Statistics of Swiss Cities 2026 Urban Value Creation: How City Dwellers Work
29.04.2026 | from Schweizerischer Städteverband
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29.04.2026, The Statistics of Swiss Cities 2026 present current figures on population, housing, politics, education, and other exciting topics in Swiss cities. This year's focus is on the working world: people in Switzerland live and work in urban areas. Nearly four million employees work in the cities. The joint publication of the Swiss Cities Association and the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) highlights this diverse urban Switzerland, its residents, and its workforce.
From large cities through agglomerations to small urban municipalities: Urban Switzerland is diverse. The Statistics of Swiss Cities 2026 from the Swiss Cities Association, in collaboration with the Federal Statistical Office, illustrates these different characteristics and developments.
For example, it shows that the average person in the city lives on 43 square meters, while people outside the cities live on just under 50 square meters per person. It also becomes apparent that small tourist towns have the highest number of overnight stays per capita and that the average city executive politician is a man and belongs to the FDP. These and many other exciting statistics can be found in the statistical yearbook 2026.
Services Shape the Working World of Cities
Almost four million people work in Swiss cities. They play a significant role in value creation and shape the country's economic centers. Awareness of the fact that value creation is also produced beyond statistically recorded employment relationships, this year's edition particularly highlights the various dimensions of the urban working world.
Per inhabitant in the cities, there are 0.84 employees, with the employment rate at nearly 80%. A large part of these employees works in the service sector, fulfilling tasks related to traditional established services, healthcare, social welfare, or trade. The job market is constantly moving, and since 2021, more people are leaving the job market through retirement than young people are entering it. And: Switzerland is a country of commuters. This is also evident in the cities: on average, the daily commute is over 31 minutes and nearly 13 kilometers long.
With a total of 180 cities, the Statistics of Swiss Cities provide comprehensive figures on urban Switzerland. The publication is a joint issue of the Swiss Cities Association and the Federal Statistical Office. It is supplemented by a compact dashboard on the agglomerations and a data portal where the complete data and analyses are available.
Additional Information
- Statistics of Swiss Cities 2026 (FSO, SSV) - Platform on Agglomerations - All data online
Press Contact:
Benjamin Fröhlich, Head of Communication
medien@staedteverband.ch / 031 356 32 44
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Schweizerischer Städteverband
The Swiss Cities Association (SSV) advocates for the interests of urban areas in politics. It informs the public about urban Switzerland and offers its members a platform for exchanging experiences and networking among members. Services in favor of its members represent another facet of its activities. The Cities Association was founded in 1897 and currently has 129 members.
The basis of the political work of the Cities Association is Article 50 of the Federal Constitution, which requires the federal government to pay particular attention to the interests of cities and agglomerations. Consequently, the Cities Association participates as a permanent partner in the federal consultation processes, collaborates in federal expert commissions, and maintains regular contacts with the federal administration and parliament and its commissions.
The General Assembly of the Cities Association and the highlight of the city year is the City Day, which is held at the end of August each year. The association is affiliated with seven sections. To process specialist topics professionally, the Cities Association also maintains commissions and working groups.
In addition to the association’s own bodies, the Cities Association is involved in many other organizations and institutions, such as the Tripartite Conference (TK). Supported by the Federal Council, the Conference of Cantonal Governments (KdK), the Swiss Association of Municipalities, and the Cities Association, the TK institutionalizes dialogue between the state levels and develops joint positions on important political issues.
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Source: Schweizerischer Städteverband, Press release
Original article published on: Statistik der Schweizer Städte 2026 Urbane Wertschöpfung: So arbeiten die Städterinnen und Städter