Glarus: population, economy and official figures
Glarus is a canton in Ostschweiz, Switzerland. Glarus had 42,371 residents on 1 January 2025, 3.4% of Ostschweiz and 0.47% of Switzerland; 23rd largest of 26 cantons in Switzerland.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Glarus: The local economy produced €3.2 billion of output (GDP) in 2022.
- Health in Glarus: Health spending by the cantonal government of Glarus reached CHF 71.20 million in 2024, CHF 1,680 per resident, 12th highest of 26 cantons and 16.4% of cantonal spending.
- Education in Glarus: In 2024 the cantonal government of Glarus spent CHF 69.42 million on education, 16.0% of its budget and CHF 1,638 per resident, 4th lowest of 26 cantons (all cantons: CHF 3,423).
- Poverty and living standards in Glarus: Social security cost the cantonal government of Glarus CHF 103.17 million in 2024, or CHF 2,435 per resident, 12th highest of 26 cantons; health-insurance premium subsidies and other sickness benefits accounted for CHF 21.87 million of it.
- Government budget and revenue in Glarus: In 2024 the cantonal government of Glarus spent CHF 433.74 million in total, or CHF 10,237 per resident, 9th lowest of 26 cantons (all cantons: CHF 12,109 per resident).
- Government and politics in Glarus: The canton of Glarus is run by a 5-member cantonal government, elected in 2026, and a 60-seat cantonal parliament, last elected in 2026.
Is the population of Glarus growing?
That is 6.5% more people than in 2015 (39,794).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow densely populated is Glarus?
There were 62.4 people per square kilometre in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median age in Glarus?
The median age was 44.4 years in 2025, against 42.9 for Switzerland; 13th highest of 26 cantons in Switzerland.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow old is the population of Glarus?
21.7% of residents were 65 or older and 14.6% were under 15 in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Glarus?
In 2024 there were 338 live births and 389 deaths, a natural decrease of 51.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow big is Glarus?
It covers 686 km².
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the population of Glarus?
Glarus had 42,451 permanent residents at the end of 2025, 0.5% of the Swiss population, after growing by 0.19% during the year (Switzerland: 0.84%).
Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copyHow fast is Glarus growing?
Over ten years, from the end of 2015 to the end of 2025, the population of Glarus grew by 6.1%, from 40,028 to 42,451.
Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copyAre people moving to Glarus?
Net migration added 8.7 people per 1,000 residents in 2024, while births minus deaths gave a natural change of -1.2 per 1,000.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- In 2025 Glarus recorded 317 live births and 435 deaths, a natural decrease of 118, while 1,670 people moved in and 1,483 moved out, a net migration gain of 187. Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copy
Figures come from Switzerland's own official statistics and from Eurostat's regional statistics for NUTS 3 areas. Comparisons with the EU average use purchasing power standards (PPS), which adjust for price differences.
Other cantons in Ostschweiz
- St. Gallen 540,036
- Thurgau 299,509
- Graubünden / Grigioni / Grischun 206,138
- Schaffhausen 88,667
- Appenzell Ausserrhoden 56,705
- Appenzell Innerrhoden 16,733
Up a level: Ostschweiz · all regions of Switzerland · how local power works in Switzerland
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjangrp3: Population on 1 January (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4c748d3cba3a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_d3dens: Population density, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f4b59fe9d121…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP, million euros (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 096e15e5fdb3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjanind3: Median age of the population (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7bf6ade55a0d…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjanind3: Share of people aged 65 or over (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 17aa0d08ab9c…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_fagec3: Live births (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cfda9b5f4ebd…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset reg_area3: Area, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 75302b0aafe9…)
- Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS): Angebot der Krankenhäuser nach Grossregion, Kanton und Betriebstyp, 2010-2024 (Krankenhausstatistik, px-x-1404010100_102), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 48e34cd9539b…)
- Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS): Kantonale Parlamentswahlen: Mandatsverteilung nach Parteien, Geschlecht und Kantonen (elections counted up to 4 October 2026), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fd812b0d11ac…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_gind3: Population change: demographic balance and crude rates by NUTS 3 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7548e948e15c…)
- Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS): Kantonale Regierungswahlen: Mandatsverteilung nach Partei und Kanton (T 17.02.06.01, elections counted up to 18 October 2026), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b0f5f46a4367…)
- Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF): Detaillierte Daten FS und GFS Modell: Standardauswertungen (financial statistics of the Confederation, cantons, communes and social insurance, 1990-2024; standardauswertung.csv with its codelist, saved zipped), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5fec658d1506…)
- Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS): WSH: Unterstützungseinheiten, Sozialhilfebeziehende und Sozialhilfequote der wirtschaftlichen Sozialhilfe nach Kanton, 2005-2024 (T 13.05.01.01.01), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 12ff5cd56e28…)
- 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…)
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