Biel/Bienne: population and statistics
Biel/Bienne has a population of 57,462 (2025) across 21.2 km², or 2,712 people per km². It ranks 10 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +6.1% between 2015 and 2025.
- 57,462 residents
- 21.2 km²
- 2,712 people/km²
- 440 m
Key points
Among the 335 municipalities in Bern, Biel/Bienne ranks No. 2 by population.
Oil or gas heating systems: 85.9% in Biel/Bienne, compared with an average of 60.7% in Bern and 61.7% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 37° generates about 1,223 kWh a year here.
Biel/Bienne in numbers
Where is Biel/Bienne?
Population of Biel/Bienne over time
Biel/Bienne had 54,163 residents in 2015 and 57,462 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 55,206 |
| 2021 | 55,140 |
| 2022 | 55,070 |
| 2023 | 55,932 |
| 2024 | 56,896 |
| 2025 | 57,462 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Bern for “Oil or gas heating systems”.
- “Dwellings”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Oil or gas heating systems”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Establishments”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 2,968 football pitches.
- Its population density is 11.7 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Nidau, 1.4 km away.
All indicators for Biel/Bienne
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 | Biel/Bienne | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 18.6% | 22.7% | 20.7% | ranked 1,297 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Biel/Bienne | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 32,718 | 599,633 | 4,927,050 | ranked 10 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 31.4% | 29.0% | 23.3% | ranked 540 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 14.5% | 17.2% | 25.3% | ranked 1,544 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 31.8% | 54.1% | 69.5% | ranked 1,777 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Biel/Bienne | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 85.9% | 60.7% | 53.5% | ranked 25 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 7.1% | 14.3% | 13.7% | ranked 1,494 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 2.0% | 14.7% | 12.4% | ranked 1,702 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 3.8% | 5.7% | 1.4% | ranked 548 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 674 | 40,598 | 329,600 | ranked 43 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 468.8 kW | 999.1 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 1,692 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 254.3 GWh/year | 9,185 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 12 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 4,426 kWh/inh. | 8,535 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,731 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Biel/Bienne | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 4,518 | 80,971 | 728,011 | ranked 12 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 3,929 | 67,347 | 762,757 | ranked 17 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 68.4 | 62.6 | 64.9 | ranked 773 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 66.4% | 64.8% | 65.7% | ranked 844 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 27.3% | 29.2% | 29.0% | ranked 1,049 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Biel/Bienne | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 44,244 | 677,492 | 5,679,518 | ranked 12 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 770.0 | 629.6 | 362.9 | ranked 152 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 75.5% | 70.3% | 63.6% | ranked 459 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 24.5% | 22.5% | 24.2% | ranked 877 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Biel/Bienne | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 35.2% | 18.6% | 18.9% | ranked 148 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Biel/Bienne
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Biel/Bienne?
Biel/Bienne has 57,462 residents (2025), ranking 10 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Biel/Bienne?
Biel/Bienne covers 21.2 km², with a density of 2,712 people per km².
Is the population of Biel/Bienne growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Biel/Bienne went from 54,163 to 57,462, a change of +6.1%.
Where is Biel/Bienne?
Biel/Bienne is in Bern. It belongs to Verwaltungskreis Biel/Bienne (district). Latitude 47.137, longitude 7.247.
Dwellings: what is the figure for Biel/Bienne?
In Biel/Bienne, “Dwellings” stands at 32,718 (2026), ranking 10 of 2,108 municipalities; the national median is 990.
Oil or gas heating systems: what is the figure for Biel/Bienne?
In Biel/Bienne, “Oil or gas heating systems” stands at 85.9% (2026), ranking 25 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 53.5%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Biel/Bienne?
In Biel/Bienne, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 37° produces about 1,223 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Biel/Bienne?
The nearest to Biel/Bienne are Nidau (1.4 km), Evilard (1.7 km), Port (2.3 km), Ipsach (2.5 km), Brügg (2.9 km).