The increase was slightly lower than expected in preliminary data released by INE in 2021, which pointed to an increase to 467,495 residents.

In regional terms, the Algarve (3.6%) and the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (1.7%) were the only NUTS II regions (territorial unit nomenclature for statistical purposes) that recorded population growth in the last ten years.

According to INE data, the population of the district of Faro shows a positive growth variation of 3.6%, with more women (240,568) than men (226,775) among the inhabitants of the 16 municipalities.

Despite the population increase between 2011 and 2021 being observed in the majority (11) of the municipalities in the region, the municipalities of Alcoutim (-13.5%), Monchique (-9.6%), Castro Marim (-4.5 %), Olhão and Vila Real de Santo António (both with -1.7%) lost residents, according to the data.

The population increase occurred, in descending order, in the municipalities of Vila do Bispo (+8.7%), Albufeira (+8.1%), Lagos (+7.8%), Portimão (+7.6% ), São Brás de Alportel (+5.5%), Tavira (+5.1%), Faro (+4.0%), Lagoa (+3.2%) Loulé (+3.0%), Aljezur (+2.7%) and Silves (+1.7%).

The two Algarve municipalities that lost the most population in percentage terms were Alcoutim, which now has 2,523 inhabitants (394 less than in 2011), and Monchique, which currently has 5,462 inhabitants (583 less than in 2011).