The foreign population living in Madeira continued to rise in 2025, reaching 19,371 residents and representing 7.3% of the Region’s total population. Figures released on Wednesday by the Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) show that this number has more than doubled over the past four years. According to DREM’s Resident Population Estimates, the Autonomous Region of Madeira had 266,130 inhabitants on the 31st of December 2025, including 19,371 foreign nationals. That was an increase of 1,779 compared with 2024, while the Portuguese population fell slightly from 247,108 to 246,759. DREM said the trend underlines the growing role of migration in supporting population growth, offsetting negative natural change and reinforcing the working-age population. Between 2021 and 2025, the foreign population rose from 7,423 to 19,371, a gain of 11,948 and a 161% increase. Madeira still had one of the lowest shares of foreign residents in Portugal, ranking second among NUTS II regions behind only the Azores, while the Algarve and Greater Lisbon recorded the highest proportions. Funchal remained the municipality with the largest foreign community, and the Venezuelan community was again the biggest foreign nationality in Madeira.
