Heiden: population and statistics
Heiden has a population of 4,413 (2025) across 7.5 km², or 588 people per km². It ranks 510 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +6.3% between 2015 and 2025.
- 4,413 residents
- 7.5 km²
- 588 people/km²
- 801 m
Key points
Among the 20 municipalities in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Heiden ranks No. 4 by population.
Dwellings in buildings built before 1946: 40.9% in Heiden, compared with an average of 42.4% in Appenzell Ausserrhoden and 22.4% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,154 kWh a year here.
Heiden in numbers
Where is Heiden?
Population of Heiden over time
Heiden had 4,151 residents in 2015 and 4,413 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 4,188 |
| 2021 | 4,227 |
| 2022 | 4,225 |
| 2023 | 4,316 |
| 2024 | 4,383 |
| 2025 | 4,413 |
Did you know?
- Its area is roughly equal to 1,050 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.5 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Grub (AR), 1.8 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Rorschacherberg (7,741 residents), 3.7 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,616 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Heiden
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 | Heiden | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 24.5% | 22.2% | 20.7% | ranked 344 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Heiden | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 2,315 | 30,688 | 4,927,050 | ranked 521 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 40.9% | 42.4% | 23.3% | ranked 262 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 19.3% | 17.2% | 25.3% | ranked 1,294 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 69.3% | 70.0% | 69.5% | ranked 915 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Heiden | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 70.8% | 57.6% | 53.5% | ranked 337 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 10.8% | 9.6% | 13.7% | ranked 1,151 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 13.5% | 24.8% | 12.4% | ranked 842 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 3.7% | 3.9% | 1.4% | ranked 564 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 309 | 3,749 | 329,600 | ranked 262 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,412 kW | 1,459 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 626 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 30.8 GWh/year | 428.0 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 651 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 6,986 kWh/inh. | 7,480 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,385 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Heiden | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 363 | 4,973 | 728,011 | ranked 402 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 389 | 5,736 | 762,757 | ranked 387 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 88.1 | 100.2 | 64.9 | ranked 313 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 71.7% | 74.8% | 65.7% | ranked 396 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 21.9% | 20.8% | 29.0% | ranked 1,485 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Heiden | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 2,531 | 28,993 | 5,679,518 | ranked 385 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 573.5 | 506.7 | 362.9 | ranked 347 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 68.2% | 68.9% | 63.6% | ranked 724 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 29.3% | 24.5% | 24.2% | ranked 656 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Heiden | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 23.0% | 18.2% | 18.9% | ranked 624 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Heiden
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Heiden?
Heiden has 4,413 residents (2025), ranking 510 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Heiden?
Heiden covers 7.5 km², with a density of 588 people per km².
Is the population of Heiden growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Heiden went from 4,151 to 4,413, a change of +6.3%.
Where is Heiden?
Heiden is in Appenzell Ausserrhoden. It belongs to Bezirk Vorderland (district). Latitude 47.441, longitude 9.531.
Photovoltaic installations: what is the figure for Heiden?
In Heiden, “Photovoltaic installations” stands at 309 (2026), ranking 262 of 2,108 municipalities; the national median is 103.
Dwellings in buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Heiden?
In Heiden, “Dwellings in buildings built before 1946” stands at 40.9% (2026), ranking 262 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 23.3%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Heiden?
In Heiden, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,154 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Heiden?
The nearest to Heiden are Grub (AR) (1.8 km), Wolfhalden (2.1 km), Oberegg (2.7 km), Rorschacherberg (3.7 km), Thal (3.9 km).