It has a total area of 6,065 km², the 6th district with the largest area of all Portuguese districts. In 2022 it registered a population of 104,121 inhabitants, making it the 20th most populous district in the country. The district has a population density of 17 inhabitants per km², divided into 15 municipalities and 69 parishes.
In the current main division of the country, the district is part of the Alentejo Region and all municipalities belong to the Alto Alentejo sub-region. They form CIMAA - Alto Alentejo Intermunicipal Community.
The main urban centres in 2021 were the cities of Elvas (15,254 inhabitants), Portalegre (14,138 inhabitants), Ponte de Sor (7,476 inhabitants) and Campo Maior (6,925 inhabitants).
Subdivisions
The district encompasses 69 parishes subdivided by 15 municipalities:
Alter do Chão (village)
Arronches (village)
Avis (village)
Campo Grande (village)
Castelo de Vide (village)
Crato (village)
Elvas (city)
Border (village)
Gavião (village)
Marvão (village)
Monforte (village)
Nisa (village)
Ponte de Sor (city)
Portalegre (city)
Sousel (village)
Population
Portalegre District was, in 2021, the Portuguese district with the least population, with 104,989 inhabitants. Although the district has 15 municipalities, it has only 3 cities. The remaining 12 municipalities are based in villages. Although the district capital is the city of Portalegre, Elvas is the largest city in the district, however, the municipality in the district with the most population is Portalegre.
