Stein (AR): population and statistics
Stein (AR) has a population of 1,492 (2025) across 9.4 km², or 159 people per km². It ranks 1,170 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +6.1% between 2015 and 2025.
- 1,492 residents
- 9.4 km²
- 159 people/km²
- 819 m
Key points
Among the 20 municipalities in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Stein (AR) ranks No. 14 by population.
District heating: 0.0% in Stein (AR), compared with an average of 3.9% in Appenzell Ausserrhoden and 7.3% nationally.
Dwellings in buildings built before 1946: 52.6% in Stein (AR), compared with an average of 42.4% in Appenzell Ausserrhoden and 22.4% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 40° generates about 1,125 kWh a year here.
Stein (AR) in numbers
Where is Stein (AR)?
Population of Stein (AR) over time
Stein (AR) had 1,406 residents in 2015 and 1,492 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,388 |
| 2021 | 1,397 |
| 2022 | 1,437 |
| 2023 | 1,498 |
| 2024 | 1,497 |
| 2025 | 1,492 |
Did you know?
- “District heating”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Dwellings in buildings built before 1946”: higher than in 95% of municipalities.
- “Share of foreign nationals”: lower than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 1,312 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Hundwil, 2.1 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Teufen (AR) (6,646 residents), 3.9 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,500 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Stein (AR)
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 | Stein (AR) | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 22.5% | 22.2% | 20.7% | ranked 613 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Stein (AR) | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 737 | 30,688 | 4,927,050 | ranked 1,238 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 52.6% | 42.4% | 23.3% | ranked 93 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 21.4% | 17.2% | 25.3% | ranked 1,153 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 79.1% | 70.0% | 69.5% | ranked 268 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Stein (AR) | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 33.5% | 57.6% | 53.5% | ranked 1,556 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 14.4% | 9.6% | 13.7% | ranked 874 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 47.9% | 24.8% | 12.4% | ranked 76 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 0.0% | 3.9% | 1.4% | ranked 1,506 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 137 | 3,749 | 329,600 | ranked 811 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,781 kW | 1,459 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 331 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 15.7 GWh/year | 428.0 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 1,208 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 10,550 kWh/inh. | 7,480 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 714 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Stein (AR) | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 138 | 4,973 | 728,011 | ranked 1,026 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 126 | 5,736 | 762,757 | ranked 1,019 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 84.5 | 100.2 | 64.9 | ranked 365 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 73.0% | 74.8% | 65.7% | ranked 307 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 25.4% | 20.8% | 29.0% | ranked 1,226 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Stein (AR) | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 527 | 28,993 | 5,679,518 | ranked 1,143 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 353.2 | 506.7 | 362.9 | ranked 941 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 60.3% | 68.9% | 63.6% | ranked 1,014 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 23.9% | 24.5% | 24.2% | ranked 901 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Stein (AR) | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 7.6% | 18.2% | 18.9% | ranked 1,664 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Stein (AR)
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Stein (AR)?
Stein (AR) has 1,492 residents (2025), ranking 1,170 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Stein (AR)?
Stein (AR) covers 9.4 km², with a density of 159 people per km².
Is the population of Stein (AR) growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Stein (AR) went from 1,406 to 1,492, a change of +6.1%.
Where is Stein (AR)?
Stein (AR) is in Appenzell Ausserrhoden. It belongs to Bezirk Hinterland (district). Latitude 47.373, longitude 9.344.
District heating: what is the figure for Stein (AR)?
In Stein (AR), “District heating” stands at 0.0% (2026), ranking 1,506 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 1.4%.
Dwellings in buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Stein (AR)?
In Stein (AR), “Dwellings in buildings built before 1946” stands at 52.6% (2026), ranking 93 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 23.3%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Stein (AR)?
In Stein (AR), a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 40° produces about 1,125 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Stein (AR)?
The nearest to Stein (AR) are Hundwil (2.1 km), Teufen (AR) (3.9 km), Schlatt-Haslen (4.3 km), Waldstatt (4.8 km), Gonten (5.0 km).