According to the Censuses 2001, the Municipality of Arraiolos has 7616 inhabitants.
Relatively to the Census 1991 the population negative variation was of 7.2%.
The only age group with a positive variation was that from 65 or more years old
The age group from 0 to 14 years old had the higher negative variation.
One of the most outstanding aspects of the demography of the municipality is the population’s ageing.
The ageing index (relation between the population with 65years old or more and the population with 0-14 years old) is presently o 197 aged people by 100 young people. , that is, the number of aged people inhabiting the municipality is approximately the double of young people.
In education to underline the high percentage of illiteracy – 17%; however, it has evolved positively, one there was a break of 4 percentile points from 1991 to 2001. These are very similar aspects to the reality of the Alentejo but very different of the national reality which presents itself more favourable.
Regarding the economical activity to refer the unemployment rate which similarly to 1991 is still inferior to the regional average but relating to the national average suffered a positive evolution, presenting a vary approximate rate (6,1% in Portugal and 7,1% in the municipality of Arraiolos – censuses 2001).
In the population’s division by activity sector it’s been verified a positive evolution between 1991 and 2001, rates presently nearer to the national average, being that it was verified a decrease of about 16& in the population who worked i the primary sector and an increase of 17,9% in the population working in the tertiary sector.
In the following table are presented some develop indicators in the municipality, Alentejo and Portugal: