Herisau: population and statistics
Herisau has a population of 16,100 (2025) across 25.2 km², or 639 people per km². It ranks 88 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +2.4% between 2015 and 2025.
- 16,100 residents
- 25.2 km²
- 639 people/km²
- 787 m
Key points
Among the 20 municipalities in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Herisau ranks No. 1 by population.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 38° generates about 1,112 kWh a year here.
Herisau in numbers
Where is Herisau?
Population of Herisau over time
Herisau had 15,721 residents in 2015 and 16,100 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 15,649 |
| 2021 | 15,679 |
| 2022 | 15,744 |
| 2023 | 15,893 |
| 2024 | 15,943 |
| 2025 | 16,100 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Appenzell Ausserrhoden for “Population”.
- Number 1 in Appenzell Ausserrhoden for “Population density”.
- “Entities listed in the commercial register”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Photovoltaic installations”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Dwellings”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 3,529 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.7 times the national average.
All indicators for Herisau
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 | Herisau | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 21.4% | 22.2% | 20.7% | ranked 793 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Herisau | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 8,847 | 30,688 | 4,927,050 | ranked 79 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 35.5% | 42.4% | 23.3% | ranked 401 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 14.9% | 17.2% | 25.3% | ranked 1,524 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 57.8% | 70.0% | 69.5% | ranked 1,454 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Herisau | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 71.2% | 57.6% | 53.5% | ranked 319 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 10.1% | 9.6% | 13.7% | ranked 1,230 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 14.9% | 24.8% | 12.4% | ranked 772 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 0.5% | 3.9% | 1.4% | ranked 1,211 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 584 | 3,749 | 329,600 | ranked 58 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 948.8 kW | 1,459 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 1,173 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 91.5 GWh/year | 428.0 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 104 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 5,682 kWh/inh. | 7,480 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,576 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Herisau | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 1,339 | 4,973 | 728,011 | ranked 73 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 1,968 | 5,736 | 762,757 | ranked 50 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 122.2 | 100.2 | 64.9 | ranked 95 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 77.5% | 74.8% | 65.7% | ranked 103 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 18.1% | 20.8% | 29.0% | ranked 1,671 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Herisau | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 10,230 | 28,993 | 5,679,518 | ranked 92 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 635.4 | 506.7 | 362.9 | ranked 266 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 69.9% | 68.9% | 63.6% | ranked 659 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 28.5% | 24.5% | 24.2% | ranked 689 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Herisau | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 26.1% | 18.2% | 18.9% | ranked 478 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Herisau
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Herisau?
Herisau has 16,100 residents (2025), ranking 88 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Herisau?
Herisau covers 25.2 km², with a density of 639 people per km².
Is the population of Herisau growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Herisau went from 15,721 to 16,100, a change of +2.4%.
Where is Herisau?
Herisau is in Appenzell Ausserrhoden. It belongs to Bezirk Hinterland (district). Latitude 47.385, longitude 9.279.
Entities listed in the commercial register: what is the figure for Herisau?
In Herisau, “Entities listed in the commercial register” stands at 1,968 (2026), ranking 50 of 2,115 municipalities; the national median is 118.
Photovoltaic installations: what is the figure for Herisau?
In Herisau, “Photovoltaic installations” stands at 584 (2026), ranking 58 of 2,108 municipalities; the national median is 103.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Herisau?
In Herisau, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 38° produces about 1,112 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Herisau?
The nearest to Herisau are Waldstatt (3.1 km), Hundwil (3.8 km), Gossau (SG) (4.1 km), Schwellbrunn (4.3 km), Stein (AR) (5.1 km).