Vela: population and statistics
Vela has a population of 1,750 (2026) across 82.5 km², or 21.2 people per km². It ranks 2,553 of 3,181 localities by population. Its population is falling: −5.9% between 2016 and 2026.
- 1,750 residents
- 82.5 km²
- 21 people/km²
Key points
Among the 111 localities in Dolj County, Vela ranks No. 84 by population.
Registered unemployed as a share of labour resources (working-age population): 23.8% in Vela, compared with an average of 5.0% in Dolj County and 2.0% nationally.
Average living floor area per dwelling (m²): 36.2 m² in Vela, compared with an average of 51.3 m² in Dolj County and 51.1 m² nationally.
Vela: the most common activity among active businesses is Retail trade (except motor vehicles) (19 businesses).
Vela in numbers
Where is Vela?
Neighbouring localities
- Brabova7.3 km · 1,052
- Orodel8.3 km · 2,231
- Vârtop8.5 km · 1,641
- Sălcuța10 km · 2,110
- Terpezița10 km · 1,394
- Seaca de Pădure11 km · 797
- Carpen12 km · 1,896
- Gogoșu13 km · 438
Localities of similar size
Population of Vela over time
Vela had 1,860 residents in 2016 and 1,750 in 2026.
| Year | Population (by registered residence) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,779 |
| 2022 | 1,757 |
| 2023 | 1,755 |
| 2024 | 1,751 |
| 2025 | 1,761 |
| 2026 | 1,750 |
Did you know?
- “Registered unemployed as a share of labour resources (working-age population)”: higher than in 99% of localities.
- “Average living floor area per dwelling (m²)”: lower than in 94% of localities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 11,550 football pitches.
- Its population density is 4.3 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest locality is Brabova, 7.3 km away.
- The nearest more populous locality is Plenița (4,137 residents), 17 km away.
All indicators for Vela
Value for the locality, then the regional average and the national median (for counts: regional and national totals). The gauge places the locality between the lowest and highest value in the country.
Population
| Indicator | Vela | Dolj County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| People settling in the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 26.9 ‰ | 17.6 ‰ | 16.0 ‰ | ranked 335 of 3,163 | |
| People leaving the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 23.4 ‰ | 18.6 ‰ | 17.3 ‰ | ranked 394 of 3,163 | |
| Live births per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 6.9 ‰ | 6.7 ‰ | 6.9 ‰ | ranked 1,550 of 3,157 | |
| Deaths per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 17.1 ‰ | 12.8 ‰ | 13.0 ‰ | ranked 650 of 3,163 |
Housing
| Indicator | Vela | Dolj County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Existing dwellings (2025) | 1,238 | 309,497 | 10,177,161 | ranked 1,989 of 3,181 | |
| Dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 707.4 ‰ | 469.0 ‰ | 484.8 ‰ | ranked 249 of 3,163 | |
| Average living floor area per dwelling (m²) (2025) | 36.2 m² | 51.3 m² | 50.3 m² | ranked 2,962 of 3,163 |
Economy
| Indicator | Vela | Dolj County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active companies in the trade register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 24.0 ‰ | 55.2 ‰ | 29.4 ‰ | ranked 2,062 of 3,163 | |
| Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1.14 ‰ | 3.58 ‰ | 2.10 ‰ | ranked 2,443 of 3,163 |
Employment
| Indicator | Vela | Dolj County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average number of employees per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 27 ‰ | 215 ‰ | 71 ‰ | ranked 2,996 of 3,163 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of labour resources (working-age population) (2026) | 23.8% | 5.0% | 2.3% | ranked 10 of 3,163 |
Health
| Indicator | Vela | Dolj County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 1.14 ‰ | 5.69 ‰ | 0.52 ‰ | ranked 417 of 2,833 | |
| Family doctors per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 0.57 ‰ | 0.65 ‰ | 0.46 ‰ | ranked 870 of 2,807 | |
| Pharmacists per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 0.57 ‰ | 1.39 ‰ | 0.47 ‰ | ranked 831 of 2,248 |
Education
| Indicator | Vela | Dolj County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School population (children, pupils and students) per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 95 ‰ | 172 ‰ | 91 ‰ | ranked 1,427 of 3,158 | |
| Education units per 10,000 inhabitants (2025) | 5.7 per 10,000 inh. | 3.2 per 10,000 inh. | 3.6 per 10,000 inh. | ranked 643 of 3,122 |
Businesses by activity: Vela
Active businesses in the business register with a recorded activity, by section and by activity (NACE Rev. 2). Only activities with at least 3 businesses are shown.
By industry section
- Wholesale and retail trade22 · 27.2%
- Administrative and support services11 · 13.6%
- Construction9 · 11.1%
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing8 · 9.9%
- Manufacturing6 · 7.4%
- Transport and storage6 · 7.4%
- Professional, scientific and technical4 · 4.9%
- Other service activities4 · 4.9%
Most common activities
- Retail trade (except motor vehicles)19 · 23.5%
- Specialised construction activities9 · 11.1%
- Crop and animal production, hunting and related services8 · 9.9%
- Wholesale trade (except motor vehicles)8 · 9.9%
- Construction of buildings7 · 8.6%
- Civil engineering6 · 7.4%
- Services to buildings and landscape activities5 · 6.2%
- Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing4 · 4.9%
- Rental and leasing activities4 · 4.9%
- Land transport and transport via pipelines3 · 3.7%
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Vela?
Vela has 1,750 residents (2026), ranking 2,553 of 3,181 localities.
How big is Vela?
Vela covers 82.5 km², with a density of 21 people per km².
Is the population of Vela growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Vela went from 1,860 to 1,750, a change of −5.9%.
Where is Vela?
Vela is in Dolj County. Latitude 44.287, longitude 23.371.
Registered unemployed as a share of labour resources (working-age population): what is the figure for Vela?
In Vela, “Registered unemployed as a share of labour resources (working-age population)” stands at 23.8% (2026), ranking 10 of 3,163 localities; the national median is 2.3%.
Average living floor area per dwelling (m²): what is the figure for Vela?
In Vela, “Average living floor area per dwelling (m²)” stands at 36.2 m² (2025), ranking 2,962 of 3,163 localities; the national median is 50.3 m².
Which localities border Vela?
The nearest to Vela are Brabova (7.3 km), Orodel (8.3 km), Vârtop (8.5 km), Sălcuța (10 km), Terpezița (10 km).