Berneck: population and statistics
Berneck has a population of 4,026 (2025) across 5.6 km², or 716 people per km². It ranks 550 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +2.3% between 2015 and 2025.
- 4,026 residents
- 5.6 km²
- 716 people/km²
- 422 m
Key points
Among the 75 municipalities in St. Gallen, Berneck ranks No. 47 by population.
Heat pumps as main heating: 33.8% in Berneck, compared with an average of 30.7% in St. Gallen and 15.5% nationally.
Share of jobs in industry and construction: 43.4% in Berneck, compared with an average of 30.3% in St. Gallen and 22.0% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,170 kWh a year here.
Berneck in numbers
Where is Berneck?
Population of Berneck over time
Berneck had 3,937 residents in 2015 and 4,026 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3,928 |
| 2021 | 3,971 |
| 2022 | 3,963 |
| 2023 | 3,989 |
| 2024 | 4,008 |
| 2025 | 4,026 |
Did you know?
- “Heat pumps as main heating”: higher than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 787 football pitches.
- Its population density is 3.1 times the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Au (SG) (8,771 residents), 1.8 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,680 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Berneck
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 | Berneck | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 21.5% | 19.9% | 20.7% | ranked 779 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Berneck | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 1,976 | 280,853 | 4,927,050 | ranked 611 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 27.8% | 23.5% | 23.3% | ranked 672 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 29.1% | 24.8% | 25.3% | ranked 667 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 77.0% | 64.1% | 69.5% | ranked 415 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Berneck | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 55.4% | 52.2% | 53.5% | ranked 852 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 33.8% | 30.7% | 13.7% | ranked 174 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 9.4% | 9.0% | 12.4% | ranked 1,100 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 0.2% | 6.0% | 1.4% | ranked 1,451 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 272 | 26,111 | 329,600 | ranked 321 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,549 kW | 1,325 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 489 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 35.2 GWh/year | 4,072 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 559 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 8,736 kWh/inh. | 7,485 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,027 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Berneck | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 289 | 39,699 | 728,011 | ranked 531 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 376 | 42,658 | 762,757 | ranked 397 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 93.4 | 78.4 | 64.9 | ranked 252 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 69.7% | 65.2% | 65.7% | ranked 540 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 27.7% | 29.2% | 29.0% | ranked 1,025 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Berneck | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 2,440 | 317,461 | 5,679,518 | ranked 406 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 606.1 | 583.5 | 362.9 | ranked 313 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 53.5% | 64.9% | 63.6% | ranked 1,250 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 43.4% | 30.3% | 24.2% | ranked 225 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Berneck | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 20.2% | 27.2% | 18.9% | ranked 796 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Berneck
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Berneck?
Berneck has 4,026 residents (2025), ranking 550 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Berneck?
Berneck covers 5.6 km², with a density of 716 people per km².
Is the population of Berneck growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Berneck went from 3,937 to 4,026, a change of +2.3%.
Where is Berneck?
Berneck is in St. Gallen. It belongs to Wahlkreis Rheintal (district). Latitude 47.425, longitude 9.613.
Heat pumps as main heating: what is the figure for Berneck?
In Berneck, “Heat pumps as main heating” stands at 33.8% (2026), ranking 174 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 13.7%.
Share of jobs in industry and construction: what is the figure for Berneck?
In Berneck, “Share of jobs in industry and construction” stands at 43.4% (2024), ranking 225 of 1,776 municipalities; the national median is 24.2%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Berneck?
In Berneck, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,170 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Berneck?
The nearest to Berneck are Au (SG) (1.8 km), Reute (AR) (2.9 km), Balgach (2.9 km), Walzenhausen (3.1 km), Widnau (3.2 km).