Low-Density Territories - Check your municipality here

Portugal is a country of contrasts, with a vibrant coast and an interior full of potential. To promote a more balanced and cohesive development, the National Program for Territorial Cohesion (PNCT) was created, which identifies the so-called "low-density territories". But what exactly are these territories and where are they located?

In this article, we will explore the concept of low-density territories and present the complete list of municipalities and parishes that are part of this designation, based on the official list.

What are Low-Density Territories?

Low-density territories are areas in Portugal that, according to the PNCT, have a lower population density and sometimes face demographic and economic challenges. The purpose of their delimitation is to allow the creation of specific policies and incentives that promote investment, job creation, and population settlement in these regions, contributing to the country's territorial cohesion.

The Relationship between Community Funds and Low-Density Territories

The designation of a municipality or parish as a "low-density territory" is a strategic factor of great importance in accessing community funds, namely within the scope of the Portugal 2030 program. This classification allows investment projects located in these areas to benefit from more advantageous conditions, such as higher co-financing rates and increases in the evaluation criteria for applications. The objective is to create an "attraction effect" that stimulates business investment, innovation, the creation of skilled jobs, and the modernization of the local economic fabric. In this way, European funds act as a lever for the sustainable development of these regions, combating territorial asymmetries and promoting a more cohesive and competitive country throughout its geography. Productive innovation is an incentive that is governed by the differentiation of the support rate according to the region.

List of Low-Density Municipalities

Below is the list of municipalities considered to be of low density, grouped by NUTS III (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics):