Évora District
Évora District has a geographic area of 7.392 Km2, with 173.654 inhabitants (2001 Census). It is constituted by 14 Municipalities.The district is characterized by an extremely low population density (23,5 inhab/Km2) concentrated in medium dimension urban nucleus and by primary and tertiary activities. Resident population is decreasing, except in Évora and Vendas Novas Municipalities, that registered an increase of 5,1% and 10,9%, respectively. This decrease is due namely to a natural negative result originated by the population ageing degree and the low number of births.
Until 1991 migration balance was also negative, but in the last 10 years there was a positive balance. This was not enough to turn out population decrease tendency but contributed to soften it. Évora District is an area with strong environmental and landscape potentialities, due to low levels of pollution. Social equipments and infra-structures cover a significant number of population.
Nowadays tendency reveals a progressive diversification of the district economic basis, with a significant tendency to tertiary sector and an important growth of transforming industry. Despite this diversification, agriculture is still an important activity, principally concerning border municipalities, occupying a significant part of active population. There are several poles of economic dynamic in the District, from which we enhance:
- Marble Area, on the geological structure of Estremoz, including Estremoz, Borba, Vila Viçosa, and Alandroal Municipalities;
- Évora Municipality is particularly dynamic by its dimension, by being chief town, World Heritage and also by its urbanism dynamic in the last years.
- Municipalities influenced by Alqueva's Dam, that will benefit with irrigation and tourism development, bringing the region a brand new dynamic.
- Lisbon – Madrid Axe is an increasing element for the region, from which benefit Vendas Novas, Montemor, Évora and Estremoz Municipalities, namely concerning urbanism expansion increasing in the last years.
Social Indicators
Évora District is an area with strong environmental and landscape potentialities, with population low levels.
At social equipments and infrastructures level, the district has a high covering level, close or superior to national average.
Other social indicators rouse up attention by their negative expression. Illiteracy rate is an example, despite presenting a reduction in the last decade is still very far from national numbers. This phenomenon is more significant in women, an aspect related not only to the region population ageing (older women are less literate) as well as a major proposition of women face to total resident population.
Economic Indicators
Évora District assisted the last decade a progressive diversification of the district economic basis, with a significant tendency to tertiary sector and an important growth of transforming industry. Despite this diversification, agriculture is still an important activity, principally concerning border municipalities, occupying a significant part of active population.
Although a low decrease of unemployment rate in the last decade has occurred, it is still very high concerning the national average and especially incisive in female population.
