Sarnen: population and statistics
Sarnen has a population of 10,906 (2025) across 70.0 km², or 156 people per km². It ranks 155 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +6.6% between 2015 and 2025.
- 10,906 residents
- 70.0 km²
- 156 people/km²
- 474 m
Key points
Among the 7 municipalities in Obwalden, Sarnen ranks No. 1 by population.
Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities: 85.7% in Sarnen, compared with an average of 79.2% in Obwalden and 68.6% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 40° generates about 1,183 kWh a year here.
Sarnen in numbers
Where is Sarnen?
Population of Sarnen over time
Sarnen had 10,229 residents in 2015 and 10,906 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 10,514 |
| 2021 | 10,650 |
| 2022 | 10,654 |
| 2023 | 10,742 |
| 2024 | 10,862 |
| 2025 | 10,906 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Obwalden for “Population”.
- Number 1 in Obwalden for “Population density”.
- “Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Rooftop solar electricity potential”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Jobs”: higher than in 95% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 9,805 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Kerns, 2.3 km away.
All indicators for Sarnen
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 | Sarnen | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 24.6% | 22.2% | 20.7% | ranked 332 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Sarnen | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 5,702 | 23,369 | 4,927,050 | ranked 159 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 18.6% | 19.9% | 23.3% | ranked 1,143 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 26.0% | 27.3% | 25.3% | ranked 857 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 50.4% | 48.5% | 69.5% | ranked 1,640 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Sarnen | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 30.3% | 30.1% | 53.5% | ranked 1,632 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 20.1% | 15.9% | 13.7% | ranked 558 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 26.6% | 27.2% | 12.4% | ranked 336 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 12.8% | 15.3% | 1.4% | ranked 178 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 385 | 1,394 | 329,600 | ranked 176 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,224 kW | 1,087 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 806 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 95.0 GWh/year | 342.1 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 92 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 8,709 kWh/inh. | 8,580 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,033 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Sarnen | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 1,357 | 3,807 | 728,011 | ranked 70 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 1,714 | 4,256 | 762,757 | ranked 62 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 157.2 | 106.7 | 64.9 | ranked 33 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 85.7% | 79.2% | 65.7% | ranked 18 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 10.6% | 16.1% | 29.0% | ranked 1,796 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Sarnen | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 9,050 | 23,792 | 5,679,518 | ranked 102 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 829.8 | 596.6 | 362.9 | ranked 130 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 73.4% | 61.9% | 63.6% | ranked 536 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 22.7% | 29.8% | 24.2% | ranked 947 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Sarnen | Obwalden | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 18.4% | 17.4% | 18.9% | ranked 944 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Sarnen
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sarnen?
Sarnen has 10,906 residents (2025), ranking 155 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Sarnen?
Sarnen covers 70.0 km², with a density of 156 people per km².
Is the population of Sarnen growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Sarnen went from 10,229 to 10,906, a change of +6.6%.
Where is Sarnen?
Sarnen is in Obwalden. It belongs to Kanton Obwalden (district). Latitude 46.897, longitude 8.247.
Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities: what is the figure for Sarnen?
In Sarnen, “Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities” stands at 85.7% (2026), ranking 18 of 1,808 municipalities; the national median is 65.7%.
Rooftop solar electricity potential: what is the figure for Sarnen?
In Sarnen, “Rooftop solar electricity potential” stands at 95.0 GWh/year (2026), ranking 92 of 2,114 municipalities; the national median is 19.0 GWh/year.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Sarnen?
In Sarnen, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 40° produces about 1,183 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Sarnen?
The nearest to Sarnen are Kerns (2.3 km), Sachseln (3.3 km), Alpnach (5.2 km), Giswil (8.5 km), Ennetmoos (9.5 km).