Gerlafingen: population and statistics
Gerlafingen has a population of 5,859 (2025) across 1.9 km², or 3,068 people per km². It ranks 352 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +17.5% between 2015 and 2025.
- 5,859 residents
- 1.9 km²
- 3,068 people/km²
- 450 m
Key points
Among the 106 municipalities in Solothurn, Gerlafingen ranks No. 11 by population.
Oil or gas heating systems: 86.5% in Gerlafingen, compared with an average of 72.7% in Solothurn and 61.7% nationally.
Share of foreign nationals: 42.3% in Gerlafingen, compared with an average of 25.9% in Solothurn and 27.7% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 37° generates about 1,195 kWh a year here.
Gerlafingen in numbers
Where is Gerlafingen?
Population of Gerlafingen over time
Gerlafingen had 4,988 residents in 2015 and 5,859 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 5,502 |
| 2021 | 5,570 |
| 2022 | 5,696 |
| 2023 | 5,794 |
| 2024 | 5,859 |
| 2025 | 5,859 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Solothurn for “Population density”.
- “Oil or gas heating systems”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Share of foreign nationals”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 268 football pitches.
- Its population density is 13.2 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Obergerlafingen, 1.4 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Biberist (9,531 residents), 1.6 km away.
All indicators for Gerlafingen
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 | Gerlafingen | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 18.0% | 21.7% | 20.7% | ranked 1,401 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Gerlafingen | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 2,729 | 148,900 | 4,927,050 | ranked 424 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 22.6% | 22.0% | 23.3% | ranked 934 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 22.4% | 21.9% | 25.3% | ranked 1,086 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 66.3% | 70.1% | 69.5% | ranked 1,074 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Gerlafingen | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 86.5% | 72.7% | 53.5% | ranked 22 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 8.1% | 11.4% | 13.7% | ranked 1,395 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 3.8% | 8.1% | 12.4% | ranked 1,553 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 0.5% | 2.7% | 1.4% | ranked 1,257 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 132 | 11,211 | 329,600 | ranked 845 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 791.4 kW | 1,095 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 1,380 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 43.4 GWh/year | 2,373 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 421 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 7,404 kWh/inh. | 8,138 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,306 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Gerlafingen | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 247 | 18,596 | 728,011 | ranked 624 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 314 | 18,362 | 762,757 | ranked 483 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 53.6 | 63.0 | 64.9 | ranked 1,388 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 68.2% | 65.9% | 65.7% | ranked 667 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 28.3% | 29.3% | 29.0% | ranked 970 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Gerlafingen | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 1,692 | 151,633 | 5,679,518 | ranked 553 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 288.8 | 520.0 | 362.9 | ranked 1,212 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 60.3% | 67.4% | 63.6% | ranked 1,018 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 39.7% | 27.9% | 24.2% | ranked 299 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Gerlafingen | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 42.3% | 25.9% | 18.9% | ranked 55 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Gerlafingen
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Gerlafingen?
Gerlafingen has 5,859 residents (2025), ranking 352 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Gerlafingen?
Gerlafingen covers 1.9 km², with a density of 3,068 people per km².
Is the population of Gerlafingen growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Gerlafingen went from 4,988 to 5,859, a change of +17.5%.
Where is Gerlafingen?
Gerlafingen is in Solothurn. It belongs to Bezirk Wasseramt (district). Latitude 47.172, longitude 7.574.
Oil or gas heating systems: what is the figure for Gerlafingen?
In Gerlafingen, “Oil or gas heating systems” stands at 86.5% (2026), ranking 22 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 53.5%.
Share of foreign nationals: what is the figure for Gerlafingen?
In Gerlafingen, “Share of foreign nationals” stands at 42.3% (2025), ranking 55 of 1,811 municipalities; the national median is 18.9%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Gerlafingen?
In Gerlafingen, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 37° produces about 1,195 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Gerlafingen?
The nearest to Gerlafingen are Obergerlafingen (1.4 km), Zielebach (1.5 km), Biberist (1.6 km), Recherswil (1.8 km), Kriegstetten (1.9 km).