St. Margrethen: population and statistics
St. Margrethen has a population of 6,731 (2025) across 6.8 km², or 983 people per km². It ranks 302 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +16.2% between 2015 and 2025.
- 6,731 residents
- 6.8 km²
- 983 people/km²
- 418 m
Key points
Among the 75 municipalities in St. Gallen, St. Margrethen ranks No. 27 by population.
Share of foreign nationals: 52.6% in St. Margrethen, compared with an average of 27.2% in St. Gallen and 27.7% nationally.
Share of jobs in industry and construction: 52.7% in St. Margrethen, compared with an average of 30.3% in St. Gallen and 22.0% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 37° generates about 1,135 kWh a year here.
St. Margrethen in numbers
Where is St. Margrethen?
Population of St. Margrethen over time
St. Margrethen had 5,792 residents in 2015 and 6,731 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 5,991 |
| 2021 | 6,087 |
| 2022 | 6,249 |
| 2023 | 6,558 |
| 2024 | 6,718 |
| 2025 | 6,731 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in St. Gallen for “Share of foreign nationals”.
- “Share of foreign nationals”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Share of jobs in industry and construction”: higher than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 959 football pitches.
- Its population density is 4.2 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Au (SG), 1.9 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Widnau (10,485 residents), 5.6 km away.
All indicators for St. Margrethen
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 | St. Margrethen | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 17.2% | 19.9% | 20.7% | ranked 1,488 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | St. Margrethen | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 3,261 | 280,853 | 4,927,050 | ranked 332 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 22.2% | 23.5% | 23.3% | ranked 959 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 23.7% | 24.8% | 25.3% | ranked 994 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 70.5% | 64.1% | 69.5% | ranked 848 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | St. Margrethen | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 72.6% | 52.2% | 53.5% | ranked 272 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 21.3% | 30.7% | 13.7% | ranked 511 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 4.0% | 9.0% | 12.4% | ranked 1,527 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 0.9% | 6.0% | 1.4% | ranked 1,039 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 212 | 26,111 | 329,600 | ranked 477 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,038 kW | 1,325 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 1,045 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 54.1 GWh/year | 4,072 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 281 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 8,037 kWh/inh. | 7,485 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,168 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | St. Margrethen | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 482 | 39,699 | 728,011 | ranked 297 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 625 | 42,658 | 762,757 | ranked 229 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 92.9 | 78.4 | 64.9 | ranked 258 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 62.1% | 65.2% | 65.7% | ranked 1,224 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 33.4% | 29.2% | 29.0% | ranked 520 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | St. Margrethen | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 4,559 | 317,461 | 5,679,518 | ranked 214 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 677.3 | 583.5 | 362.9 | ranked 221 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 46.4% | 64.9% | 63.6% | ranked 1,446 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 52.7% | 30.3% | 24.2% | ranked 104 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | St. Margrethen | St. Gallen | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 52.6% | 27.2% | 18.9% | ranked 6 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: St. Margrethen
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of St. Margrethen?
St. Margrethen has 6,731 residents (2025), ranking 302 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is St. Margrethen?
St. Margrethen covers 6.8 km², with a density of 983 people per km².
Is the population of St. Margrethen growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of St. Margrethen went from 5,792 to 6,731, a change of +16.2%.
Where is St. Margrethen?
St. Margrethen is in St. Gallen. It belongs to Wahlkreis Rheintal (district). Latitude 47.450, longitude 9.633.
Share of foreign nationals: what is the figure for St. Margrethen?
In St. Margrethen, “Share of foreign nationals” stands at 52.6% (2025), ranking 6 of 1,811 municipalities; the national median is 18.9%.
Share of jobs in industry and construction: what is the figure for St. Margrethen?
In St. Margrethen, “Share of jobs in industry and construction” stands at 52.7% (2024), ranking 104 of 1,776 municipalities; the national median is 24.2%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in St. Margrethen?
In St. Margrethen, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 37° produces about 1,135 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border St. Margrethen?
The nearest to St. Margrethen are Au (SG) (1.9 km), Walzenhausen (2.4 km), Berneck (3.2 km), Lutzenberg (3.8 km), Rheineck (4.4 km).