While INE’s own website feels like it was built in the early 2000s (bless them), CityPopulation.de makes the data navigable and relatable, with town names and maps that reflect what locals and visitors actually experience.
I decided to base my breakdown of the Algarve population by town using a hybrid of urban agglomerations and official localities, aiming to reflect how the Algarve actually feels on the ground.
Here’s what I found.
Top 10 Most Populated Towns in the Algarve
Let’s start with the busiest urban areas in the region:
- Portimão – 49,218
- Faro (city itself) – 46,299
- Albufeira + Ferreiras + Olhos de Água – 37,164
- Olhão – 31,459
- Quarteira + Vilamoura – 24,420
- Lagos – 23,648
- Loulé (town) – 17,930
- Tavira – 15,432
- Vila Real de Santo António – 11,754
- Almancil – 11,291
These are the beating hearts of the Algarve—places where tourism, expat life, and local culture all blend together.
The Smaller Towns & Hidden Gems
But the Algarve isn’t all about the big players. The beauty of the region lies just as much in its smaller localities, many of which still maintain their slow pace and traditional character:
- Silves – 10,661
- Lagoa – 10,141
- Alvor – 6,314
- Armação de Pêra – 6,003
- Monte Gordo – 3,197
- São Bartolomeu de Messines – 3,145
- Monchique – 2,342
- Fuseta – 2,032
- Castro Marim – 1,466
And at the very bottom of the list, we find the true hidden corners of the Algarve:
- Alte – 426
- Alcoutim – 424
- Paderne – 341
- Salema – 276
These numbers tell us what we often feel intuitively: the Algarve is not just one place, but a collection of dozens of unique towns and villages, each with its own rhythm and community.
What the Numbers Reveal
While Portimão and Faro sit at the top in terms of urban population, what’s surprising is how quickly numbers drop off. The Algarve isn’t dominated by large cities. It’s a dispersed, coastal patchwork, with relatively small towns linked by beaches, hills, and winding roads.
The combination of seasonal tourism and expat communities adds a layer of complexity too. Many of these towns swell dramatically in the summer—Quarteira, Albufeira, and Lagos in particular—but those numbers aren’t always reflected in official counts.
So, What’s the Real Population?
Here’s a helpful way to frame it:
- District of Faro (Algarve): 451,006 permanent residents
- Tourist high season estimate: Easily over 1 million people at peak times
- Urban population hubs: Mostly under 50,000 per town
- True Algarve feel: Scattered towns with strong local identities
Why This Matters (Especially If You’re Moving Here)
If you’re considering relocating to the Algarve, or just curious about what life is like beyond the beach resorts, these figures offer a powerful clue:
- Want community and services? Stick to the top 10 towns.
- Want peace and tradition? Explore places like Alte, Salema, or Monchique.
- Want a mix of both? Head to Olhão, Tavira, or São Brás de Alportel.
Understanding the Algarve population is more than a numbers game—it’s a doorway to understanding where people live, why they’re there, and what kind of experience you might expect in different corners of this golden region.
Final Thoughts on the Algarve Population
Getting these numbers wasn’t easy. It took me days of comparing INE figures, translating Portuguese documents, and cross-checking maps. In the end, CityPopulation.de was the most accessible tool, pulling directly from INE and making sense of a very fragmented system.
But that’s part of the charm too—Portugal doesn’t always give up its secrets easily. You’ve got to dig, explore, and ask questions. Just like you would if you were strolling down the cobbled streets of a quiet Algarve village, looking for the best local pastel de nata.
Want to explore these places for yourself? I’ve created a visual infographic that brings these numbers to life—check it out [here] and see how your favourite Algarve town stacks up.
If you have questions, corrections, or want to share your own experience of living in a lesser-known Algarve town, leave a comment or shoot me a message. I’d love to hear from you.
