Skip to content
votara
Search Votara

Bern

Canton BE 334 communes

Population

Permanent residents on 31 December 2010
972,288
Permanent residents on 31 December 2025
1,069,074
Change 2010–2025
+10.0%

Sum of the canton's 334 communes within today's borders (today's communes, also for 2010). Calculated by Votara from official data

Population scenarios 2024–2050

Permanent resident population on 31 December, three OFS/BFS scenarios for the canton

Official figure

Persons

0200K400K600K800K1M1.2M202520302035204020452050
  • OFS/BFS scenario: high
  • OFS/BFS scenario: reference
  • OFS/BFS scenario: low
  • Range between the OFS/BFS low and high scenarios

In 2050, the projections range from 1,005,286 (OFS/BFS scenario: low) to 1,198,423 (OFS/BFS scenario: high).

Show the data as a table
Data shown in the chart “Population scenarios 2024–2050”
YearOFS/BFS scenario: highOFS/BFS scenario: referenceOFS/BFS scenario: low
20241,071,0521,068,5141,065,858
20251,078,9731,073,6271,068,052
20261,086,9291,078,6481,069,987
20271,094,8231,083,4951,071,672
20281,102,5981,088,1481,073,066
20291,110,2381,092,5711,074,191
20301,117,7091,096,7731,075,020
20311,124,9921,100,7031,075,535
20321,131,8991,103,8851,074,957
20331,138,4851,106,3631,073,300
20341,144,7611,108,1411,070,545
20351,150,7551,109,2391,066,792
20361,156,1641,110,0011,062,966
20371,160,9871,110,4621,059,110
20381,165,2461,110,6361,055,256
20391,168,9591,110,5601,051,462
20401,172,1071,110,2281,047,739
20411,175,1121,109,7641,043,900
20421,177,9991,109,1981,039,933
20431,180,7821,108,5211,035,854
20441,183,4571,107,7371,031,665
20451,186,0411,106,8481,027,412
20461,188,5651,105,9091,023,074
20471,191,0801,104,9261,018,691
20481,193,5551,103,9031,014,275
20491,195,9981,102,8381,009,800
20501,198,4231,101,7051,005,286

According to the OFS/BFS, scenarios are conditional projections, not forecasts.

Vacancy rate 1997–2026

Empty dwellings on 1 June, as a share of all dwellings

Official figure

Vacancy rate (%)

00.511.52200020102020
  • Vacancy rate (%)

Vacancy rate (%) fell from 1.38% in 1997 to 1.04% in 2026.

Show the data as a table
Data shown in the chart “Vacancy rate 1997–2026”
YearVacancy rate (%)
19971.38%
19981.49%
19991.43%
20001.40%
20011.33%
20021.09%
20031.06%
20040.99%
20051.07%
20061.09%
20071.14%
20081.13%
20091.08%
20101.15%
20111.21%
20121.23%
20131.29%
20141.42%
20151.45%
20161.66%
20171.79%
20181.77%
20191.82%
20201.83%
20211.58%
20221.44%
20231.29%
20241.17%
20251.08%
20261.04%

Land use

Area by main type of land use, in hectares, per survey period
Survey period1979–1985 (1979–82)1992–1997 (1992–94)2004–2009 (2004–07)2013–2018 (2013–16)
Settlement areas34,29437,91741,05643,608
Agricultural areas261,341256,064253,290250,087
Wooded areas183,346185,658185,639187,051
Unproductive areas114,903114,245113,899113,138

Sample survey on aerial photographs (flight years in brackets). The current survey is published canton by canton.

Source: OFS/BFS — Swiss land use statistics — main land-use domains (data 1979–2025, source checked on )

The last 10 federal votes

Result in the canton (Bern) and in Switzerland as a whole, newest first
DateVoteBernSwitzerland
«Food Initiative»28.2% yes No majority provisional result (not yet validated by the Federal Council)27.5% yes Rejected
Neutrality Initiative26.6% yes No majority provisional result (not yet validated by the Federal Council)29.9% yes Rejected
Amendment to the Civilian Service Act50.2% yes Yes majority provisional result (not yet validated by the Federal Council)52.5% yes Accepted
«Sustainability initiative» (Limiting the national population)44.6% yes No majority provisional result (not yet validated by the Federal Council)45.2% yes Rejected
Act on Individual Taxation54.2% yes Yes majority provisional result (not yet validated by the Federal Council)54.3% yes Accepted
Climate Fund Initiative31.1% yes No majority provisional result (not yet validated by the Federal Council)29.3% yes Rejected
Initiative «200 francs is enough!» (fees for public broadcasting)35.3% yes No majority provisional result (not yet validated by the Federal Council)38.1% yes Rejected
Decree on the Swiss currency and cash supply74.0% yes Yes majority provisional result (not yet validated by the Federal Council)73.4% yes Accepted
Initiative «Cash is Freedom»43.0% yes No majority provisional result (not yet validated by the Federal Council)45.6% yes Rejected
Initiative «For a social climate policy (Initiative for a Future)»23.7% yes No majority 21.7% yes Rejected

Sources: Année politique suisse, University of Bern — Swissvotes – results of federal popular votes by canton (source checked on ) Checks failing; OFS/BFS — FSO – results of federal popular votes, Switzerland and cantons (data 2024–2026, source checked on ) Checks failing; Année politique suisse, University of Bern — Swissvotes – database of federal popular votes (data 1848–2027, source checked on ) Checks failing

Communes (334)

Arrondissement administratif Jura bernois (39)
Verwaltungskreis Biel/Bienne (19)
Verwaltungskreis Seeland (42)
Verwaltungskreis Oberaargau (43)
Verwaltungskreis Emmental (39)
Verwaltungskreis Bern-Mittelland (74)
Verwaltungskreis Thun (30)
Verwaltungskreis Obersimmental-Saanen (7)
Verwaltungskreis Frutigen-Niedersimmental (13)
Verwaltungskreis Interlaken-Oberhasli (28)

Source: OFS/BFS — Official commune register of Switzerland (source checked on ) Checks failing