Schönenwerd: population and statistics
Schönenwerd has a population of 5,437 (2025) across 3.8 km², or 1,442 people per km². It ranks 389 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +11.6% between 2015 and 2025.
- 5,437 residents
- 3.8 km²
- 1,442 people/km²
- 386 m
Key points
Among the 106 municipalities in Solothurn, Schönenwerd ranks No. 15 by population.
Share of foreign nationals: 39.8% in Schönenwerd, compared with an average of 25.9% in Solothurn and 27.7% nationally.
Oil or gas heating systems: 77.6% in Schönenwerd, compared with an average of 72.7% in Solothurn and 61.7% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 37° generates about 1,154 kWh a year here.
Schönenwerd in numbers
Where is Schönenwerd?
Population of Schönenwerd over time
Schönenwerd had 4,873 residents in 2015 and 5,437 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 5,057 |
| 2021 | 5,108 |
| 2022 | 5,100 |
| 2023 | 5,201 |
| 2024 | 5,337 |
| 2025 | 5,437 |
Did you know?
- “Share of foreign nationals”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Oil or gas heating systems”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 528 football pitches.
- Its population density is 6.2 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Niedergösgen, 0.8 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Oberentfelden (9,061 residents), 3.7 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,616 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Schönenwerd
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 | Schönenwerd | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 20.2% | 21.7% | 20.7% | ranked 1,004 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Schönenwerd | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 2,661 | 148,900 | 4,927,050 | ranked 436 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 29.9% | 22.0% | 23.3% | ranked 598 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 15.9% | 21.9% | 25.3% | ranked 1,470 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 68.4% | 70.1% | 69.5% | ranked 969 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Schönenwerd | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 77.6% | 72.7% | 53.5% | ranked 148 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 10.1% | 11.4% | 13.7% | ranked 1,231 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 3.3% | 8.1% | 12.4% | ranked 1,590 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 0.8% | 2.7% | 1.4% | ranked 1,083 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 121 | 11,211 | 329,600 | ranked 916 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 904.0 kW | 1,095 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 1,241 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 36.1 GWh/year | 2,373 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 543 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 6,634 kWh/inh. | 8,138 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,442 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Schönenwerd | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 369 | 18,596 | 728,011 | ranked 391 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 379 | 18,362 | 762,757 | ranked 395 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 69.7 | 63.0 | 64.9 | ranked 720 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 69.4% | 65.9% | 65.7% | ranked 567 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 26.1% | 29.3% | 29.0% | ranked 1,157 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Schönenwerd | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 2,437 | 151,633 | 5,679,518 | ranked 408 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 448.2 | 520.0 | 362.9 | ranked 616 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 66.2% | 67.4% | 63.6% | ranked 804 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 33.6% | 27.9% | 24.2% | ranked 486 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Schönenwerd | Solothurn | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 39.8% | 25.9% | 18.9% | ranked 79 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Schönenwerd
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Schönenwerd?
Schönenwerd has 5,437 residents (2025), ranking 389 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Schönenwerd?
Schönenwerd covers 3.8 km², with a density of 1,442 people per km².
Is the population of Schönenwerd growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Schönenwerd went from 4,873 to 5,437, a change of +11.6%.
Where is Schönenwerd?
Schönenwerd is in Solothurn. It belongs to Bezirk Olten (district). Latitude 47.372, longitude 8.003.
Share of foreign nationals: what is the figure for Schönenwerd?
In Schönenwerd, “Share of foreign nationals” stands at 39.8% (2025), ranking 79 of 1,811 municipalities; the national median is 18.9%.
Oil or gas heating systems: what is the figure for Schönenwerd?
In Schönenwerd, “Oil or gas heating systems” stands at 77.6% (2026), ranking 148 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 53.5%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Schönenwerd?
In Schönenwerd, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 37° produces about 1,154 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Schönenwerd?
The nearest to Schönenwerd are Niedergösgen (0.8 km), Gretzenbach (1.6 km), Eppenberg-Wöschnau (1.8 km), Däniken (2.3 km), Unterentfelden (2.9 km).