# Population development: Censuses 1850–2000 A thematic map of the Atlas of Switzerland, the national atlas published by ETH Zurich. The map is drawn in the browser; this file describes it and lists its variants and links, but not the data values shown on the map. - Map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/population-development-censuses-18502000/ - Short title: Population development: historical - Map id: 862 - Categories: Society and Culture › Population › Status and development - Keywords: Demography, Inhabitants, Labour, Settlement - Published: 2020-11-24 - Last revised: 2022-07-12 - Content language: English - Other languages: [Deutsch](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/de/thema/bevoelkerungsentwicklung-volkszaehlungen-18502000.md), [Français](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/fr/theme/developpement-de-la-population-recensements-18502000.md), [Italiano](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/it/tema/sviluppo-della-popolazione-censimenti-18502000.md) ## Description Since 1900 (3.3 million), Switzerland’s population has almost tripled. As at the end of 2025, the permanent resident population stood at 9,127,100, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 0.8 per cent. The increase peaked between 1961 and 1963, with average annual growth rates of 2.4 per cent. Since 2007, the average annual growth rate has been more than 1 per cent. In 2014, population growth stood at 1.2 per cent, making Switzerland one of the most dynamic countries in Europe in terms of population growth. Population declines occurred only in 1918 as a result of the Spanish flu and during the economic recession of 1975–1977. ## Sources - FSO: [Bevölkerung Schweiz, Stand und Entwicklung](https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/bevoelkerung/stand-entwicklung.html) ## Data sources - Atlas of Switzerland: [Administrative Einheiten 1:500.000 (Gemeinden, Bezirke, Kantone)](http://www.atlasderschweiz.ch/) - FSO (2012): [Eidgenössische Volkszählungen](http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/erhebungen__quellen/blank/blank/vz/uebersicht.html). Neuchâtel - swisstopo [J160089] (2010): [Gemeindegrenzen GG25](https://shop.swisstopo.admin.ch/de/products/landscape/boundaries3D) - swisstopo [J160089] (2010): [Landeskarte 1:500.000](https://shop.swisstopo.admin.ch/de/products/maps/national/lk500) ## Data owners - [Atlas of Switzerland (AoS)](http://www.atlasderschweiz.ch/) - [Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO)](https://www.bfs.admin.ch/) - [Swiss Federal Office of Topography (swisstopo)](http://www.swisstopo.admin.ch/) ## Citation The terms of use ask to name the Atlas of Switzerland and the data owners, and to keep the source references in exports, screenshots and embeds. Cite the map as: > Atlas of Switzerland (2022): Population development: Censuses 1850–2000. ETH Zürich. Map data © AoS, FSO, swisstopo. https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/population-development-censuses-18502000/ ## Variants The map has 90 variants. Levels: spatial unit → time. The `u` value of a variant selects it in the links below. - Cantons - 1850–1860: `u=AzYAAwAA` - 1860–1870: `u=AzcAAwAA` - 1870–1880: `u=AzgAAwAA` - 1880–1888: `u=AzkAAwAA` - 1888–1900: `u=AzoAAwAA` - 1900–1910: `u=AzsAAwAA` - 1910–1920: `u=AzwAAwAA` - 1920–1930: `u=Az0AAwAA` - 1930–1941: `u=Az4AAwAA` - 1941–1950: `u=ASAAAwAA` - 1950–1960: `u=Az8AAwAA` - 1960–1970: `u=A0AAAwAA` - 1970–1980: `u=A0EAAwAA` - 1980–1990: `u=A0IAAwAA` - 1990–2000: `u=A0MAAwAA` (default) - Communes - 1850–1860: `u=AzYABQAA` - 1860–1870: `u=AzcABQAA` - 1870–1880: `u=AzgABQAA` - 1880–1888: `u=AzkABQAA` - 1888–1900: `u=AzoABQAA` - 1900–1910: `u=AzsABQAA` - 1910–1920: `u=AzwABQAA` - 1920–1930: `u=Az0ABQAA` - 1930–1941: `u=Az4ABQAA` - 1941–1950: `u=ASAABQAA` - 1950–1960: `u=Az8ABQAA` - 1960–1970: `u=A0AABQAA` - 1970–1980: `u=A0EABQAA` - 1980–1990: `u=A0IABQAA` - 1990–2000: `u=A0MABQAA` - Districts - 1850–1860: `u=AzYABgAA` - 1860–1870: `u=AzcABgAA` - 1870–1880: `u=AzgABgAA` - 1880–1888: `u=AzkABgAA` - 1888–1900: `u=AzoABgAA` - 1900–1910: `u=AzsABgAA` - 1910–1920: `u=AzwABgAA` - 1920–1930: `u=Az0ABgAA` - 1930–1941: `u=Az4ABgAA` - 1941–1950: `u=ASAABgAA` - 1950–1960: `u=Az8ABgAA` - 1960–1970: `u=A0AABgAA` - 1970–1980: `u=A0EABgAA` - 1980–1990: `u=A0IABgAA` - 1990–2000: `u=A0MABgAA` - Cantons, habitable area - 1850–1860: `u=AzYA4QAA` - 1860–1870: `u=AzcA4QAA` - 1870–1880: `u=AzgA4QAA` - 1880–1888: `u=AzkA4QAA` - 1888–1900: `u=AzoA4QAA` - 1900–1910: `u=AzsA4QAA` - 1910–1920: `u=AzwA4QAA` - 1920–1930: `u=Az0A4QAA` - 1930–1941: `u=Az4A4QAA` - 1941–1950: `u=ASAA4QAA` - 1950–1960: `u=Az8A4QAA` - 1960–1970: `u=A0AA4QAA` - 1970–1980: `u=A0EA4QAA` - 1980–1990: `u=A0IA4QAA` - 1990–2000: `u=A0MA4QAA` - Districts, habitable area - 1850–1860: `u=AzYA4gAA` - 1860–1870: `u=AzcA4gAA` - 1870–1880: `u=AzgA4gAA` - 1880–1888: `u=AzkA4gAA` - 1888–1900: `u=AzoA4gAA` - 1900–1910: `u=AzsA4gAA` - 1910–1920: `u=AzwA4gAA` - 1920–1930: `u=Az0A4gAA` - 1930–1941: `u=Az4A4gAA` - 1941–1950: `u=ASAA4gAA` - 1950–1960: `u=Az8A4gAA` - 1960–1970: `u=A0AA4gAA` - 1970–1980: `u=A0EA4gAA` - 1980–1990: `u=A0IA4gAA` - 1990–2000: `u=A0MA4gAA` - Communes, habitable area - 1850–1860: `u=AzYA4wAA` - 1860–1870: `u=AzcA4wAA` - 1870–1880: `u=AzgA4wAA` - 1880–1888: `u=AzkA4wAA` - 1888–1900: `u=AzoA4wAA` - 1900–1910: `u=AzsA4wAA` - 1910–1920: `u=AzwA4wAA` - 1920–1930: `u=Az0A4wAA` - 1930–1941: `u=Az4A4wAA` - 1941–1950: `u=ASAA4wAA` - 1950–1960: `u=Az8A4wAA` - 1960–1970: `u=A0AA4wAA` - 1970–1980: `u=A0EA4wAA` - 1980–1990: `u=A0IA4wAA` - 1990–2000: `u=A0MA4wAA` ## Links Replace `{u}` with the `u` value of a variant above, or leave out `u={u}` for the default variant. The map opens at its full extent; a link cannot set the map position. - Map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/population-development-censuses-18502000/?u={u} - Short link, stays valid when the title changes: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/t/862/?u={u} - Side by side with another map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/comparison/?lt=862&lu={u}&rt={id of the other map}&ru={u of the other map, or leave out} Embed in another website (allowed by the terms of use, as long as the source references stay visible): ```html ``` In the embed URL, `dm` sets what is shown: `e` the map with its title bar (default), `p` also the values of an object clicked on the map, `m` only the map with a button that opens it in the atlas. `ig=1` (default) lets the map react to scrolling and dragging only after a click into it, `ig=0` right away. The size can be changed in `style`. For the use and citation of maps and data, see the [terms of use](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/terms-of-use/).