Engelberg: population and statistics
Engelberg has a population of 4,377 (2025) across 74.9 km², or 58.5 people per km². It ranks 516 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +6.8% between 2015 and 2025.
- 4,377 residents
- 74.9 km²
- 58 people/km²
- 1,002 m
Key points
Among the 7 municipalities in Obwalden, Engelberg ranks No. 5 by population.
Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants: 154.0 in Engelberg, compared with an average of 106.7 in Obwalden and 83.6 nationally.
Heat pumps as main heating: 4.3% in Engelberg, compared with an average of 15.9% in Obwalden and 15.5% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 35° generates about 1,079 kWh a year here.
Engelberg in numbers
Where is Engelberg?
Population of Engelberg over time
Engelberg had 4,097 residents in 2015 and 4,377 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 4,194 |
| 2021 | 4,230 |
| 2022 | 4,297 |
| 2023 | 4,380 |
| 2024 | 4,416 |
| 2025 | 4,377 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Obwalden for “Elevation”.
- Number 1 in Obwalden for “Share of foreign nationals”.
- “Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Heat pumps as main heating”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- “Share of single-family houses among residential buildings”: lower than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 10,486 football pitches.
- Its population density is 4.0 times lower than the national average.
All indicators for Engelberg
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 | Engelberg | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 24.8% | 22.2% | 20.7% | ranked 304 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Engelberg | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 4,647 | 23,369 | 4,927,050 | ranked 222 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 12.8% | 19.9% | 23.3% | ranked 1,471 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 20.7% | 27.3% | 25.3% | ranked 1,201 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 47.8% | 48.5% | 69.5% | ranked 1,679 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Engelberg | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 42.4% | 30.1% | 53.5% | ranked 1,304 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 4.3% | 15.9% | 13.7% | ranked 1,702 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 16.6% | 27.2% | 12.4% | ranked 688 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 15.5% | 15.3% | 1.4% | ranked 136 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 111 | 1,394 | 329,600 | ranked 994 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 566.3 kW | 1,087 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 1,610 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 38.4 GWh/year | 342.1 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 491 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 8,771 kWh/inh. | 8,580 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,018 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Engelberg | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 492 | 3,807 | 728,011 | ranked 291 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 674 | 4,256 | 762,757 | ranked 208 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 154.0 | 106.7 | 64.9 | ranked 40 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 80.9% | 79.2% | 65.7% | ranked 43 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 13.5% | 16.1% | 29.0% | ranked 1,769 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Engelberg | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 2,733 | 23,792 | 5,679,518 | ranked 358 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 624.4 | 596.6 | 362.9 | ranked 281 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 86.5% | 61.9% | 63.6% | ranked 147 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 8.3% | 29.8% | 24.2% | ranked 1,628 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Engelberg | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 30.2% | 17.4% | 18.9% | ranked 290 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Engelberg
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Engelberg?
Engelberg has 4,377 residents (2025), ranking 516 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Engelberg?
Engelberg covers 74.9 km², with a density of 58 people per km².
Is the population of Engelberg growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Engelberg went from 4,097 to 4,377, a change of +6.8%.
Where is Engelberg?
Engelberg is in Obwalden. It belongs to Kanton Obwalden (district). Latitude 46.821, longitude 8.403.
Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Engelberg?
In Engelberg, “Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 154.0 (2026), ranking 40 of 1,811 municipalities; the national median is 64.9.
Heat pumps as main heating: what is the figure for Engelberg?
In Engelberg, “Heat pumps as main heating” stands at 4.3% (2026), ranking 1,702 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 13.7%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Engelberg?
In Engelberg, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 35° produces about 1,079 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Engelberg?
The nearest to Engelberg are Wolfenschiessen (9.9 km), Dallenwil (13 km), Kerns (13 km), Sachseln (14 km), Sarnen (15 km).