Riviera: population and statistics
Riviera has a population of 4,262 (2025) across 86.2 km², or 49.5 people per km². It ranks 526 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +4.1% between 2015 and 2025.
- 4,262 residents
- 86.2 km²
- 50 people/km²
- 266 m
Key points
Among the 100 municipalities in Ticino, Riviera ranks No. 22 by population.
Share of jobs in industry and construction: 58.2% in Riviera, compared with an average of 20.2% in Ticino and 22.0% nationally.
Wood heating systems: 28.8% in Riviera, compared with an average of 11.5% in Ticino and 9.3% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,246 kWh a year here.
Riviera in numbers
Where is Riviera?
Population of Riviera over time
Riviera had 4,096 residents in 2015 and 4,262 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 4,252 |
| 2021 | 4,254 |
| 2022 | 4,188 |
| 2023 | 4,262 |
| 2024 | 4,269 |
| 2025 | 4,262 |
Did you know?
- “Share of jobs in industry and construction”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 12,069 football pitches.
- Its population density is 4.7 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Biasca, 5.3 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Bellinzona (45,828 residents), 12 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,984 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Riviera
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 | Riviera | Ticino | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 19.3% | 24.3% | 20.7% | ranked 1,157 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Riviera | Ticino | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 2,605 | 260,627 | 4,927,050 | ranked 448 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 29.6% | 20.3% | 23.3% | ranked 605 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 23.3% | 20.4% | 25.3% | ranked 1,019 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 76.4% | 62.1% | 69.5% | ranked 450 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Riviera | Ticino | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 37.1% | 59.8% | 53.5% | ranked 1,444 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 12.6% | 12.4% | 13.7% | ranked 990 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 28.8% | 11.5% | 12.4% | ranked 283 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 0.2% | 1.2% | 1.4% | ranked 1,456 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 244 | 16,017 | 329,600 | ranked 381 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,486 kW | 915.9 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 548 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 42.7 GWh/year | 3,370 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 428 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 10,012 kWh/inh. | 9,438 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 786 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Riviera | Ticino | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 299 | 40,256 | 728,011 | ranked 514 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 277 | 42,118 | 762,757 | ranked 550 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 65.0 | 117.1 | 64.9 | ranked 897 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 65.3% | 72.1% | 65.7% | ranked 941 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 27.1% | 23.0% | 29.0% | ranked 1,069 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Riviera | Ticino | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 1,515 | 249,351 | 5,679,518 | ranked 613 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 355.5 | 698.3 | 362.9 | ranked 933 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 37.8% | 78.3% | 63.6% | ranked 1,640 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 58.2% | 20.2% | 24.2% | ranked 58 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Riviera | Ticino | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 29.7% | 29.8% | 18.9% | ranked 312 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Riviera
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Riviera?
Riviera has 4,262 residents (2025), ranking 526 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Riviera?
Riviera covers 86.2 km², with a density of 50 people per km².
Is the population of Riviera growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Riviera went from 4,096 to 4,262, a change of +4.1%.
Where is Riviera?
Riviera is in Ticino. It belongs to Distretto di Riviera (district). Latitude 46.305, longitude 8.990.
Share of jobs in industry and construction: what is the figure for Riviera?
In Riviera, “Share of jobs in industry and construction” stands at 58.2% (2024), ranking 58 of 1,776 municipalities; the national median is 24.2%.
Wood heating systems: what is the figure for Riviera?
In Riviera, “Wood heating systems” stands at 28.8% (2026), ranking 283 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 12.4%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Riviera?
In Riviera, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,246 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Riviera?
The nearest to Riviera are Biasca (5.3 km), Pollegio (6.6 km), Personico (8.9 km), Lumino (9.5 km), Buseno (9.7 km).