Oberbalm: population and statistics
Oberbalm has a population of 856 (2025) across 12.4 km², or 69.1 people per km². It ranks 1,553 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −3.1% between 2015 and 2025.
- 856 residents
- 12.4 km²
- 69 people/km²
- 795 m
Key points
Among the 335 municipalities in Bern, Oberbalm ranks No. 216 by population.
Share of jobs in services: 21.6% in Oberbalm, compared with an average of 70.3% in Bern and 73.4% nationally.
Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities: 37.9% in Oberbalm, compared with an average of 64.8% in Bern and 68.6% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 38° generates about 1,230 kWh a year here.
Oberbalm in numbers
Where is Oberbalm?
Population of Oberbalm over time
Oberbalm had 883 residents in 2015 and 856 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 866 |
| 2021 | 861 |
| 2022 | 856 |
| 2023 | 870 |
| 2024 | 865 |
| 2025 | 856 |
Did you know?
- “Share of jobs in services”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Share of foreign nationals”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 1,735 football pitches.
- Its population density is 3.4 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Niedermuhlern, 4.9 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Köniz (43,923 residents), 5.8 km away.
All indicators for Oberbalm
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 | Oberbalm | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 24.3% | 22.7% | 20.7% | ranked 362 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Oberbalm | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 462 | 599,633 | 4,927,050 | ranked 1,570 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 56.5% | 29.0% | 23.3% | ranked 57 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 4.8% | 17.2% | 25.3% | ranked 1,789 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 49.6% | 54.1% | 69.5% | ranked 1,652 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Oberbalm | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 22.9% | 60.7% | 53.5% | ranked 1,721 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 4.2% | 14.3% | 13.7% | ranked 1,712 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 66.2% | 14.7% | 12.4% | ranked 12 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 3.8% | 5.7% | 1.4% | ranked 557 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 52 | 40,598 | 329,600 | ranked 1,543 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,396 kW | 999.1 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 638 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 15.3 GWh/year | 9,185 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 1,230 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 17,827 kWh/inh. | 8,535 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 137 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Oberbalm | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 93 | 80,971 | 728,011 | ranked 1,305 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 29 | 67,347 | 762,757 | ranked 1,816 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 33.9 | 62.6 | 64.9 | ranked 1,798 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 37.9% | 64.8% | 65.7% | ranked 1,800 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 44.8% | 29.2% | 29.0% | ranked 66 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Oberbalm | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 287 | 677,492 | 5,679,518 | ranked 1,442 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 335.3 | 629.6 | 362.9 | ranked 1,009 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 21.6% | 70.3% | 63.6% | ranked 1,795 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 22.3% | 22.5% | 24.2% | ranked 972 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Oberbalm | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 3.4% | 18.6% | 18.9% | ranked 1,791 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Oberbalm
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Oberbalm?
Oberbalm has 856 residents (2025), ranking 1,553 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Oberbalm?
Oberbalm covers 12.4 km², with a density of 69 people per km².
Is the population of Oberbalm growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Oberbalm went from 883 to 856, a change of −3.1%.
Where is Oberbalm?
Oberbalm is in Bern. It belongs to Verwaltungskreis Bern-Mittelland (district). Latitude 46.873, longitude 7.404.
Share of jobs in services: what is the figure for Oberbalm?
In Oberbalm, “Share of jobs in services” stands at 21.6% (2024), ranking 1,795 of 1,804 municipalities; the national median is 63.6%.
Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities: what is the figure for Oberbalm?
In Oberbalm, “Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities” stands at 37.9% (2026), ranking 1,800 of 1,808 municipalities; the national median is 65.7%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Oberbalm?
In Oberbalm, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 38° produces about 1,230 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Oberbalm?
The nearest to Oberbalm are Niedermuhlern (4.9 km), Wald (BE) (5.3 km), Köniz (5.8 km), Ueberstorf (5.9 km), Rüeggisberg (6.3 km).