Demographics of Madeira

The island was settled by Portuguese people, especially farmers from the Minho region,[1] meaning that Madeirans (Portuguese: Madeirenses), as they are called, are ethnically Portuguese, though they have developed a distinct regional identity and cultural traits.

The region of Madeira and Porto Santo has a total population of just under 256,060, the majority of whom live on Madeira Island (251,060) where the population density is 337/km2; leaving around 5,000 on Porto Santo island where the population density is 112/km2.

About 247,000 residents, or 96% of the population, are Catholic. Funchal is the location of the Catholic cathedral.[2]

Municipalities Population
(2017 Estimate)[3] 		Area (km2) Main city/town Freguesias
Funchal 104,442 76.1 Funchal 10
Santa Cruz 44,417 81.5 Santa Cruz 5
Câmara de Lobos 33,847 52.1 Câmara de Lobos 5
Machico 20,272 68.3 Machico 5
Ribeira Brava 12,428 65.4 Ribeira Brava 4
Calheta 10,901 112 Calheta 8
Ponta do Sol 8,559 46.2 Ponta do Sol 3
Santana 6,808 95.6 Santana 6
Porto Santo 5,173 42.6 Vila Baleira 1
São Vicente 5,151 78.8 São Vicente 3
Porto Moniz 2,371 82.9 Porto Moniz 4
Total 244,286 801 Total 54
  1. ^ "Alberto CEHA: Madeira] Vieira, O Infante e a Madeira: dúvidas e certezas, Centro Estudos História Atlântico". Ceha-madeira.net. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  2. ^ "Diocese of Funchal". Catholic Hierarchy. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Portugal: Administrative Division (Districts and Municipalities) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".