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The Porto Metropolitan Area (Portuguese: Área Metropolitana do Porto; abbreviated as AMP) is a metropolitan area in northern Portugal centered on the City of Porto, Portugal's second largest city. This area includes 17 municipalities and is the second largest urban area in the country and one of the largest in the European Union. As of 2024, it is home to over 1.8 million people spread across an area of 2,040 square kilometers.
The Porto Metropolitan Area plays a vital role in Portugal’s economy. It has a very high HDI (Human Development Index) and its GDP is above the European average. Since the Industrial Revolution, Porto has been Portugal’s leading manufacturing region and hosts many of the nation’s biggest companies.
The area is led by Pedro Duarte from the PSD.
History
The Porto Metropolitan Area started with nine municipalities, including Porto, the main city, and places like Espinho and Vila Nova de Gaia. Over time, it grew to include more areas. New municipalities such as Arouca and Oliveira de Azeméis joined in the years following 2005, expanding the region to its current 17 municipalities. This growth helped make Porto one of the largest urban areas in Portugal and the European Union.
Government
The Porto Metropolitan Area is led by the Junta Metropolitana do Porto, located in downtown Porto. Pedro Duarte, who is also the mayor of Porto, currently serves as its president.
The Porto Metropolitan Council includes the mayors of the 17 municipalities in the area. These mayors come from different political parties, working together to support the region.
Urban areas and agglomeration
The Porto metropolitan area is the second largest metropolitan area in Portugal, home to about 1.8 million people. It includes the larger Porto Urban Area, which is made up of the municipalities of Porto, Matosinhos, Vila Nova de Gaia, Gondomar, Valongo, and Maia.
It also has three smaller urban areas: Póvoa de Varzim-Vila do Conde, Trofa-Santo Tirso, and Santa Maria da Feira-São João da Madeira-Oliveira de Azeméis. The whole region, called the Porto Metropolitan Arch, is a regional urban system that also includes the sub-regions of Cávado, Ave, and Tâmega e Sousa, with cities such as Braga and Guimarães.
Population
The Porto Metropolitan Area is centered around the city of Porto, which is the second largest city in Portugal. This area includes 17 municipalities and is one of the largest urban areas in the European Union. In 2024, it was home to 1,818,217 people spread across an area of 2,040.31 km².
The Porto Metropolitan Area plays a key role in Portugal’s economy. It has a high Human Development Index and its GDP is above the European average, making it an important and prosperous region.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1864 | 363,369 | — |
| 1878 | 408,870 | +12.5% |
| 1890 | 487,144 | +19.1% |
| 1900 | 537,709 | +10.4% |
| 1911 | 622,129 | +15.7% |
| 1920 | 652,275 | +4.8% |
| 1930 | 754,273 | +15.6% |
| 1940 | 882,665 | +17.0% |
| 1950 | 1,000,941 | +13.4% |
| 1960 | 1,144,641 | +14.4% |
| 1970 | 1,271,463 | +11.1% |
| 1981 | 1,516,011 | +19.2% |
| 1991 | 1,595,762 | +5.3% |
| 2001 | 1,730,845 | +8.5% |
| 2011 | 1,759,524 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 1,736,293 | −1.3% |
| 2023 | 1,802,664 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 1,818,217 | +0.9% |
| Source: INE | ||
| Municipality | Area (km²) | Population (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Arouca | 329.11 | 20,826 |
| Espinho | 21.06 | 32,736 |
| Gondomar | 131.86 | 169,388 |
| Maia | 82.99 | 144,664 |
| Matosinhos | 62.42 | 181,046 |
| Oliveira de Azeméis | 161.10 | 67,471 |
| Paredes | 156.76 | 86,560 |
| Porto | 41.42 | 252,687 |
| Póvoa de Varzim | 82.21 | 68,459 |
| Santa Maria da Feira | 215.88 | 140,568 |
| Santo Tirso | 136.60 | 67,713 |
| São João da Madeira | 7.94 | 24,247 |
| Trofa | 72.02 | 40,294 |
| Vale de Cambra | 147.33 | 21,239 |
| Valongo | 75.12 | 101,464 |
| Vila do Conde | 149.03 | 85,871 |
| Vila Nova de Gaia | 168.46 | 312,984 |
| Total | 2,040.31 km² | 1,818,217 |
Transportation
The Porto Metropolitan Area is working hard to improve its transportation. The Porto Metro is a fast transit system connecting the cities of Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Matosinhos, Gondomar, Maia, Vila do Conde, and Póvoa de Varzim.
The area also has the Porto/ Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport / Pedras Rubras (OPO), which was upgraded from an old airport to a modern hub. This airport is connected to the Porto Metro and there are plans to add a fast train line, called a TGV, linking Vigo in Galicia to Porto Airport.
The region has many Motorways that connect its main areas and other big Portuguese cities. The main harbour is Leixões in Matosinhos. Some of the motorways include routes to Lisbon, Valença, Quintanilha/Espanha, Póvoa de Varzim, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Caminha, Angeja, Oliveira de Azeméis, Perafita, Espinho, Felgueiras, Aguiar de Sousa, and Gulpilhares.
Images
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