Wald (AR): population and statistics
Wald (AR) has a population of 916 (2025) across 6.8 km², or 134 people per km². It ranks 1,513 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +8.5% between 2015 and 2025.
- 916 residents
- 6.8 km²
- 134 people/km²
- 958 m
Key points
Among the 20 municipalities in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Wald (AR) ranks No. 18 by population.
Dwellings in buildings built before 1946: 59.7% in Wald (AR), compared with an average of 42.4% in Appenzell Ausserrhoden and 22.4% nationally.
Wood heating systems: 42.8% in Wald (AR), compared with an average of 24.8% in Appenzell Ausserrhoden and 9.3% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 40° generates about 1,153 kWh a year here.
Wald (AR) in numbers
Where is Wald (AR)?
Population of Wald (AR) over time
Wald (AR) had 844 residents in 2015 and 916 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 882 |
| 2021 | 892 |
| 2022 | 914 |
| 2023 | 909 |
| 2024 | 929 |
| 2025 | 916 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Appenzell Ausserrhoden for “Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities”.
- “Dwellings in buildings built before 1946”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Wood heating systems”: higher than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 955 football pitches.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Rehetobel (1,710 residents), 1.5 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,612 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Wald (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 | Wald (AR) | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 22.1% | 22.2% | 20.7% | ranked 687 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Wald (AR) | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 516 | 30,688 | 4,927,050 | ranked 1,484 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 59.7% | 42.4% | 23.3% | ranked 38 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 10.5% | 17.2% | 25.3% | ranked 1,666 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 81.2% | 70.0% | 69.5% | ranked 169 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Wald (AR) | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 47.5% | 57.6% | 53.5% | ranked 1,126 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 5.3% | 9.6% | 13.7% | ranked 1,640 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 42.8% | 24.8% | 12.4% | ranked 104 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 1.9% | 3.9% | 1.4% | ranked 801 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 92 | 3,749 | 329,600 | ranked 1,156 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 2,086 kW | 1,459 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 191 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 9.1 GWh/year | 428.0 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 1,613 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 9,967 kWh/inh. | 7,480 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 797 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Wald (AR) | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 103 | 4,973 | 728,011 | ranked 1,236 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 81 | 5,736 | 762,757 | ranked 1,300 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 88.4 | 100.2 | 64.9 | ranked 312 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 64.2% | 74.8% | 65.7% | ranked 1,038 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 34.6% | 20.8% | 29.0% | ranked 429 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Wald (AR) | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 336 | 28,993 | 5,679,518 | ranked 1,372 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 366.8 | 506.7 | 362.9 | ranked 890 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 44.9% | 68.9% | 63.6% | ranked 1,480 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 37.2% | 24.5% | 24.2% | ranked 369 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Wald (AR) | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 13.3% | 18.2% | 18.9% | ranked 1,309 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Wald (AR)
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Wald (AR)?
Wald (AR) has 916 residents (2025), ranking 1,513 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Wald (AR)?
Wald (AR) covers 6.8 km², with a density of 134 people per km².
Is the population of Wald (AR) growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Wald (AR) went from 844 to 916, a change of +8.5%.
Where is Wald (AR)?
Wald (AR) is in Appenzell Ausserrhoden. It belongs to Bezirk Vorderland (district). Latitude 47.416, longitude 9.490.
Dwellings in buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Wald (AR)?
In Wald (AR), “Dwellings in buildings built before 1946” stands at 59.7% (2026), ranking 38 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 23.3%.
Wood heating systems: what is the figure for Wald (AR)?
In Wald (AR), “Wood heating systems” stands at 42.8% (2026), ranking 104 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 12.4%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Wald (AR)?
In Wald (AR), a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 40° produces about 1,153 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Wald (AR)?
The nearest to Wald (AR) are Rehetobel (1.5 km), Trogen (2.1 km), Speicher (3.6 km), Grub (AR) (3.9 km), Heiden (4.2 km).