Orbe: population and statistics
Orbe has a population of 8,005 (2025) across 12.1 km², or 664 people per km². It ranks 246 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +16.8% between 2015 and 2025.
- 8,005 residents
- 12.1 km²
- 664 people/km²
- 479 m
Key points
Among the 300 municipalities in Vaud, Orbe ranks No. 24 by population.
Share of foreign nationals: 35.0% in Orbe, compared with an average of 34.3% in Vaud and 27.7% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 38° generates about 1,270 kWh a year here.
Orbe in numbers
Where is Orbe?
Population of Orbe over time
Orbe had 6,852 residents in 2015 and 8,005 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 7,108 |
| 2021 | 7,548 |
| 2022 | 7,613 |
| 2023 | 7,842 |
| 2024 | 7,978 |
| 2025 | 8,005 |
Did you know?
- “Share of foreign nationals”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- “Photovoltaic installations”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- “Jobs”: higher than in 91% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 1,688 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.9 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Montcherand, 1.5 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Yverdon-les-Bains (30,590 residents), 10 km away.
All indicators for Orbe
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 | Orbe | Vaud | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 16.5% | 17.1% | 20.7% | ranked 1,581 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Orbe | Vaud | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 3,937 | 449,691 | 4,927,050 | ranked 268 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 29.9% | 25.9% | 23.3% | ranked 596 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 32.2% | 24.7% | 25.3% | ranked 470 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 58.0% | 52.6% | 69.5% | ranked 1,444 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Orbe | Vaud | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 77.1% | 72.6% | 53.5% | ranked 159 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 6.1% | 6.9% | 13.7% | ranked 1,573 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 4.1% | 5.6% | 12.4% | ranked 1,524 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 2.5% | 5.5% | 1.4% | ranked 699 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 385 | 36,655 | 329,600 | ranked 176 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,239 kW | 784.6 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 786 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 57.4 GWh/year | 6,033 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 257 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 7,173 kWh/inh. | 6,985 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,353 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Orbe | Vaud | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 514 | 67,877 | 728,011 | ranked 269 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 440 | 67,255 | 762,757 | ranked 331 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 55.0 | 77.9 | 64.9 | ranked 1,340 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 61.8% | 67.6% | 65.7% | ranked 1,249 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 32.3% | 26.9% | 29.0% | ranked 626 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Orbe | Vaud | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 4,978 | 498,823 | 5,679,518 | ranked 194 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 621.9 | 577.7 | 362.9 | ranked 288 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 71.6% | 79.0% | 63.6% | ranked 601 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 27.7% | 16.3% | 24.2% | ranked 731 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Orbe | Vaud | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 35.0% | 34.3% | 18.9% | ranked 154 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Orbe
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Orbe?
Orbe has 8,005 residents (2025), ranking 246 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Orbe?
Orbe covers 12.1 km², with a density of 664 people per km².
Is the population of Orbe growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Orbe went from 6,852 to 8,005, a change of +16.8%.
Where is Orbe?
Orbe is in Vaud. It belongs to District du Jura-Nord vaudois (district). Latitude 46.724, longitude 6.532.
Share of foreign nationals: what is the figure for Orbe?
In Orbe, “Share of foreign nationals” stands at 35.0% (2025), ranking 154 of 1,811 municipalities; the national median is 18.9%.
Photovoltaic installations: what is the figure for Orbe?
In Orbe, “Photovoltaic installations” stands at 385 (2026), ranking 176 of 2,108 municipalities; the national median is 103.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Orbe?
In Orbe, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 38° produces about 1,270 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Orbe?
The nearest to Orbe are Montcherand (1.5 km), Agiez (2.6 km), Valeyres-sous-Rances (2.8 km), Arnex-sur-Orbe (3.0 km), Chavornay (3.4 km).