Cities in Portugal

All 25 cities in Portugal with more than 100,000 residents: the official population, a short profile and the crime rate recorded by the police, set against the rate for Portugal.

Municipalities (municípios) with at least 100,000 residents on 31 December 2025 (INE annual resident population estimates, published 22 June 2026).

How to read the figures

• Population is the latest official figure from Statistics Portugal (INE).
• The crime rate is: crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional, from Statistics Portugal (INE), from the Ministry of Justice (DGPJ). National rate: Portugal 32.0.
• INE publishes the rate for each municipality itself. It divides all crimes recorded by the police in the municipality – including offences against commuters, visitors and tourists – by the resident population only, so city-centre and tourist municipalities such as Lisbon and Porto record higher rates. The 2025 figures are provisional.
• Compare cities within Portugal only: every country defines and records crime differently.
• The figure is not your personal risk: offences are counted where they happen, so city centres with many commuters and visitors record higher rates.

All 25 cities

City	Region	Residents	Crime rate
Lisbon	Lisbon District	658,236	49.9
Sintra	Lisbon District	449,956	25.7
Vila Nova de Gaia	Porto District	323,202	26.1
Porto	Porto District	273,476	60.0
Cascais	Lisbon District	242,619	24.5
Loures	Lisbon District	236,988	26.8
Braga	Braga District	212,635	21.4
Amadora	Lisbon District	205,517	25.8
Almada	Setúbal District	202,896	32.9
Seixal	Setúbal District	198,254	24.7
Oeiras	Lisbon District	188,056	26.8
Odivelas	Lisbon District	185,736	17.2
Matosinhos	Porto District	181,930	31.1
Gondomar	Porto District	170,597	18.5
Guimarães	Braga District	165,554	17.8
Coimbra	Coimbra District	156,359	27.6
Vila Franca de Xira	Lisbon District	152,007	24.6
Leiria	Leiria District	145,861	26.8
Vila Nova de Famalicão	Braga District	143,801	18.4
Santa Maria da Feira	Aveiro District	142,676	22.0
Maia	Porto District	142,129	28.0
Setúbal	Setúbal District	141,266	32.0
Barcelos	Braga District	122,487	16.0
Funchal	Autonomous Region of Madeira	113,443	28.2
Viseu	Viseu District	109,166	25.6

The cities, from largest

Lisbon (Lisboa)

Lisbon District · 658,236 residents on 31 December 2025.

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and the country's most populous municipality. It is home to the Universidade de Lisboa, which describes itself as the largest Portuguese university, and it belongs to the 18-municipality Lisbon Metropolitan Area.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Lisbon 49.9, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: European Union – Portugal: EU country profile (Capital: Lisbon), Universidade de Lisboa – home page ("A maior universidade portuguesa"), Área Metropolitana de Lisboa – Municipalities (18 municipalities of the AML)

Sintra

Lisbon District · 449,956 residents on 31 December 2025.

Sintra, in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, is Portugal's second most populous municipality. Its landscape was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape in 1995, and the municipality's business areas have grown with road access to Lisbon via the IC19 and IC16.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Sintra 25.7, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Câmara Municipal de Sintra – Património Mundial, Câmara Municipal de Sintra – Caracterização Empresarial do Concelho, INE – Resident population estimates 2025 (municipal ranking follows from the INE table)

Vila Nova de Gaia

Porto District · 323,202 residents on 31 December 2025.

Vila Nova de Gaia, in the Porto Metropolitan Area and Porto District, is Portugal's third most populous municipality and the largest in the Norte region. The municipality highlights its Port and Douro wine companies and its automotive, glass and electronic-components industries.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Vila Nova de Gaia 26.1, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Câmara Municipal de Gaia – Vila Nova de Gaia (city profile), INE – Resident population estimates 2025 (municipal ranking follows from the INE table)

Porto

Porto District · 273,476 residents on 31 December 2025.

Porto is Portugal's fourth most populous municipality and home to the University of Porto, which has 45 research units. Its historic centre, together with the Luiz I bridge and the Serra do Pilar monastery, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Porto 60.0, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: University of Porto – home page (research units, history), Câmara Municipal do Porto – História da cidade (Património Cultural da Humanidade), INE – Resident population estimates 2025 (municipal ranking follows from the INE table)

Cascais

Lisbon District · 242,619 residents on 31 December 2025.

Cascais lies west of the Tagus estuary, between the Sintra hills and the Atlantic, in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The municipality calls tourism strategically important to its economy, and its municipal buses have been free for residents, students and workers since 2020.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Cascais 24.5, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Área Metropolitana de Lisboa – Cascais, Cascais Data – Economia & Inovação (Câmara Municipal de Cascais), Câmara Municipal de Cascais – Autoridade de Transportes do Município de Cascais

Loures

Lisbon District · 236,988 residents on 31 December 2025.

Loures is a Lisbon Metropolitan Area municipality on the right bank of the Tagus. The municipality runs the Loures Innovation Hub business incubator at MARL, targeting agri-food, transport and logistics clusters, and Instituto Superior Técnico has one of its three campuses in Loures.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Loures 26.8, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Área Metropolitana de Lisboa – Loures, Câmara Municipal de Loures – Loures Innovation Hub, Instituto Superior Técnico – Oeiras Campus (three campuses: Lisbon, Oeiras and Loures)

Braga

Braga District · 212,635 residents on 31 December 2025.

Braga is a district capital and the capital of the Minho region, and the University of Minho is based there. The municipality lists automotive, metalworking, construction, commerce and tourism as traditional sectors, with ICT, electronics and health as growing ones.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Braga 21.4, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Câmara Municipal de Braga – Why invest in Braga? Presentation (capital of the Minho region), Câmara Municipal de Braga – Competitive Advantages: Demographics and Education (district capital); see also Innovation and strategic sectors, https://www.cm-braga.pt/en/0101/investir/inovacao-e-setores-estrategicos, DGES – Guia da Candidatura 2026: Universidade do Minho (address: Largo do Paço, Braga)

Amadora

Lisbon District · 205,517 residents on 31 December 2025.

Amadora, created on 11 September 1979 as the first municipality established after 25 April 1974, covers 23.79 km² and borders Lisbon, Odivelas, Sintra and Oeiras. It belongs to the Lisbon Metropolitan Area and is divided into six parishes.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Amadora 25.8, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Câmara Municipal da Amadora – Conhecer a Amadora, Área Metropolitana de Lisboa – Municipalities (18 municipalities of the AML)

Almada

Setúbal District · 202,896 residents on 31 December 2025.

Almada, in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, has a Tagus riverfront and more than 13 km of Atlantic beaches. The NOVA School of Science and Technology's Caparica campus, with about 8,500 students, is here, and the municipality is planning the Almada Innovation District with Universidade Nova.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Almada 32.9, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Área Metropolitana de Lisboa – Almada, NOVA School of Science and Technology – Overview (Campus de Caparica), Câmara Municipal de Almada – Economia e Investimento (Almada Innovation District)

Seixal

Setúbal District · 198,254 residents on 31 December 2025.

Seixal covers 95 km² on the Setúbal Peninsula in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, linked to Lisbon by motorway, river and rail. Its economy grew from wool mills, manufacturing and the former Siderurgia Nacional steelworks, whose site now houses the Seixal Industrial Park.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Seixal 24.7, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Câmara Municipal do Seixal – Território, Área Metropolitana de Lisboa – Municipalities (18 municipalities of the AML)

Oeiras

Lisbon District · 188,056 residents on 31 December 2025.

Oeiras, in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, is home to Taguspark, described by Instituto Superior Técnico as the largest science and technology park in Portugal. The regional authority describes it as a municipality of business parks where technological and scientific development attracts qualified residents and workers.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Oeiras 26.8, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Instituto Superior Técnico – Oeiras Campus (Taguspark), Área Metropolitana de Lisboa – Oeiras

Odivelas

Lisbon District · 185,736 residents on 31 December 2025.

Odivelas, one of Portugal's three newest municipalities, covers 26.54 km² in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area and had the country's third-highest population density in 2024. It has been linked to Lisbon by the Metro's Yellow Line since 2004, with stations at Senhor Roubado and Odivelas.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Odivelas 17.2, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Câmara Municipal de Odivelas – Caracterização

Matosinhos

Porto District · 181,930 residents on 31 December 2025.

Matosinhos, in the Porto Metropolitan Area, is home to the Port of Leixões, which the port authority describes as the largest artificial port in Portugal, with the Porto Cruise Terminal. Metro do Porto's Blue Line ends at Senhor de Matosinhos station, next to the port.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Matosinhos 31.1, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: APDL – Port of Leixões (Administração dos Portos do Douro, Leixões e Viana do Castelo), Metro do Porto – História (company history: line openings), Área Metropolitana do Porto – official site (17 municipalities, links to each municipality)

Gondomar

Porto District · 170,597 residents on 31 December 2025.

Gondomar is a Porto Metropolitan Area municipality that received its first charter in 1515; Gondomar, Rio Tinto and Valbom hold city status. Metro do Porto's Orange Line runs from Estádio do Dragão in Porto to Fânzeres, in the municipality.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Gondomar 18.5, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Câmara Municipal de Gondomar – Sobre (history), Metro do Porto – História (company history: line openings), Área Metropolitana do Porto – official site (17 municipalities, links to each municipality)

Guimarães

Braga District · 165,554 residents on 31 December 2025.

Guimarães' historic centre, associated with the emergence of Portuguese national identity in the 12th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The municipality describes itself as having a strong industrial vocation and a growing technological and creative dynamic.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Guimarães 17.8, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Câmara Municipal de Guimarães – Património Mundial, Câmara Municipal de Guimarães – Investir (Portal do Investidor)

Coimbra

Coimbra District · 156,359 residents on 31 December 2025.

Coimbra is home to the University of Coimbra, founded in 1290 and Portugal's oldest higher-education institution; its Alta and Sofia area is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city on the Mondego is about 200 km from Lisbon and 120 km from Porto.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Coimbra 27.6, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Visite Coimbra (Município de Coimbra) – A Universidade de Coimbra, Visite Coimbra (Município de Coimbra) – Como chegar, DGES – Guia da Candidatura 2026: Universidade de Coimbra (address in Coimbra)

Vila Franca de Xira

Lisbon District · 152,007 residents on 31 December 2025.

Vila Franca de Xira, in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, combines urban and rural areas along the Tagus, including part of the Tagus Estuary Nature Reserve and the Lezíria farmland. Its six parishes include Alverca do Ribatejo, Póvoa de Santa Iria and Vialonga.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Vila Franca de Xira 24.6, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Câmara Municipal de Vila Franca de Xira – O Concelho, Área Metropolitana de Lisboa – Vila Franca de Xira

Leiria

Leiria District · 145,861 residents on 31 December 2025.

Leiria is the seat of the University of Leiria and Oeste, created by Decree-Law 135/2026 as successor to the Polytechnic of Leiria, with campuses in the city. It has been a UNESCO Creative City of Music since October 2019.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Leiria 26.8, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Universidade de Leiria e Oeste – Official Gazette formalizes the creation of the University of Leiria and Oeste, Universidade de Leiria e Oeste – home page (Campus 1 and Campus 2, Leiria), Câmara Municipal de Leiria – Leiria Cidade Criativa da Música da UNESCO

Vila Nova de Famalicão

Braga District · 143,801 residents on 31 December 2025.

Vila Nova de Famalicão, in the Braga District, calls itself Portugal's textile city: the municipality highlights its textile and clothing industry, the CITEVE and CeNTI research centres and the national textile cluster based there. It also hosts the Textile Industry Museum of the Ave Basin.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Vila Nova de Famalicão 18.4, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Câmara Municipal de Vila Nova de Famalicão – Famalicão Cidade Têxtil

Santa Maria da Feira

Aveiro District · 142,676 residents on 31 December 2025.

Santa Maria da Feira, south of the Douro in the Porto Metropolitan Area, lies at a junction of routes giving access to Porto, Aveiro and Coimbra. The municipality hosts the Europarque congress centre, a medieval castle and the Terras de Santa Maria paper museum.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Santa Maria da Feira 22.0, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Câmara Municipal de Santa Maria da Feira – Concelho, Câmara Municipal de Santa Maria da Feira – Turismo, Área Metropolitana do Porto – official site (17 municipalities, links to each municipality)

Maia

Porto District · 142,129 residents on 31 December 2025.

Maia is a municipality in the Porto Metropolitan Area and Porto District. It has been served by Metro do Porto since the Red Line to Pedras Rubras opened in 2005, and the Green Line links Porto with Fórum Maia.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Maia 28.0, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Metro do Porto – História (company history: line openings), Área Metropolitana do Porto – official site (17 municipalities, links to each municipality)

Setúbal

Setúbal District · 141,266 residents on 31 December 2025.

Setúbal is the capital of the Setúbal District, about 40 km from Lisbon, and belongs to the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The municipality says important industrial and service hubs are concentrated there, and the town, a port since the Middle Ages, became a city in 1860.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Setúbal 32.0, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Câmara Municipal de Setúbal – Localização e Características, Câmara Municipal de Setúbal – História, Área Metropolitana de Lisboa – Municipalities (18 municipalities of the AML)

Barcelos

Braga District · 122,487 residents on 31 December 2025.

Barcelos, in the Minho region of the Braga District, describes itself as one of Portugal's largest manufacturing employers, with textiles absorbing almost half its active population. Footwear, agriculture, ceramics and tourism also matter, alongside the Galo de Barcelos craft tradition and the weekly fair.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Barcelos 16.0, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Câmara Municipal de Barcelos – Visitar

Funchal

Autonomous Region of Madeira · 113,443 residents on 31 December 2025.

Funchal, on the island of Madeira, has held city status since a royal charter of 1508 and is the seat of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira. The University of Madeira's Penteada campus is in the city.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Funchal 28.2, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Câmara Municipal do Funchal – Carta Régia (1508), Assembleia Legislativa da Região Autónoma da Madeira – Contactos (seat in Funchal), DGES – Guia da Candidatura 2026: Universidade da Madeira (Campus Universitário da Penteada, Funchal)

Viseu

Viseu District · 109,166 residents on 31 December 2025.

Viseu, in central Portugal, hosts the Polytechnic University of Viseu and calls itself the wine city of the Dão region. It is reached by the A25 and A24 motorways, and public transport is free for residents aged 24 and over from September 2026.

Crimes registered by the police per 1,000 residents, 2025, provisional: Viseu 25.6, Portugal 32.0.

Sources – population: INE · Crime: INE · About the city: Universidade Politécnica de Viseu – home page, Visit Viseu (Município de Viseu) – Viseu / Como chegar, Câmara Municipal de Viseu – Transportes públicos gratuitos

Sources and method

Population: INE (Statistics Portugal) – Estimativas Anuais da População Residente 2025 / Resident population estimates, 31 December 2025 (press release 22 June 2026; table 'Resident population in 31/XII/2025 ... by Municipalities' and API indicator 0012918). Crime: INE (Statistics Portugal), indicator 0012260 – Crime rate (‰) by Geographic localization (NUTS 2024) and Category of crime, Annual; source: Direção-Geral da Política de Justiça (DGPJ, Ministry of Justice), 'Crimes registados pelas autoridades policiais'; last updated 26 June 2026. Where a figure was not published for a city, we say so rather than estimate it. Found an error? Write to editor@relocateineurope.com.