The active population is divided by the three activity sectors. On the last years the primary sector (39%) suffered a strong break to the tertiary sector (33%) which increased significantly. The secondary sector continues to occupy the minor percentage of the active population (28%).
In the total surface of the municipality, 89acres constitute the agricultural area (irrigated and unirrigated lands), 5120acres the agroforest area (the cork-tree and holm-oak plantations are included with 1436acres), 25626acres are the fallowing area and there are 1977acres of uncultivated area. The cultures are essentially unirrigated. Among the temporary cultures the most important are: wheat, oat, barley, forages (12800acres) and the horticulture. Among the permanent cultures (16406acres) the most important are the vineyards (6920acres), the olive-tree yards 8900acres) and citrines (341acres).
With an industrial basis with traditional characteristics, the main industries are connected with the agricultural activity in the transformation of its products: the viticulture and olive-culture are the main transformation industries being the former fundamental to the agriculture in the municipality. There are still other small units connected to agriculture, metal melting, bread-making, wood furniture and marble masonry, which complete the industrial development framing of the municipality.
Services show to be the more specialized branch in the municipality. The movement of restaurants, cafés, guest-houses, house-tourism units along with the Administration, Health, Education, Communication, Banks and Insurances concentration, have been contributing to the takeoff of this activity branch.
The tourism sector is in this moment also an important pillar to the economy and development of the municipality. The richness of the historical, cultural and natural heritage of the municipality was determinant to the tourism development. As to handicraft, among the main activities there is weaving, whose tradition dates back from the origins of the town of Reguengos de Monsaraz, where there are factories that named the famous blankets with a characteristic design. Also the ceramics from S. Pedro do Corval is an important sector, being this the first pottery centre in the country, with 34 operating units. The ceramics tradition in this region comes from the pre-historic times due to the existence of adequate clay deposits which always motivated this activity. Still today pieces with archaic and traditional shapes are made, in parallel with more innovative models at the decorative level. There are still other handicraft expressions, as the cooper and leather works, the rattles, and the willows.