As of the latest 2026 population estimates, approximately 8,400 people live on São Jorge Island in the Azores (Portugal). The population is primarily concentrated in the two main municipalities: Velas on the south coast and Calheta on the east. São Jorge is known for its unique "Fajãs"—low-lying coastal plains formed by landslides or lava flows—where small, isolated communities still practice traditional agriculture. The population has remained relatively stable over the last decade, as the island's growing reputation for "sustainable adventure tourism" (hiking, canyoning, and surfing) has provided new economic opportunities for young locals, slowing the historical trend of emigration to the U.S. and Canada. Despite its small population, São Jorge has a strong cultural identity centered around its world-famous Queijo São Jorge (cheese) production, which remains the island's primary export and a major driver of the local rural economy.