Alpnach: population and statistics
Alpnach has a population of 6,594 (2025) across 53.8 km², or 123 people per km². It ranks 313 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +11.6% between 2015 and 2025.
- 6,594 residents
- 53.8 km²
- 123 people/km²
- 455 m
Key points
Among the 7 municipalities in Obwalden, Alpnach ranks No. 2 by population.
District heating: 26.1% in Alpnach, compared with an average of 15.3% in Obwalden and 7.3% nationally.
Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities: 80.6% in Alpnach, compared with an average of 79.2% in Obwalden and 68.6% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,180 kWh a year here.
Alpnach in numbers
Where is Alpnach?
Population of Alpnach over time
Alpnach had 5,908 residents in 2015 and 6,594 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 6,109 |
| 2021 | 6,125 |
| 2022 | 6,222 |
| 2023 | 6,379 |
| 2024 | 6,511 |
| 2025 | 6,594 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Obwalden for “District heating”.
- “District heating”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Share of single-family houses among residential buildings”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 7,532 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Kerns, 4.2 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Sarnen (10,906 residents), 5.2 km away.
All indicators for Alpnach
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 | Alpnach | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 19.2% | 22.2% | 20.7% | ranked 1,174 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Alpnach | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 3,155 | 23,369 | 4,927,050 | ranked 347 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 15.2% | 19.9% | 23.3% | ranked 1,344 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 34.5% | 27.3% | 25.3% | ranked 358 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 47.0% | 48.5% | 69.5% | ranked 1,689 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Alpnach | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 22.6% | 30.1% | 53.5% | ranked 1,726 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 20.9% | 15.9% | 13.7% | ranked 529 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 22.2% | 27.2% | 12.4% | ranked 451 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 26.1% | 15.3% | 1.4% | ranked 44 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 188 | 1,394 | 329,600 | ranked 567 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,224 kW | 1,087 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 805 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 51.6 GWh/year | 342.1 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 305 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 7,827 kWh/inh. | 8,580 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,211 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Alpnach | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 504 | 3,807 | 728,011 | ranked 278 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 603 | 4,256 | 762,757 | ranked 240 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 91.4 | 106.7 | 64.9 | ranked 280 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 80.6% | 79.2% | 65.7% | ranked 46 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 15.4% | 16.1% | 29.0% | ranked 1,745 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Alpnach | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 3,432 | 23,792 | 5,679,518 | ranked 290 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 520.5 | 596.6 | 362.9 | ranked 452 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 61.7% | 61.9% | 63.6% | ranked 966 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 33.0% | 29.8% | 24.2% | ranked 516 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Alpnach | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 18.7% | 17.4% | 18.9% | ranked 917 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Alpnach
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Alpnach?
Alpnach has 6,594 residents (2025), ranking 313 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Alpnach?
Alpnach covers 53.8 km², with a density of 123 people per km².
Is the population of Alpnach growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Alpnach went from 5,908 to 6,594, a change of +11.6%.
Where is Alpnach?
Alpnach is in Obwalden. It belongs to Kanton Obwalden (district). Latitude 46.940, longitude 8.273.
District heating: what is the figure for Alpnach?
In Alpnach, “District heating” stands at 26.1% (2026), ranking 44 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 1.4%.
Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities: what is the figure for Alpnach?
In Alpnach, “Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities” stands at 80.6% (2026), ranking 46 of 1,808 municipalities; the national median is 65.7%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Alpnach?
In Alpnach, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,180 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Alpnach?
The nearest to Alpnach are Kerns (4.2 km), Sarnen (5.2 km), Ennetmoos (5.2 km), Hergiswil (NW) (5.8 km), Stansstad (6.7 km).