Le Locle: population and statistics
Le Locle has a population of 10,912 (2025) across 23.1 km², or 472 people per km². It ranks 154 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −5.0% between 2015 and 2025.
- 10,912 residents
- 23.1 km²
- 472 people/km²
- 949 m
Key points
Among the 24 municipalities in Neuchâtel, Le Locle ranks No. 5 by population.
Dwellings in buildings built since 2001: 4.4% in Le Locle, compared with an average of 13.2% in Neuchâtel and 24.6% nationally.
Share of jobs in industry and construction: 65.0% in Le Locle, compared with an average of 33.6% in Neuchâtel and 22.0% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 37° generates about 1,140 kWh a year here.
Le Locle in numbers
Where is Le Locle?
Population of Le Locle over time
Le Locle had 11,489 residents in 2015 and 10,912 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 10,878 |
| 2021 | 10,741 |
| 2022 | 10,746 |
| 2023 | 10,875 |
| 2024 | 10,907 |
| 2025 | 10,912 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Neuchâtel for “Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants”.
- “Dwellings in buildings built since 2001”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Share of jobs in industry and construction”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Photovoltaic installations”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 3,241 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.0 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is La Sagne, 4.2 km away.
All indicators for Le Locle
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 | Le Locle | Neuchâtel | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 22.1% | 20.3% | 20.7% | ranked 679 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Le Locle | Neuchâtel | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 6,857 | 101,478 | 4,927,050 | ranked 120 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 45.1% | 37.4% | 23.3% | ranked 175 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 4.4% | 13.2% | 25.3% | ranked 1,790 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 51.8% | 50.9% | 69.5% | ranked 1,621 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Le Locle | Neuchâtel | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 75.9% | 70.4% | 53.5% | ranked 188 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 5.1% | 12.1% | 13.7% | ranked 1,646 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 10.1% | 6.7% | 12.4% | ranked 1,058 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 3.1% | 7.0% | 1.4% | ranked 630 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 399 | 8,151 | 329,600 | ranked 152 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 882.0 kW | 1,016 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 1,269 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 74.6 GWh/year | 1,237 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 166 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 6,833 kWh/inh. | 6,860 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,417 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Le Locle | Neuchâtel | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 780 | 14,545 | 728,011 | ranked 165 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 692 | 13,092 | 762,757 | ranked 201 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 63.4 | 72.6 | 64.9 | ranked 962 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 66.6% | 68.7% | 65.7% | ranked 835 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 28.8% | 25.0% | 29.0% | ranked 915 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Le Locle | Neuchâtel | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 9,081 | 113,631 | 5,679,518 | ranked 101 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 832.2 | 630.0 | 362.9 | ranked 129 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 33.9% | 63.3% | 63.6% | ranked 1,704 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 65.0% | 33.6% | 24.2% | ranked 27 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Le Locle | Neuchâtel | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 32.8% | 27.3% | 18.9% | ranked 198 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Le Locle
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Le Locle?
Le Locle has 10,912 residents (2025), ranking 154 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Le Locle?
Le Locle covers 23.1 km², with a density of 472 people per km².
Is the population of Le Locle growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Le Locle went from 11,489 to 10,912, a change of −5.0%.
Where is Le Locle?
Le Locle is in Neuchâtel. It belongs to Canton de Neuchâtel (district). Latitude 47.053, longitude 6.748.
Dwellings in buildings built since 2001: what is the figure for Le Locle?
In Le Locle, “Dwellings in buildings built since 2001” stands at 4.4% (2026), ranking 1,790 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 25.3%.
Share of jobs in industry and construction: what is the figure for Le Locle?
In Le Locle, “Share of jobs in industry and construction” stands at 65.0% (2024), ranking 27 of 1,776 municipalities; the national median is 24.2%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Le Locle?
In Le Locle, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 37° produces about 1,140 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Le Locle?
The nearest to Le Locle are La Sagne (4.2 km), La Chaux-du-Milieu (5.5 km), Les Planchettes (6.4 km), Les Ponts-de-Martel (6.5 km), Le Cerneux-Péquignot (7.4 km).