Oberthal: population and statistics
Oberthal has a population of 710 (2025) across 10.5 km², or 67.4 people per km². It ranks 1,650 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −3.9% between 2015 and 2025.
- 710 residents
- 10.5 km²
- 67 people/km²
- 836 m
Key points
Among the 335 municipalities in Bern, Oberthal ranks No. 229 by population.
Share of foreign nationals: 1.7% in Oberthal, compared with an average of 18.6% in Bern and 27.7% nationally.
Wood heating systems: 69.5% in Oberthal, compared with an average of 14.7% in Bern and 9.3% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,209 kWh a year here.
Oberthal in numbers
Where is Oberthal?
Population of Oberthal over time
Oberthal had 739 residents in 2015 and 710 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 721 |
| 2021 | 733 |
| 2022 | 727 |
| 2023 | 717 |
| 2024 | 706 |
| 2025 | 710 |
Did you know?
- “Share of foreign nationals”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Wood heating systems”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Dwellings in buildings built since 2001”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 1,476 football pitches.
- Its population density is 3.4 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Zäziwil (1,665 residents), 1.8 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,836 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Oberthal
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 | Oberthal | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 22.8% | 22.7% | 20.7% | ranked 560 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Oberthal | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 378 | 599,633 | 4,927,050 | ranked 1,664 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 49.2% | 29.0% | 23.3% | ranked 128 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 5.0% | 17.2% | 25.3% | ranked 1,784 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 58.6% | 54.1% | 69.5% | ranked 1,422 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Oberthal | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 15.9% | 60.7% | 53.5% | ranked 1,782 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 4.9% | 14.3% | 13.7% | ranked 1,663 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 69.5% | 14.7% | 12.4% | ranked 8 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 0.4% | 5.7% | 1.4% | ranked 1,281 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 38 | 40,598 | 329,600 | ranked 1,714 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,347 kW | 999.1 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 665 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 12.3 GWh/year | 9,185 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 1,401 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 17,282 kWh/inh. | 8,535 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 155 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Oberthal | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 87 | 80,971 | 728,011 | ranked 1,352 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 38 | 67,347 | 762,757 | ranked 1,713 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 53.5 | 62.6 | 64.9 | ranked 1,392 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 68.4% | 64.8% | 65.7% | ranked 643 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 21.1% | 29.2% | 29.0% | ranked 1,537 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Oberthal | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 322 | 677,492 | 5,679,518 | ranked 1,394 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 453.5 | 629.6 | 362.9 | ranked 600 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 51.2% | 70.3% | 63.6% | ranked 1,309 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 8.1% | 22.5% | 24.2% | ranked 1,635 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Oberthal | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 1.7% | 18.6% | 18.9% | ranked 1,810 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Oberthal
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Oberthal?
Oberthal has 710 residents (2025), ranking 1,650 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Oberthal?
Oberthal covers 10.5 km², with a density of 67 people per km².
Is the population of Oberthal growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Oberthal went from 739 to 710, a change of −3.9%.
Where is Oberthal?
Oberthal is in Bern. It belongs to Verwaltungskreis Bern-Mittelland (district). Latitude 46.916, longitude 7.666.
Share of foreign nationals: what is the figure for Oberthal?
In Oberthal, “Share of foreign nationals” stands at 1.7% (2025), ranking 1,810 of 1,811 municipalities; the national median is 18.9%.
Wood heating systems: what is the figure for Oberthal?
In Oberthal, “Wood heating systems” stands at 69.5% (2026), ranking 8 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 12.4%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Oberthal?
In Oberthal, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,209 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Oberthal?
The nearest to Oberthal are Zäziwil (1.8 km), Arni (BE) (2.0 km), Mirchel (2.8 km), Grosshöchstetten (3.1 km), Biglen (3.3 km).