Ernen: population and statistics
Ernen has a population of 538 (2025) across 35.4 km², or 15.2 people per km². It ranks 1,769 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +5.3% between 2015 and 2025.
- 538 residents
- 35.4 km²
- 15 people/km²
- 1,286 m
Key points
Among the 122 municipalities in Valais, Ernen ranks No. 90 by population.
Share of people aged 65 and over: 34.8% in Ernen, compared with an average of 21.2% in Valais and 19.8% nationally.
Oil or gas heating systems: 11.6% in Ernen, compared with an average of 49.8% in Valais and 61.7% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 36° generates about 1,207 kWh a year here.
Ernen in numbers
Where is Ernen?
Population of Ernen over time
Ernen had 511 residents in 2015 and 538 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 518 |
| 2021 | 518 |
| 2022 | 528 |
| 2023 | 550 |
| 2024 | 544 |
| 2025 | 538 |
Did you know?
- “Share of people aged 65 and over”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Oil or gas heating systems”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Dwellings in buildings built since 2001”: lower than in 96% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 4,958 football pitches.
- Its population density is 15.3 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Fiesch (894 residents), 1.3 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,828 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Ernen
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 | Ernen | Valais | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 34.8% | 21.2% | 20.7% | ranked 13 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Ernen | Valais | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 1,035 | 284,329 | 4,927,050 | ranked 1,021 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 29.1% | 15.6% | 23.3% | ranked 619 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 8.0% | 28.0% | 25.3% | ranked 1,734 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 58.7% | 63.4% | 69.5% | ranked 1,419 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Ernen | Valais | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 11.6% | 49.8% | 53.5% | ranked 1,796 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 1.7% | 12.0% | 13.7% | ranked 1,793 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 38.6% | 13.0% | 12.4% | ranked 138 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 17.9% | 3.4% | 1.4% | ranked 96 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 33 | 18,204 | 329,600 | ranked 1,782 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 835.2 kW | 1,004 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 1,322 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 12.5 GWh/year | 3,880 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 1,385 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 23,271 kWh/inh. | 10,316 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 48 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Ernen | Valais | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 50 | 32,476 | 728,011 | ranked 1,694 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 49 | 35,035 | 762,757 | ranked 1,596 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 91.1 | 93.1 | 64.9 | ranked 286 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 61.2% | 72.6% | 65.7% | ranked 1,286 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 30.6% | 20.9% | 29.0% | ranked 757 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Ernen | Valais | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 180 | 202,116 | 5,679,518 | ranked 1,669 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 334.6 | 537.6 | 362.9 | ranked 1,013 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 56.7% | 71.1% | 63.6% | ranked 1,144 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 26.7% | 21.0% | 24.2% | ranked 780 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Ernen | Valais | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 11.3% | 26.5% | 18.9% | ranked 1,452 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Ernen
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ernen?
Ernen has 538 residents (2025), ranking 1,769 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Ernen?
Ernen covers 35.4 km², with a density of 15 people per km².
Is the population of Ernen growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Ernen went from 511 to 538, a change of +5.3%.
Where is Ernen?
Ernen is in Valais. It belongs to Bezirk Goms (district). Latitude 46.400, longitude 8.150.
Share of people aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Ernen?
In Ernen, “Share of people aged 65 and over” stands at 34.8% (2025), ranking 13 of 1,811 municipalities; the national median is 20.7%.
Oil or gas heating systems: what is the figure for Ernen?
In Ernen, “Oil or gas heating systems” stands at 11.6% (2026), ranking 1,796 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 53.5%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Ernen?
In Ernen, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 36° produces about 1,207 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Ernen?
The nearest to Ernen are Fiesch (1.3 km), Lax (3.2 km), Bellwald (3.7 km), Binn (4.5 km), Grengiols (5.3 km).