Lichtensteig: population and statistics
Lichtensteig has a population of 2,157 (2025) across 2.8 km², or 765 people per km². It ranks 926 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +12.9% between 2015 and 2025.
- 2,157 residents
- 2.8 km²
- 765 people/km²
- 604 m
Key points
Among the 75 municipalities in St. Gallen, Lichtensteig ranks No. 62 by population.
Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant: 4,928 kWh/inh. in Lichtensteig, compared with an average of 7,485 kWh/inh. in St. Gallen and 7,100 kWh/inh. nationally.
Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities: 54.8% in Lichtensteig, compared with an average of 65.2% in St. Gallen and 68.6% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 37° generates about 1,109 kWh a year here.
Lichtensteig in numbers
Where is Lichtensteig?
Population of Lichtensteig over time
Lichtensteig had 1,911 residents in 2015 and 2,157 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,879 |
| 2021 | 1,960 |
| 2022 | 1,980 |
| 2023 | 2,079 |
| 2024 | 2,141 |
| 2025 | 2,157 |
Did you know?
- “Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant”: lower than in 93% of municipalities.
- “Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities”: lower than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 395 football pitches.
- Its population density is 3.3 times the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Wattwil (9,262 residents), 2.3 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,436 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Lichtensteig
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 | Lichtensteig | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 19.4% | 19.9% | 20.7% | ranked 1,132 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Lichtensteig | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 1,224 | 280,853 | 4,927,050 | ranked 916 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 37.2% | 23.5% | 23.3% | ranked 342 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 16.2% | 24.8% | 25.3% | ranked 1,456 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 63.2% | 64.1% | 69.5% | ranked 1,235 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Lichtensteig | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 61.2% | 52.2% | 53.5% | ranked 646 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 29.2% | 30.7% | 13.7% | ranked 260 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 5.5% | 9.0% | 12.4% | ranked 1,396 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 0.6% | 6.0% | 1.4% | ranked 1,159 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 88 | 26,111 | 329,600 | ranked 1,184 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 755.6 kW | 1,325 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 1,413 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 10.6 GWh/year | 4,072 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 1,507 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 4,928 kWh/inh. | 7,485 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,682 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Lichtensteig | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 161 | 39,699 | 728,011 | ranked 917 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 177 | 42,658 | 762,757 | ranked 812 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 82.1 | 78.4 | 64.9 | ranked 400 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 54.8% | 65.2% | 65.7% | ranked 1,613 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 33.9% | 29.2% | 29.0% | ranked 484 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Lichtensteig | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 552 | 317,461 | 5,679,518 | ranked 1,121 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 255.9 | 583.5 | 362.9 | ranked 1,341 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 59.6% | 64.9% | 63.6% | ranked 1,044 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 37.9% | 30.3% | 24.2% | ranked 345 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Lichtensteig | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 23.9% | 27.2% | 18.9% | ranked 572 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Lichtensteig
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Lichtensteig?
Lichtensteig has 2,157 residents (2025), ranking 926 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Lichtensteig?
Lichtensteig covers 2.8 km², with a density of 765 people per km².
Is the population of Lichtensteig growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Lichtensteig went from 1,911 to 2,157, a change of +12.9%.
Where is Lichtensteig?
Lichtensteig is in St. Gallen. It belongs to Wahlkreis Toggenburg (district). Latitude 47.316, longitude 9.083.
Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant: what is the figure for Lichtensteig?
In Lichtensteig, “Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant” stands at 4,928 kWh/inh. (2026), ranking 1,682 of 1,810 municipalities; the national median is 9,356 kWh/inh..
Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities: what is the figure for Lichtensteig?
In Lichtensteig, “Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities” stands at 54.8% (2026), ranking 1,613 of 1,808 municipalities; the national median is 65.7%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Lichtensteig?
In Lichtensteig, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 37° produces about 1,109 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Lichtensteig?
The nearest to Lichtensteig are Wattwil (2.3 km), Bütschwil-Ganterschwil (3.9 km), Neckertal (4.2 km), Mosnang (5.3 km), Ebnat-Kappel (6.7 km).