Elsau: population and statistics
Elsau has a population of 3,957 (2025) across 8.1 km², or 491 people per km². It ranks 562 of 2,115 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +13.7% between 2015 and 2025.
- 3,957 residents
- 8.1 km²
- 491 people/km²
- 516 m
Key points
Among the 160 municipalities in Zürich, Elsau ranks No. 91 by population.
Share of single-family houses among residential buildings: 79.8% in Elsau, compared with an average of 50.5% in Zürich and 56.9% nationally.
Heat pumps as main heating: 25.4% in Elsau, compared with an average of 20.2% in Zürich and 15.5% nationally.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 37° generates about 1,144 kWh a year here.
Elsau in numbers
Where is Elsau?
Population of Elsau over time
Elsau had 3,480 residents in 2015 and 3,957 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3,657 |
| 2021 | 3,699 |
| 2022 | 3,707 |
| 2023 | 3,766 |
| 2024 | 3,898 |
| 2025 | 3,957 |
Did you know?
- Its area is roughly equal to 1,129 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.1 times the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Wiesendangen (6,852 residents), 2.0 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,576 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
All indicators for Elsau
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 | Elsau | Zürich | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 20.5% | 17.6% | 20.7% | ranked 942 of 1,811 |
Housing
| Indicator | Elsau | Zürich | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (2026) | 1,754 | 810,666 | 4,927,050 | ranked 683 of 2,108 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built before 1946 (2026) | 18.6% | 20.9% | 23.3% | ranked 1,146 of 1,806 | |
| Dwellings in buildings built since 2001 (2026) | 30.1% | 27.3% | 25.3% | ranked 597 of 1,806 | |
| Share of single-family houses among residential buildings (2026) | 79.8% | 50.5% | 69.5% | ranked 231 of 1,806 |
Energy
| Indicator | Elsau | Zürich | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil or gas heating systems (2026) | 51.9% | 63.4% | 53.5% | ranked 966 of 1,806 | |
| Heat pumps as main heating (2026) | 25.4% | 20.2% | 13.7% | ranked 365 of 1,806 | |
| Wood heating systems (2026) | 16.1% | 5.4% | 12.4% | ranked 709 of 1,806 | |
| District heating (2026) | 1.2% | 8.1% | 1.4% | ranked 943 of 1,806 | |
| Photovoltaic installations (2026) | 195 | 33,320 | 329,600 | ranked 532 of 2,108 | |
| Installed photovoltaic capacity per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,071 kW | 571.3 kW | 1,134 kW | ranked 993 of 1,806 | |
| Rooftop solar electricity potential (2026) | 26.7 GWh/year | 7,291 GWh/year | 64,783 GWh/year | ranked 778 of 2,114 | |
| Rooftop solar potential per inhabitant (2026) | 6,740 kWh/inh. | 4,465 kWh/inh. | 9,356 kWh/inh. | ranked 1,427 of 1,810 |
Economy
| Indicator | Elsau | Zürich | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2024) | 232 | 126,784 | 728,011 | ranked 659 of 2,112 | |
| Entities listed in the commercial register (2026) | 257 | 132,519 | 762,757 | ranked 590 of 2,115 | |
| Entities in the commercial register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 64.9 | 81.2 | 64.9 | ranked 902 of 1,811 | |
| Share of limited companies (AG, GmbH) among registered entities (2026) | 64.6% | 67.3% | 65.7% | ranked 996 of 1,808 | |
| Share of sole proprietorships among registered entities (2026) | 32.3% | 27.9% | 29.0% | ranked 626 of 1,808 |
Employment
| Indicator | Elsau | Zürich | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs (2024) | 1,283 | 1,149,866 | 5,679,518 | ranked 688 of 2,111 | |
| Jobs per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 324.2 | 704.2 | 362.9 | ranked 1,058 of 1,810 | |
| Share of jobs in services (2024) | 65.5% | 81.6% | 63.6% | ranked 824 of 1,804 | |
| Share of jobs in industry and construction (2024) | 30.9% | 16.2% | 24.2% | ranked 589 of 1,776 |
Society
| Indicator | Elsau | Zürich | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 18.5% | 29.2% | 18.9% | ranked 936 of 1,811 |
Sunshine and temperatures: Elsau
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Elsau?
Elsau has 3,957 residents (2025), ranking 562 of 2,115 municipalities.
How big is Elsau?
Elsau covers 8.1 km², with a density of 491 people per km².
Is the population of Elsau growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Elsau went from 3,480 to 3,957, a change of +13.7%.
Where is Elsau?
Elsau is in Zürich. It belongs to Bezirk Winterthur (district). Latitude 47.506, longitude 8.803.
Share of single-family houses among residential buildings: what is the figure for Elsau?
In Elsau, “Share of single-family houses among residential buildings” stands at 79.8% (2026), ranking 231 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 69.5%.
Heat pumps as main heating: what is the figure for Elsau?
In Elsau, “Heat pumps as main heating” stands at 25.4% (2026), ranking 365 of 1,806 municipalities; the national median is 13.7%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Elsau?
In Elsau, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 37° produces about 1,144 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Elsau?
The nearest to Elsau are Wiesendangen (2.0 km), Schlatt (ZH) (4.6 km), Gachnang (4.6 km), Elgg (4.9 km), Rickenbach (ZH) (5.2 km).