Gais: population and statistics
Gais has a population of 3,150 (2025) across 21.2 km², or 148 people per km². It ranks 694 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +2.5% between 2015 and 2025.
- 3,150 residents
- 21.2 km²
- 148 people/km²
- 915 m
Key points
Among the 20 municipalities in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Gais ranks No. 5 by population.
Dwellings in buildings built before 1946: 47.7% in Gais, compared with an average of 42.4% in Appenzell Ausserrhoden and 22.4% nationally.
Heat pumps as main heating: 5.9% in Gais, compared with an average of 9.6% in Appenzell Ausserrhoden and 15.5% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 40° generates about 1,158 kWh a year here.
Gais in numbers
Where is Gais?
Population of Gais over time
Gais had 3,073 residents in 2015 and 3,150 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3,066 |
| 2021 | 3,098 |
| 2022 | 3,116 |
| 2023 | 3,147 |
| 2024 | 3,134 |
| 2025 | 3,150 |
Did you know?
- “Dwellings in buildings built before 1946”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 2,971 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Bühler, 2.6 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Appenzell (6,191 residents), 4.0 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,632 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Gais
Value for the municipality, then the regional average and the national median (for counts: regional and national totals). The gauge places the municipality between the lowest and highest value in the country.
Population
| Indicator | Gais | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 23.3% | 22.2% | 20.7% | ranked 480 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Gais | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 1,677 | 30,688 | 4,927,050 | ranked 709 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 47.7% | 42.4% | 23.3% | ranked 145 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 19.9% | 17.2% | 25.3% | ranked 1,253 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 73.6% | 70.0% | 69.5% | ranked 636 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Gais | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 46.7% | 57.6% | 53.5% | ranked 1,150 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 5.9% | 9.6% | 13.7% | ranked 1,599 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 33.3% | 24.8% | 12.4% | ranked 203 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 9.0% | 3.9% | 1.4% | ranked 270 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 287 | 3,749 | 329,600 | ranked 293 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 2,002 kW | 1,459 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 226 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 28.4 GWh/year | 428.0 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 720 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 9,029 kWh/inh. | 7,480 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 971 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Gais | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 299 | 4,973 | 728,011 | ranked 514 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 292 | 5,736 | 762,757 | ranked 520 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 92.7 | 100.2 | 64.9 | ranked 261 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 75.0% | 74.8% | 65.7% | ranked 190 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 21.6% | 20.8% | 29.0% | ranked 1,504 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Gais | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 1,493 | 28,993 | 5,679,518 | ranked 621 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 474.0 | 506.7 | 362.9 | ranked 550 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 72.5% | 68.9% | 63.6% | ranked 565 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 21.1% | 24.5% | 24.2% | ranked 1,036 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Gais | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 13.7% | 18.2% | 18.9% | ranked 1,281 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Gais
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Gais?
Gais has 3,150 residents (2025), ranking 694 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Gais?
Gais covers 21.2 km², with a density of 148 people per km².
Is the population of Gais growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Gais went from 3,073 to 3,150, a change of +2.5%.
Where is Gais?
Gais is in Appenzell Ausserrhoden. It belongs to Bezirk Mittelland (district). Latitude 47.361, longitude 9.451.
Dwellings in buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Gais?
In Gais, “Dwellings in buildings built before 1946” stands at 47.7% (2026), ranking 145 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 23.3%.
Heat pumps as main heating: what is the figure for Gais?
In Gais, “Heat pumps as main heating” stands at 5.9% (2026), ranking 1,599 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 13.7%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Gais?
In Gais, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 40° produces about 1,158 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Gais?
The nearest to Gais are Bühler (2.6 km), Appenzell (4.0 km), Schlatt-Haslen (4.2 km), Schwende-Rüte (4.7 km), Trogen (5.3 km).