Population in largest city in Switzerland
Switzerland: Population in largest city was 1.46 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
1.46 million
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
105th
of 153 countries
All-time high
1.46 million
in 2025
All-time low
535,471
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Switzerland, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 1.46 million for population in largest city in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Switzerland peaked at 1.46 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 535,471, in 1960.
That places Switzerland 105th out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population in largest city in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 535,471 | — |
| 1961 | 546,473 | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 562,653 | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 579,311 | +3.0% |
| 1964 | 596,487 | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 614,123 | +3.0% |
| 1966 | 632,305 | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 651,026 | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 670,328 | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 690,147 | +3.0% |
| 1970 | 710,580 | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 718,557 | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 717,235 | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 715,920 | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 714,605 | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 713,293 | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 711,982 | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 710,676 | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 709,371 | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 708,068 | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 706,766 | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 721,451 | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 748,589 | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 776,748 | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 806,007 | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 836,284 | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 867,741 | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 900,382 | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 934,299 | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 969,394 | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 1.01 million | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 1.03 million | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 1.04 million | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 1.05 million | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 1.06 million | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 1.07 million | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 1.08 million | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 1.09 million | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 1.11 million | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 1.12 million | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 1.13 million | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 1.14 million | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 1.15 million | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 1.17 million | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 1.18 million | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 1.19 million | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 1.20 million | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 1.22 million | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 1.23 million | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 1.24 million | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 1.26 million | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 1.27 million | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 1.28 million | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 1.30 million | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 1.31 million | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 1.33 million | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 1.34 million | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 1.36 million | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 1.37 million | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 1.38 million | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 1.40 million | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 1.41 million | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 1.42 million | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 1.43 million | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 1.44 million | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 1.46 million | +0.8% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 1.46 million is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.80 million, 81% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 1.46 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.41 million, 1.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 607,832 | 535,471 | 690,147 | 10 |
| 1970s | 713,029 | 708,068 | 718,557 | 10 |
| 1980s | 826,766 | 706,766 | 969,394 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.07 million | 1.01 million | 1.12 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.19 million | 1.13 million | 1.24 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.32 million | 1.26 million | 1.38 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.43 million | 1.40 million | 1.46 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More urban development data for Switzerland
- Population in the largest city 18.7% (2025)
- Population density 224.98 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 8.32 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.16 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.46 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 0.8141 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 36.23 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 1.37 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 135.43 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Switzerland?
- Population in largest city in Switzerland was 1.46 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 1.46 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 535,471 in 1960.
- How does Switzerland rank for population in largest city?
- Switzerland ranks 105th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.