Sonvilier: population and statistics
Sonvilier has a population of 1,229 (2025) across 23.8 km², or 51.7 people per km². It ranks 1,308 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −2.2% between 2015 and 2025.
- 1,229 residents
- 23.8 km²
- 52 people/km²
- 801 m
Key points
Among the 335 municipalities in Bern, Sonvilier ranks No. 176 by population.
Dwellings in buildings built before 1946: 60.7% in Sonvilier, compared with an average of 29.0% in Bern and 22.4% nationally.
Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants: 41.5 in Sonvilier, compared with an average of 62.6 in Bern and 83.6 nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 36° generates about 1,164 kWh a year here.
Sonvilier in numbers
Where is Sonvilier?
Population of Sonvilier over time
Sonvilier had 1,257 residents in 2015 and 1,229 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,223 |
| 2021 | 1,210 |
| 2022 | 1,210 |
| 2023 | 1,199 |
| 2024 | 1,221 |
| 2025 | 1,229 |
Did you know?
- “Dwellings in buildings built before 1946”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 96% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 3,331 football pitches.
- Its population density is 4.5 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Saint-Imier (5,144 residents), 3.0 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,656 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Sonvilier
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 | Sonvilier | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 16.2% | 22.7% | 20.7% | ranked 1,612 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Sonvilier | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 731 | 599,633 | 4,927,050 | ranked 1,248 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 60.7% | 29.0% | 23.3% | ranked 32 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 6.0% | 17.2% | 25.3% | ranked 1,763 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 62.3% | 54.1% | 69.5% | ranked 1,276 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Sonvilier | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 60.5% | 60.7% | 53.5% | ranked 674 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 7.5% | 14.3% | 13.7% | ranked 1,463 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 29.2% | 14.7% | 12.4% | ranked 271 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 0.3% | 5.7% | 1.4% | ranked 1,383 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 76 | 40,598 | 329,600 | ranked 1,292 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,291 kW | 999.1 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 720 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 17.9 GWh/year | 9,185 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 1,105 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 14,605 kWh/inh. | 8,535 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 276 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Sonvilier | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 108 | 80,971 | 728,011 | ranked 1,201 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 51 | 67,347 | 762,757 | ranked 1,574 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 41.5 | 62.6 | 64.9 | ranked 1,737 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 54.9% | 64.8% | 65.7% | ranked 1,607 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 41.2% | 29.2% | 29.0% | ranked 135 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Sonvilier | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 308 | 677,492 | 5,679,518 | ranked 1,412 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 250.6 | 629.6 | 362.9 | ranked 1,362 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 53.2% | 70.3% | 63.6% | ranked 1,256 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 11.7% | 22.5% | 24.2% | ranked 1,485 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Sonvilier | Bern | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 12.0% | 18.6% | 18.9% | ranked 1,408 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Sonvilier
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sonvilier?
Sonvilier has 1,229 residents (2025), ranking 1,308 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Sonvilier?
Sonvilier covers 23.8 km², with a density of 52 people per km².
Is the population of Sonvilier growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Sonvilier went from 1,257 to 1,229, a change of −2.2%.
Where is Sonvilier?
Sonvilier is in Bern. It belongs to Arrondissement administratif Jura bernois (district). Latitude 47.139, longitude 6.965.
Dwellings in buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Sonvilier?
In Sonvilier, “Dwellings in buildings built before 1946” stands at 60.7% (2026), ranking 32 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 23.3%.
Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Sonvilier?
In Sonvilier, “Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 41.5 (2026), ranking 1,737 of 1,811 municipalities; the national median is 64.9.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Sonvilier?
In Sonvilier, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 36° produces about 1,164 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Sonvilier?
The nearest to Sonvilier are Saint-Imier (3.0 km), Renan (BE) (3.3 km), Villeret (4.7 km), La Ferrière (4.9 km), Les Bois (6.9 km).