Obwalden: population, economy and official figures
Obwalden is a canton in Zentralschweiz, Switzerland. Obwalden had 39,662 residents on 1 January 2025, 4.6% of Zentralschweiz and 0.44% of Switzerland; 24th largest of 26 cantons in Switzerland.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Obwalden: The local economy produced €3.0 billion of output (GDP) in 2022.
- Health in Obwalden: Health spending by the cantonal government of Obwalden reached CHF 52.16 million in 2024, CHF 1,315 per resident, 3rd lowest of 26 cantons and 13.4% of cantonal spending.
- Education in Obwalden: In 2024 the cantonal government of Obwalden spent CHF 58.26 million on education, 14.9% of its budget and CHF 1,469 per resident, 2nd lowest of 26 cantons (all cantons: CHF 3,423).
- Poverty and living standards in Obwalden: Social security cost the cantonal government of Obwalden CHF 64.67 million in 2024, or CHF 1,631 per resident, the lowest of 26 cantons; health-insurance premium subsidies and other sickness benefits accounted for CHF 21.62 million of it.
- Government budget and revenue in Obwalden: In 2024 the cantonal government of Obwalden spent CHF 389.90 million in total, or CHF 9,831 per resident, 6th lowest of 26 cantons (all cantons: CHF 12,109 per resident).
- Government and politics in Obwalden: The canton of Obwalden is run by a 5-member cantonal government, elected in 2026, and a 55-seat cantonal parliament, last elected in 2026.
Is the population of Obwalden growing?
That is 7.7% more people than in 2015 (36,834).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow densely populated is Obwalden?
There were 82.6 people per square kilometre in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median age in Obwalden?
The median age was 45.2 years in 2025, against 42.9 for Switzerland; 6th highest of 26 cantons in Switzerland.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow old is the population of Obwalden?
21.4% of residents were 65 or older and 14.7% were under 15 in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Obwalden?
In 2024 there were 314 live births and 290 deaths, a natural increase of 24.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow big is Obwalden?
It covers 491 km².
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the population of Obwalden?
Obwalden had 39,879 permanent residents at the end of 2025, 0.4% of the Swiss population, after growing by 0.55% during the year (Switzerland: 0.84%).
Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copyHow fast is Obwalden growing?
Over ten years, from the end of 2015 to the end of 2025, the population of Obwalden grew by 7.6%, from 37,076 to 39,879.
Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copyAre people moving to Obwalden?
Net migration added 9.3 people per 1,000 residents in 2024, while births minus deaths gave a natural change of +0.6 per 1,000.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- In 2025 Obwalden recorded 298 live births and 305 deaths, a natural decrease of 7, while 1,631 people moved in and 1,398 moved out, a net migration gain of 233. 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 Zentralschweiz
Up a level: Zentralschweiz · 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.