Breitenbach: population and statistics
Breitenbach has a population of 4,440 (2025) across 6.8 km², or 653 people per km². It ranks 506 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +18.3% between 2015 and 2025.
- 4,440 residents
- 6.8 km²
- 653 people/km²
- 392 m
Key points
Among the 106 municipalities in Solothurn, Breitenbach ranks No. 18 by population.
Dwellings in buildings built before 1946: 10.0% in Breitenbach, compared with an average of 22.0% in Solothurn and 22.4% nationally.
Oil or gas heating systems: 73.8% in Breitenbach, compared with an average of 72.7% in Solothurn and 61.7% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 38° generates about 1,138 kWh a year here.
Breitenbach in numbers
Where is Breitenbach?
Population of Breitenbach over time
Breitenbach had 3,754 residents in 2015 and 4,440 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3,979 |
| 2021 | 4,048 |
| 2022 | 4,153 |
| 2023 | 4,304 |
| 2024 | 4,366 |
| 2025 | 4,440 |
Did you know?
- Its area is roughly equal to 952 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.8 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Brislach, 1.2 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Aesch (BL) (11,327 residents), 7.8 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,552 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Breitenbach
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 | Breitenbach | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 23.1% | 21.7% | 20.7% | ranked 509 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Breitenbach | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 2,182 | 148,900 | 4,927,050 | ranked 557 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 10.0% | 22.0% | 23.3% | ranked 1,604 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 34.9% | 21.9% | 25.3% | ranked 336 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 76.3% | 70.1% | 69.5% | ranked 458 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Breitenbach | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 73.8% | 72.7% | 53.5% | ranked 237 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 11.7% | 11.4% | 13.7% | ranked 1,078 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 6.0% | 8.1% | 12.4% | ranked 1,357 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 1.3% | 2.7% | 1.4% | ranked 923 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 166 | 11,211 | 329,600 | ranked 658 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 955.2 kW | 1,095 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 1,163 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 29.6 GWh/year | 2,373 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 689 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 6,671 kWh/inh. | 8,138 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,437 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Breitenbach | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 273 | 18,596 | 728,011 | ranked 554 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 233 | 18,362 | 762,757 | ranked 653 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 52.5 | 63.0 | 64.9 | ranked 1,430 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 61.4% | 65.9% | 65.7% | ranked 1,270 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 33.5% | 29.3% | 29.0% | ranked 515 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Breitenbach | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 1,972 | 151,633 | 5,679,518 | ranked 475 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 444.1 | 520.0 | 362.9 | ranked 630 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 73.5% | 67.4% | 63.6% | ranked 526 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 24.9% | 27.9% | 24.2% | ranked 847 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Breitenbach | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 26.7% | 25.9% | 18.9% | ranked 445 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Breitenbach
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Breitenbach?
Breitenbach has 4,440 residents (2025), ranking 506 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Breitenbach?
Breitenbach covers 6.8 km², with a density of 653 people per km².
Is the population of Breitenbach growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Breitenbach went from 3,754 to 4,440, a change of +18.3%.
Where is Breitenbach?
Breitenbach is in Solothurn. It belongs to Bezirk Thierstein (district). Latitude 47.408, longitude 7.544.
Dwellings in buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Breitenbach?
In Breitenbach, “Dwellings in buildings built before 1946” stands at 10.0% (2026), ranking 1,604 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 23.3%.
Oil or gas heating systems: what is the figure for Breitenbach?
In Breitenbach, “Oil or gas heating systems” stands at 73.8% (2026), ranking 237 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 53.5%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Breitenbach?
In Breitenbach, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 38° produces about 1,138 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Breitenbach?
The nearest to Breitenbach are Brislach (1.2 km), Büsserach (1.9 km), Wahlen (2.2 km), Zwingen (2.9 km), Fehren (3.0 km).