Bister: population and statistics
Bister has a population of 39 (2025) across 5.8 km², or 6.7 people per km². It ranks 2,111 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +25.8% between 2015 and 2025.
- 39 residents
- 5.8 km²
- 7 people/km²
- 894 m
Key points
Among the 122 municipalities in Valais, Bister ranks No. 122 by population.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 29° generates about 1,119 kWh a year here.
Bister in numbers
Where is Bister?
Population of Bister over time
Bister had 31 residents in 2015 and 39 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 34 |
| 2021 | 33 |
| 2022 | 41 |
| 2023 | 39 |
| 2024 | 37 |
| 2025 | 39 |
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Valais for “Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants”.
- “Rooftop solar electricity potential”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Establishments”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Jobs”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 812 football pitches.
- Its population density is 34.7 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Bettmeralp (468 residents), 1.2 km away.
All indicators for Bister
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 | Bister | Valais | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 33.3% | 21.2% | 20.7% |
Housing
| Indicator | Bister | Valais | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 51 | 284,329 | 4,927,050 | ranked 2,094 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 52.9% | 15.6% | 23.3% | ||
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 7.8% | 28.0% | 25.3% | ||
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 74.4% | 63.4% | 69.5% |
Energy
| Indicator | Bister | Valais | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 7.9% | 49.8% | 53.5% | ||
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 2.6% | 12.0% | 13.7% | ||
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 36.8% | 13.0% | 12.4% | ||
| District heating (2026) | 0.0% | 3.4% | 1.4% | ||
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 3 | 18,204 | 329,600 | ranked 2,082 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 4,127 kW | 1,004 kW | 1,134 kW | ||
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 1.1 GWh/year | 3,880 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 2,109 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 29,487 kWh/inh. | 10,316 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. |
Economy
| Indicator | Bister | Valais | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 4 | 32,476 | 728,011 | ranked 2,112 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 0 | 35,035 | 762,757 | ranked 2,110 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 0.0 | 93.1 | 64.9 |
Employment
| Indicator | Bister | Valais | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 11 | 202,116 | 5,679,518 | ranked 2,110 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 282.1 | 537.6 | 362.9 | ||
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 36.4% | 71.1% | 63.6% | ||
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 0.0% | 21.0% | 24.2% |
Society
| Indicator | Bister | Valais | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 12.8% | 26.5% | 18.9% |
Sunshine and temperatures: Bister
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bister?
Bister has 39 residents (2025), ranking 2,111 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Bister?
Bister covers 5.8 km², with a density of 7 people per km².
Is the population of Bister growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Bister went from 31 to 39, a change of +25.8%.
Where is Bister?
Bister is in Valais. It belongs to Bezirk Raron (district). Latitude 46.367, longitude 8.067.
Rooftop solar electricity potential: what is the figure for Bister?
In Bister, “Rooftop solar electricity potential” stands at 1.1 GWh/year (2026), ranking 2,109 of 2,114 municipalities; the national median is 19.0 GWh/year.
Establishments: what is the figure for Bister?
In Bister, “Establishments” stands at 4 (2024), ranking 2,112 of 2,112 municipalities; the national median is 131.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Bister?
In Bister, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 29° produces about 1,119 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Bister?
The nearest to Bister are Bettmeralp (1.2 km), Mörel-Filet (1.8 km), Grengiols (2.6 km), Riederalp (3.2 km), Lax (4.3 km).