Affoltern im Emmental: population and statistics
Affoltern im Emmental has a population of 1,224 (2025) across 11.5 km², or 106 people per km². It ranks 1,311 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +5.6% between 2015 and 2025.
- 1,224 residents
- 11.5 km²
- 106 people/km²
- 768 m
Key points
Among the 335 municipalities in Bern, Affoltern im Emmental ranks No. 177 by population.
Share of foreign nationals: 4.2% in Affoltern im Emmental, compared with an average of 18.6% in Bern and 27.7% nationally.
Wood heating systems: 46.9% in Affoltern im Emmental, compared with an average of 14.7% in Bern and 9.3% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,212 kWh a year here.
Affoltern im Emmental in numbers
Where is Affoltern im Emmental?
Population of Affoltern im Emmental over time
Affoltern im Emmental had 1,159 residents in 2015 and 1,224 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,125 |
| 2021 | 1,156 |
| 2022 | 1,181 |
| 2023 | 1,211 |
| 2024 | 1,211 |
| 2025 | 1,224 |
Did you know?
- “Share of foreign nationals”: lower than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Wood heating systems”: higher than in 95% of municipalities.
- “Dwellings in buildings built before 1946”: higher than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 1,611 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.2 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Sumiswald (5,234 residents), 3.3 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,848 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Affoltern im Emmental
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 | Affoltern im Emmental | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 25.2% | 22.7% | 20.7% | ranked 266 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Affoltern im Emmental | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 646 | 599,633 | 4,927,050 | ranked 1,335 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 49.9% | 29.0% | 23.3% | ranked 117 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 9.0% | 17.2% | 25.3% | ranked 1,706 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 59.5% | 54.1% | 69.5% | ranked 1,383 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Affoltern im Emmental | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 34.4% | 60.7% | 53.5% | ranked 1,539 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 8.0% | 14.3% | 13.7% | ranked 1,408 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 46.9% | 14.7% | 12.4% | ranked 83 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 3.4% | 5.7% | 1.4% | ranked 600 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 71 | 40,598 | 329,600 | ranked 1,339 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,789 kW | 999.1 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 327 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 20.8 GWh/year | 9,185 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 984 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 16,977 kWh/inh. | 8,535 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 163 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Affoltern im Emmental | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 123 | 80,971 | 728,011 | ranked 1,105 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 57 | 67,347 | 762,757 | ranked 1,512 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 46.6 | 62.6 | 64.9 | ranked 1,625 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 56.1% | 64.8% | 65.7% | ranked 1,573 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 35.1% | 29.2% | 29.0% | ranked 389 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Affoltern im Emmental | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 515 | 677,492 | 5,679,518 | ranked 1,154 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 420.8 | 629.6 | 362.9 | ranked 700 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 40.4% | 70.3% | 63.6% | ranked 1,594 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 30.9% | 22.5% | 24.2% | ranked 589 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Affoltern im Emmental | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 4.2% | 18.6% | 18.9% | ranked 1,781 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Affoltern im Emmental
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Affoltern im Emmental?
Affoltern im Emmental has 1,224 residents (2025), ranking 1,311 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Affoltern im Emmental?
Affoltern im Emmental covers 11.5 km², with a density of 106 people per km².
Is the population of Affoltern im Emmental growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Affoltern im Emmental went from 1,159 to 1,224, a change of +5.6%.
Where is Affoltern im Emmental?
Affoltern im Emmental is in Bern. It belongs to Verwaltungskreis Emmental (district). Latitude 47.050, longitude 7.717.
Share of foreign nationals: what is the figure for Affoltern im Emmental?
In Affoltern im Emmental, “Share of foreign nationals” stands at 4.2% (2025), ranking 1,781 of 1,811 municipalities; the national median is 18.9%.
Wood heating systems: what is the figure for Affoltern im Emmental?
In Affoltern im Emmental, “Wood heating systems” stands at 46.9% (2026), ranking 83 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 12.4%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Affoltern im Emmental?
In Affoltern im Emmental, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,212 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Affoltern im Emmental?
The nearest to Affoltern im Emmental are Sumiswald (3.3 km), Trachselwald (4.0 km), Rüegsau (4.5 km), Heimiswil (4.6 km), Lützelflüh (5.0 km).