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Switzerland · canton

Neuchâtel population 2026

Neuchâtel has 179,518 people on the latest official figure, for 1 January 2025, 1,227 more than a year earlier (+0.69%). It is 16th of Switzerland’s 26 cantons by population, home to 2.0% of Switzerland’s people.

If last year’s change continues: about 181 thousand by 1 July 2026. That is our arithmetic, not an official figure.

Neuchâtel in numbers

Population
180 thousand 1 January 2025
Change in a year
+0.69% +1,227 people
Change since 2020
+1.71% from 176 thousand
Share of Switzerland
2.0% 16th of 26 cantons
Population density
224per km² 802 km²

That is about as many people as Saint Lucia (180 thousand).

Population of Neuchâtel by year

Population of Neuchâtel
180k
› Show the numbers as a table
YearPopulation
2012173,183
2013174,554
2014176,402
2015177,327
2016178,107
2017178,567
2018177,964
2019176,850
2020176,496
2021175,894
2022176,166
2023176,571
2024178,291
2025179,518
YearPopulationChange
2025 179,518 +1,227
2024 178,291 +1,720
2023 176,571 +405
2022 176,166 +272
2021 175,894 −602
2020 176,496 −354
2019 176,850 −1,114
2018 177,964 −603
2017 178,567 +460
2016 178,107 +780
2015 177,327 +925
2014 176,402 +1,848
2013 174,554 +1,371
2012 173,183 –

Neuchâtel among Switzerland’s cantons

Full ranking →
Cantons of Switzerland by population
#
1 Zurich1,620,020+0.90%
2 Bern1,071,216+0.72%
3 Vaud855,106+1.09%
4 Aargau735,808+1.23%
5 St. Gallen540,036+0.92%
6 Geneva531,102+1.28%
7 Lucerne437,944+1.20%
8 Valais371,288+1.49%
9 Ticino358,903+0.33%
10 Fribourg346,674+1.50%
11 Basel-Landschaft301,323+0.83%
12 Thurgau299,509+1.45%
13 Solothurn289,792+1.03%
14 Graubünden206,138+0.61%
15 Basel-Stadt201,384+0.68%
16 Neuchâtel179,518+0.69%
17 Schwyz168,931+0.91%
18 Zug133,739+0.89%
19 Schaffhausen88,667+1.79%
20 Jura74,840+0.39%
21 Appenzell Ausserrhoden56,705+0.37%
22 Nidwalden45,345+0.73%
23 Glarus42,371+0.75%
24 Obwalden39,662+0.99%
25 Uri38,275+0.91%
26 Appenzell Innerrhoden16,733+0.89%

Largest cities in Neuchâtel

City proper, not the wider metro area; latest figure in GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), so years differ.

  1. La Chaux-de-Fonds37,942
  2. Neuchâtel33,475

Questions

What is the population of Neuchâtel in 2026?
The latest official figure is 179,518, for 1 January 2025 (Eurostat). If last year’s change continues, Neuchâtel would have about 181 thousand people by 1 July 2026; that is our arithmetic, not an official figure. Eurostat updates regional populations once a year.

Is Neuchâtel’s population growing or shrinking?
It grew by 1,227 people (+0.69%) in the latest year, and has changed +1.71% since 2020.

How does Neuchâtel rank in Switzerland?
Neuchâtel is 16th of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, with 2.0% of the people. Zurich is the largest, with 1.6 million.

What is the population density of Neuchâtel?
About 224 people per km², on 802 km². Total area, Wikidata.

What is the largest city in Neuchâtel?
La Chaux-de-Fonds, with about 38 thousand people in the city proper. Metro areas are larger, and years differ (GeoNames).

Source and method

Eurostat, population on 1 January by NUTS 3 region (demo_r_pjanaggr3). Eurostat reuse policy (CC BY 4.0). Total area, Wikidata. Eurostat updates regional populations once a year. Ranks, shares and changes are our arithmetic on the published figures. National figures can differ from the UN’s projection for Switzerland, which uses a different method. The 2026 figure above carries last year’s change forward; it does not come from the source.

Cite this page: Neuchâtel population, Eurostat, 1 January 2025. GlobeMetrics, https://globemetrics.org/world-population/switzerland/neuchatel/

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