Lema: population and statistics
Lema has a population of 2,667 (2025) across – km², or – people per km². It ranks 805 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +1.1% between 2015 and 2025.
- 2,667 residents
- 627 m
Key points
Among the 100 municipalities in Ticino, Lema ranks No. 36 by population.
Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities: 46.5% in Lema, compared with an average of 23.0% in Ticino and 26.1% nationally.
Dwellings in buildings built since 2001: 9.3% in Lema, compared with an average of 20.4% in Ticino and 24.6% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 41° generates about 1,404 kWh a year here.
Lema in numbers
Where is Lema?
Population of Lema over time
Lema had 2,637 residents in 2015 and 2,667 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2,621 |
| 2021 | 2,653 |
| 2022 | 2,664 |
| 2023 | 2,662 |
| 2024 | 2,662 |
| 2025 | 2,667 |
Did you know?
- “Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Dwellings in buildings built since 2001”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- The nearest municipality is Aranno, 0.9 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Agno (4,582 residents), 3.3 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 5,616 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Lema
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 | Lema | Ticino | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 25.6% | 24.3% | 20.7% | ranked 235 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Lema | Ticino | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 2,080 | 260,627 | 4,927,050 | ranked 577 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 36.4% | 20.3% | 23.3% | ranked 371 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 9.3% | 20.4% | 25.3% | ranked 1,699 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 78.2% | 62.1% | 69.5% | ranked 332 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Lema | Ticino | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 47.5% | 59.8% | 53.5% | ranked 1,124 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 10.5% | 12.4% | 13.7% | ranked 1,185 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 14.9% | 11.5% | 12.4% | ranked 767 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 0.5% | 1.2% | 1.4% | ranked 1,244 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 233 | 16,017 | 329,600 | ranked 416 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 906.5 kW | 915.9 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 1,238 of 1,806 |
Economy
| Indicator | Lema | Ticino | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 155 | 42,118 | 762,757 | ranked 899 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 58.1 | 117.1 | 64.9 | ranked 1,203 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 51.0% | 72.1% | 65.7% | ranked 1,712 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 46.5% | 23.0% | 29.0% | ranked 45 of 1,808 |
Society
| Indicator | Lema | Ticino | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 15.0% | 29.8% | 18.9% | ranked 1,189 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Lema
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Lema?
Lema has 2,667 residents (2025), ranking 805 of 2,115 municipalities.
Is the population of Lema growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Lema went from 2,637 to 2,667, a change of +1.1%.
Where is Lema?
Lema is in Ticino. It belongs to Distretto di Lugano (district). Latitude 46.010, longitude 8.860.
Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities: what is the figure for Lema?
In Lema, “Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities” stands at 46.5% (2026), ranking 45 of 1,808 municipalities; the national median is 29.0%.
Dwellings in buildings built since 2001: what is the figure for Lema?
In Lema, “Dwellings in buildings built since 2001” stands at 9.3% (2026), ranking 1,699 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 25.3%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Lema?
In Lema, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 41° produces about 1,404 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Lema?
The nearest to Lema are Aranno (0.9 km), Vernate (2.1 km), Cademario (2.9 km), Pura (3.0 km), Alto Malcantone (3.2 km).