Zürich: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Zürich: The unemployment rate in Zürich was 6.2% in 2021 (6.1% for women, 6.2% for men).
- Health in Zürich: The infant mortality rate was 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024.
What is the population of Zürich?
Zürich had 423,193 inhabitants (city proper) on 31 December 2021, according to a complete census (usual residents) reported to the United Nations.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow does Zürich rank among cities in Switzerland?
Of the 14 cities the UN table lists for Switzerland (capitals and places of 100,000 or more), it is the largest.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow many women and men live in Zürich?
Women and girls made up 49.9% of residents (211,205 female, 211,988 male).
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyWhat is the population of Zürich?
The city of Zürich had 440,935 permanent residents at the end of 2025, 27.0% of the population of the canton of Zürich.
Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copyWhat is the population of Zürich?
Zürich had 725,893 residents on 1 January 2025 according to the EU Urban Audit; 14.2% were under 15 and 15.5% were 65 or older.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs Zürich growing?
The population grew by 16.7% between 2012 and 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many students are there in Zürich?
75,924 students were enrolled in higher education in Zürich in 2024, 105 for every 1,000 residents.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Zürich have a degree?
Of adults aged 25 to 64 in Zürich in 2024, 63% had a degree-level education, 25% an upper secondary education and 11% at most lower secondary schooling.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people leave school early in Zürich?
7.3% of 18 to 24-year-olds had left education and training early in 2020.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people live alone in Zürich?
42% of the 339,560 households in Zürich were people living alone in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people own their home in Zürich?
15% of households owned their home in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyCan people in Zürich afford their bills?
In the EU's 2023 quality of life survey, 3% of residents of Zürich said they had difficulty paying their bills at the end of the month most of the time.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- The wider urban agglomeration had 1,424,666 inhabitants. Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copy
- During 2025 the population of the city of Zürich changed by +4,384 (1.00%), with 4,575 births, 3,096 deaths and a net migration balance of +3,504. Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copy
- Between the end of 2015 and the end of 2025 the city of Zürich grew by 11.1%, compared with 11.4% for the canton as a whole. Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copy
- Each year since 1999 the BFS has counted the city's residents: 336,822 at the end of 1999 against 440,935 at the end of 2025. Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copy
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 17% of residents of Zürich agreed that there is corruption in their local public administration. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- 70% of people in Zürich were satisfied with how long the local administration takes to deal with a request (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- 71% of people in Zürich found the local administration's procedures straightforward and easy to understand (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- 77% of people in Zürich thought the fees charged by the local administration were reasonable (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 81% of residents of Zürich said the local administration's information and services were easy to access online. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 97% of residents of Zürich were satisfied to live in the city. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- 84% of people in Zürich were satisfied with schools and other educational facilities (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- 11% of people in Zürich agreed that it is easy to find good housing at a reasonable price (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- 84% of people in Zürich felt safe walking alone at night in the city (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
Who runs Zürich?
In Switzerland, cities and towns are run by communes: Executive council elected; legislature is either a communal assembly of all citizens or an elected parliament. Schools, local planning, social assistance, utilities, local taxes; they also play a part in granting citizenship.
How local power works in Switzerland
Cities of a similar size in Switzerland
- Berne 134,290
Up a level: all cities in Switzerland · Switzerland · government and power
Sources
- United Nations Statistics Division: Demographic Yearbook 2024, Table 8: Population of capital cities and cities of 100 000 or more inhabitants, latest available year, 2005-2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c6784df022e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctour: Urban Audit: culture and tourism (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 235d13e6125c…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cpop1: Urban Audit: population on 1 January by age groups and sex (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0ef23d60abc9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clivcon: Urban Audit: living conditions (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bc58ab68d418…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cfermor: Urban Audit: fertility and mortality (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd2b301d78c2…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
- Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS): Bilanz der ständigen Wohnbevölkerung, nach Kanton und Stadt, 1999-2025 (T 01.02.04.01), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 482963fd4ff7…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ceduc: Urban Audit: education (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 af187c7040a4…)
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