Zurich has never been bigger – after a long decline
At the end of 2025, 452,421 people lived in the City of Zurich. That is a record, but only a recent one: as early as 1962, the city had 440,180 residents. Then the city shrank for almost three decades, to 355,901 in 1989. Only in 2022 did Zurich pass its old peak again.
Residents of the City of Zurich, 1894–2025 0 200,000 400,000 600,000 1900 1925 1950 1975 2000 2025 Residents, 1894: 124,411 Residents, 1900: 150,547 Residents, 1901: 150,301 Residents, 1902: 153,741 Residents, 1903: 158,719 Residents, 1904: 164,060 Residents, 1905: 168,877 Residents, 1906: 173,283 Residents, 1907: 177,899 Residents, 1908: 180,722 Residents, 1909: 185,041 Residents, 1910: 190,092 Residents, 1911: 195,525 Residents, 1912: 200,462 Residents, 1913: 200,632 Residents, 1914: 195,867 Residents, 1915: 199,726 Residents, 1916: 206,073 Residents, 1917: 213,193 Residents, 1918: 211,421 Residents, 1919: 210,151 Residents, 1920: 206,299 Residents, 1921: 201,242 Residents, 1922: 200,289 Residents, 1923: 204,049 Residents, 1924: 206,719 Residents, 1925: 209,327 Residents, 1926: 214,959 Residents, 1927: 220,613 Residents, 1928: 230,476 Residents, 1929: 240,202 Residents, 1930: 249,067 Residents, 1931: 257,840 Residents, 1932: 261,336 Residents, 1933: 264,971 Residents, 1934: 315,864 Residents, 1935: 317,157 Residents, 1936: 317,712 Residents, 1937: 318,926 Residents, 1938: 326,979 Residents, 1939: 333,984 Residents, 1940: 334,026 Residents, 1941: 336,531 Residents, 1942: 339,721 Residents, 1943: 345,819 Residents, 1944: 351,679 Residents, 1945: 357,381 Residents, 1946: 367,171 Residents, 1947: 377,087 Residents, 1948: 383,568 Residents, 1949: 386,003 Residents, 1950: 389,573 Residents, 1951: 396,260 Residents, 1952: 403,625 Residents, 1953: 408,544 Residents, 1954: 413,044 Residents, 1955: 417,351 Residents, 1956: 420,489 Residents, 1957: 426,349 Residents, 1958: 431,242 Residents, 1959: 434,080 Residents, 1960: 437,273 Residents, 1961: 439,322 Residents, 1962: 440,180 Residents, 1963: 439,090 Residents, 1964: 437,630 Residents, 1965: 433,865 Residents, 1966: 431,533 Residents, 1967: 430,594 Residents, 1968: 430,155 Residents, 1969: 425,117 Residents, 1970: 417,972 Residents, 1971: 412,169 Residents, 1972: 407,647 Residents, 1973: 401,577 Residents, 1974: 396,261 Residents, 1975: 389,613 Residents, 1976: 382,999 Residents, 1977: 379,635 Residents, 1978: 376,447 Residents, 1979: 374,221 Residents, 1980: 370,618 Residents, 1981: 368,171 Residents, 1982: 366,340 Residents, 1983: 363,652 Residents, 1984: 361,493 Residents, 1985: 359,084 Residents, 1986: 358,873 Residents, 1987: 358,042 Residents, 1988: 357,360 Residents, 1989: 355,901 Residents, 1990: 356,352 Residents, 1991: 360,875 Residents, 1992: 361,488 Residents, 1993: 360,898 Residents, 1994: 360,848 Residents, 1995: 360,826 Residents, 1996: 359,648 Residents, 1997: 358,594 Residents, 1998: 359,073 Residents, 1999: 360,704 Residents, 2000: 360,980 Residents, 2001: 362,042 Residents, 2002: 364,558 Residents, 2003: 364,528 Residents, 2004: 364,977 Residents, 2005: 366,809 Residents, 2006: 370,062 Residents, 2007: 376,815 Residents, 2008: 380,499 Residents, 2009: 382,906 Residents, 2010: 385,468 Residents, 2011: 390,082 Residents, 2012: 394,012 Residents, 2013: 398,575 Residents, 2014: 404,783 Residents, 2015: 410,404 Residents, 2016: 415,682 Residents, 2017: 423,310 Residents, 2018: 428,737 Residents, 2019: 434,008 Residents, 2020: 434,736 Residents, 2021: 436,332 Residents, 2022: 443,037 Residents, 2023: 447,082 Residents, 2024: 448,664 Residents, 2025: 452,421 1962: 440,180 1989: 355,901 2025: 452,421 Source: Bevölkerung nach Herkunft und Geschlecht , Statistik Stadt Zürich / Open Data Zürich (Data as of 10 October 2026)
Data as a table Year Residents Foreign nationals % 1894 124,411 27.9 1900 150,547 28.9 1901 150,301 28 1902 153,741 28 1903 158,719 28.9 1904 164,060 29.5 1905 168,877 30.6 1906 173,283 31.6 1907 177,899 32.1 1908 180,722 32.1 1909 185,041 32.4 1910 190,092 33.5 1911 195,525 33.8 1912 200,462 34.2 1913 200,632 33.4 1914 195,867 30.1 1915 199,726 28.6 1916 206,073 27.8 1917 213,193 26.4 1918 211,421 24.6 1919 210,151 23.1 1920 206,299 21.8 1921 201,242 19.8 1922 200,289 19.2 1923 204,049 19.3 1924 206,719 18.3 1925 209,327 17.4 1926 214,959 16.9 1927 220,613 16.2 1928 230,476 15.6 1929 240,202 15.4 1930 249,067 15.2 1931 257,840 14.7 1932 261,336 13.8 1933 264,971 13.1 1934 315,864 11.7 1935 317,157 11 1936 317,712 10.3 1937 318,926 9.8 1938 326,979 10.1 1939 333,984 9.4 1940 334,026 8.4 1941 336,531 7.9 1942 339,721 7.4 1943 345,819 7.3 1944 351,679 7.1 1945 357,381 6.8 1946 367,171 7.3 1947 377,087 8.5 1948 383,568 9 1949 386,003 8.4 1950 389,573 8.1 1951 396,260 8.6 1952 403,625 8.9 1953 408,544 8.8 1954 413,044 8.5 1955 417,351 8.8 1956 420,489 9.4 1957 426,349 10.4 1958 431,242 10.8 1959 434,080 11 1960 437,273 12.1 1961 439,322 13.5 1962 440,180 14.5 1963 439,090 15.3 1964 437,630 15.7 1965 433,865 15.5 1966 431,533 15.6 1967 430,594 16.1 1968 430,155 16.9 1969 425,117 16.8 1970 417,972 16.7 1971 412,169 17 1972 407,647 17.7 1973 401,577 18.3 1974 396,261 18.7 1975 389,613 18.1 1976 382,999 17.6 1977 379,635 17.5 1978 376,447 17.7 1979 374,221 18.1 1980 370,618 18.1 1981 368,171 18.7 1982 366,340 19.5 1983 363,652 20 1984 361,493 20 1985 359,084 20.2 1986 358,873 20.6 1987 358,042 21.2 1988 357,360 21.9 1989 355,901 22.7 1990 356,352 23.8 1991 360,875 25.3 1992 361,488 25.9 1993 360,898 26.8 1994 360,848 27.5 1995 360,826 28.1 1996 359,648 28.4 1997 358,594 28.6 1998 359,073 28.8 1999 360,704 29.3 2000 360,980 29.2 2001 362,042 29.3 2002 364,558 29.8 2003 364,528 29.9 2004 364,977 30.2 2005 366,809 30.2 2006 370,062 30 2007 376,815 30.6 2008 380,499 31 2009 382,906 30.7 2010 385,468 30.5 2011 390,082 31 2012 394,012 31.3 2013 398,575 31.6 2014 404,783 31.9 2015 410,404 32 2016 415,682 32.1 2017 423,310 32.4 2018 428,737 32.3 2019 434,008 32.2 2020 434,736 32.1 2021 436,332 32.2 2022 443,037 33.1 2023 447,082 33.6 2024 448,664 33.7 2025 452,421 33.9
A third without a Swiss passport – like a century ago
33.9 per cent of residents do not hold a Swiss passport. That sounds new, but it isn’t: in 1912 the share was 34.2 per cent. By 1945, at the end of the Second World War, it had fallen to 6.8 per cent. Not having a Swiss passport is not the same as being born abroad (and vice versa); these figures show citizenship.
Share of residents without a Swiss passport, per cent 0 % 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 1900 1925 1950 1975 2000 2025 Share, 1894: 27.9 % Share, 1900: 28.9 % Share, 1901: 28 % Share, 1902: 28 % Share, 1903: 28.9 % Share, 1904: 29.5 % Share, 1905: 30.6 % Share, 1906: 31.6 % Share, 1907: 32.1 % Share, 1908: 32.1 % Share, 1909: 32.4 % Share, 1910: 33.5 % Share, 1911: 33.8 % Share, 1912: 34.2 % Share, 1913: 33.4 % Share, 1914: 30.1 % Share, 1915: 28.6 % Share, 1916: 27.8 % Share, 1917: 26.4 % Share, 1918: 24.6 % Share, 1919: 23.1 % Share, 1920: 21.8 % Share, 1921: 19.8 % Share, 1922: 19.2 % Share, 1923: 19.3 % Share, 1924: 18.3 % Share, 1925: 17.4 % Share, 1926: 16.9 % Share, 1927: 16.2 % Share, 1928: 15.6 % Share, 1929: 15.4 % Share, 1930: 15.2 % Share, 1931: 14.7 % Share, 1932: 13.8 % Share, 1933: 13.1 % Share, 1934: 11.7 % Share, 1935: 11 % Share, 1936: 10.3 % Share, 1937: 9.8 % Share, 1938: 10.1 % Share, 1939: 9.4 % Share, 1940: 8.4 % Share, 1941: 7.9 % Share, 1942: 7.4 % Share, 1943: 7.3 % Share, 1944: 7.1 % Share, 1945: 6.8 % Share, 1946: 7.3 % Share, 1947: 8.5 % Share, 1948: 9 % Share, 1949: 8.4 % Share, 1950: 8.1 % Share, 1951: 8.6 % Share, 1952: 8.9 % Share, 1953: 8.8 % Share, 1954: 8.5 % Share, 1955: 8.8 % Share, 1956: 9.4 % Share, 1957: 10.4 % Share, 1958: 10.8 % Share, 1959: 11 % Share, 1960: 12.1 % Share, 1961: 13.5 % Share, 1962: 14.5 % Share, 1963: 15.3 % Share, 1964: 15.7 % Share, 1965: 15.5 % Share, 1966: 15.6 % Share, 1967: 16.1 % Share, 1968: 16.9 % Share, 1969: 16.8 % Share, 1970: 16.7 % Share, 1971: 17 % Share, 1972: 17.7 % Share, 1973: 18.3 % Share, 1974: 18.7 % Share, 1975: 18.1 % Share, 1976: 17.6 % Share, 1977: 17.5 % Share, 1978: 17.7 % Share, 1979: 18.1 % Share, 1980: 18.1 % Share, 1981: 18.7 % Share, 1982: 19.5 % Share, 1983: 20 % Share, 1984: 20 % Share, 1985: 20.2 % Share, 1986: 20.6 % Share, 1987: 21.2 % Share, 1988: 21.9 % Share, 1989: 22.7 % Share, 1990: 23.8 % Share, 1991: 25.3 % Share, 1992: 25.9 % Share, 1993: 26.8 % Share, 1994: 27.5 % Share, 1995: 28.1 % Share, 1996: 28.4 % Share, 1997: 28.6 % Share, 1998: 28.8 % Share, 1999: 29.3 % Share, 2000: 29.2 % Share, 2001: 29.3 % Share, 2002: 29.8 % Share, 2003: 29.9 % Share, 2004: 30.2 % Share, 2005: 30.2 % Share, 2006: 30 % Share, 2007: 30.6 % Share, 2008: 31 % Share, 2009: 30.7 % Share, 2010: 30.5 % Share, 2011: 31 % Share, 2012: 31.3 % Share, 2013: 31.6 % Share, 2014: 31.9 % Share, 2015: 32 % Share, 2016: 32.1 % Share, 2017: 32.4 % Share, 2018: 32.3 % Share, 2019: 32.2 % Share, 2020: 32.1 % Share, 2021: 32.2 % Share, 2022: 33.1 % Share, 2023: 33.6 % Share, 2024: 33.7 % Share, 2025: 33.9 % 1912: 34.2 % 1945: 6.8 % 2025: 33.9 % Source: Bevölkerung nach Herkunft und Geschlecht , Statistik Stadt Zürich / Open Data Zürich (Data as of 10 October 2026)
Where Zurich’s foreign residents come from
At the end of 2025, the city’s residents held the citizenship of 176 countries. Germans are by far the largest group, well ahead of Italians. In 1993, the first year of this series, it was the other way round.
The twelve most common foreign nationalities, end of 2025 Germany 32,598 Germany: 32,598 Italy 18,106 Italy: 18,106 Spain 8734 Spain: 8734 Portugal 6907 Portugal: 6907 France 5985 France: 5985 Austria 5141 Austria: 5141 Greece 3804 Greece: 3804 Türkiye 3535 Türkiye: 3535 Poland 3419 Poland: 3419 Eritrea 3411 Eritrea: 3411 China 3344 China: 3344 Ukraine 3303 Ukraine: 3303 Source: Bevölkerung nach Nationalität und Stadtquartier , Statistik Stadt Zürich / Open Data Zürich (Data as of 10 October 2026)
Data as a table Nationality 1993 2025 Germany 8900 32,598 Italy 21,344 18,106 Spain 8722 8734 Portugal 5418 6907 France 856 5985 Austria 2986 5141 Greece 2130 3804 Türkiye 5434 3535 Poland 525 3419 Eritrea 1 3411 China 441 3344 Ukraine 12 3303
The longer series shows two waves of immigration. Around 1910 Zurich was a city with many Germans (42,554 in 1912). After the Second World War, the number of Italians rose steeply, peaking at 34,401 in 1968. Since 2003, Germans again outnumber Italians.
Residents with German and with Italian passports
0 20,000 40,000 60,000 1900 1925 1950 1975 2000 2025 Germany, 1894: 23,159 Germany, 1900: 31,122 Germany, 1901: 30,858 Germany, 1902: 31,310 Germany, 1903: 32,403 Germany, 1904: 33,526 Germany, 1905: 34,578 Germany, 1906: 35,619 Germany, 1907: 36,672 Germany, 1908: 37,420 Germany, 1909: 38,582 Germany, 1910: 40,373 Germany, 1911: 41,399 Germany, 1912: 42,554 Germany, 1913: 42,022 Germany, 1914: 36,414 Germany, 1915: 32,962 Germany, 1916: 32,452 Germany, 1917: 31,033 Germany, 1918: 27,932 Germany, 1919: 26,566 Germany, 1920: 25,652 Germany, 1921: 23,173 Germany, 1922: 22,562 Germany, 1923: 23,593 Germany, 1924: 22,061 Germany, 1925: 20,816 Germany, 1926: 20,707 Germany, 1927: 20,233 Germany, 1928: 20,056 Germany, 1929: 20,690 Germany, 1930: 21,315 Germany, 1931: 21,303 Germany, 1932: 20,094 Germany, 1933: 19,247 Germany, 1941: 14,289 Germany, 1950: 9515 Germany, 1951: 10,068 Germany, 1952: 10,713 Germany, 1953: 10,776 Germany, 1954: 10,645 Germany, 1955: 11,194 Germany, 1956: 11,958 Germany, 1957: 12,803 Germany, 1958: 13,448 Germany, 1959: 13,549 Germany, 1960: 14,121 Germany, 1961: 14,954 Germany, 1962: 15,838 Germany, 1963: 16,435 Germany, 1964: 15,939 Germany, 1965: 14,262 Germany, 1966: 13,120 Germany, 1967: 13,054 Germany, 1968: 12,778 Germany, 1969: 12,488 Germany, 1970: 11,526 Germany, 1971: 10,961 Germany, 1972: 10,550 Germany, 1973: 10,149 Germany, 1974: 9721 Germany, 1975: 9362 Germany, 1976: 8970 Germany, 1977: 8762 Germany, 1978: 8637 Germany, 1979: 8445 Germany, 1980: 7898 Germany, 1981: 7845 Germany, 1982: 7779 Germany, 1983: 7743 Germany, 1984: 7597 Germany, 1985: 7556 Germany, 1986: 7690 Germany, 1987: 7765 Germany, 1988: 7853 Germany, 1989: 8049 Germany, 1990: 8186 Germany, 1992: 8607 Germany, 1993: 8900 Germany, 1994: 9144 Germany, 1995: 9376 Germany, 1996: 9806 Germany, 1997: 9980 Germany, 1998: 10,451 Germany, 1999: 11,089 Germany, 2000: 12,184 Germany, 2001: 13,149 Germany, 2002: 14,345 Germany, 2003: 15,559 Germany, 2004: 17,152 Germany, 2005: 19,309 Germany, 2006: 21,864 Germany, 2007: 25,379 Germany, 2008: 27,870 Germany, 2009: 28,826 Germany, 2010: 29,877 Germany, 2011: 31,124 Germany, 2012: 31,513 Germany, 2013: 32,185 Germany, 2014: 32,830 Germany, 2015: 33,110 Germany, 2016: 33,548 Germany, 2017: 33,788 Germany, 2018: 33,579 Germany, 2019: 33,268 Germany, 2020: 32,648 Germany, 2021: 31,813 Germany, 2022: 31,916 Germany, 2023: 32,155 Germany, 2024: 32,091 Germany, 2025: 32,598 Italy, 1894: 5163 Italy, 1900: 5050 Italy, 1901: 3949 Italy, 1902: 4172 Italy, 1903: 5081 Italy, 1904: 5638 Italy, 1905: 6808 Italy, 1906: 7739 Italy, 1907: 8609 Italy, 1908: 8369 Italy, 1909: 8682 Italy, 1910: 10,065 Italy, 1911: 10,972 Italy, 1912: 11,702 Italy, 1913: 10,410 Italy, 1914: 7958 Italy, 1915: 8903 Italy, 1916: 8679 Italy, 1917: 8828 Italy, 1918: 8451 Italy, 1919: 8108 Italy, 1920: 7475 Italy, 1921: 6736 Italy, 1922: 6626 Italy, 1923: 6613 Italy, 1924: 6673 Italy, 1925: 6610 Italy, 1926: 6602 Italy, 1927: 6664 Italy, 1928: 6952 Italy, 1929: 6990 Italy, 1930: 7057 Italy, 1931: 7209 Italy, 1932: 7192 Italy, 1933: 7055 Italy, 1941: 7389 Italy, 1950: 11,064 Italy, 1951: 12,317 Italy, 1952: 12,629 Italy, 1953: 12,563 Italy, 1954: 12,219 Italy, 1955: 13,290 Italy, 1956: 15,301 Italy, 1957: 17,644 Italy, 1958: 18,589 Italy, 1959: 19,735 Italy, 1960: 22,644 Italy, 1961: 26,281 Italy, 1962: 28,507 Italy, 1963: 29,399 Italy, 1964: 30,776 Italy, 1965: 31,110 Italy, 1966: 32,145 Italy, 1967: 33,530 Italy, 1968: 34,401 Italy, 1969: 31,843 Italy, 1970: 31,034 Italy, 1971: 30,788 Italy, 1972: 31,639 Italy, 1973: 32,224 Italy, 1974: 32,111 Italy, 1975: 30,667 Italy, 1976: 28,735 Italy, 1977: 27,689 Italy, 1978: 27,072 Italy, 1979: 26,910 Italy, 1980: 25,632 Italy, 1981: 25,498 Italy, 1982: 25,297 Italy, 1983: 25,002 Italy, 1984: 24,515 Italy, 1985: 24,053 Italy, 1986: 23,759 Italy, 1987: 23,398 Italy, 1988: 23,158 Italy, 1989: 22,795 Italy, 1990: 22,526 Italy, 1992: 22,312 Italy, 1993: 21,344 Italy, 1994: 20,760 Italy, 1995: 20,290 Italy, 1996: 19,413 Italy, 1997: 18,646 Italy, 1998: 17,802 Italy, 1999: 17,171 Italy, 2000: 16,354 Italy, 2001: 15,774 Italy, 2002: 15,517 Italy, 2003: 14,985 Italy, 2004: 14,609 Italy, 2005: 14,241 Italy, 2006: 13,946 Italy, 2007: 13,715 Italy, 2008: 13,598 Italy, 2009: 13,373 Italy, 2010: 13,096 Italy, 2011: 13,144 Italy, 2012: 13,227 Italy, 2013: 13,579 Italy, 2014: 14,032 Italy, 2015: 14,276 Italy, 2016: 14,543 Italy, 2017: 14,764 Italy, 2018: 15,080 Italy, 2019: 15,506 Italy, 2020: 15,589 Italy, 2021: 15,930 Italy, 2022: 16,614 Italy, 2023: 17,138 Italy, 2024: 17,492 Italy, 2025: 18,106 1968: 34,401 1912: 42,554 Source: Ausländische Bevölkerung nach Jahr und Nationalität (historische Daten) , Statistik Stadt Zürich / Open Data Zürich (Data as of 10 October 2026)
Data as a table Year Germany Italy 1894 23,159 5163 1900 31,122 5050 1901 30,858 3949 1902 31,310 4172 1903 32,403 5081 1904 33,526 5638 1905 34,578 6808 1906 35,619 7739 1907 36,672 8609 1908 37,420 8369 1909 38,582 8682 1910 40,373 10,065 1911 41,399 10,972 1912 42,554 11,702 1913 42,022 10,410 1914 36,414 7958 1915 32,962 8903 1916 32,452 8679 1917 31,033 8828 1918 27,932 8451 1919 26,566 8108 1920 25,652 7475 1921 23,173 6736 1922 22,562 6626 1923 23,593 6613 1924 22,061 6673 1925 20,816 6610 1926 20,707 6602 1927 20,233 6664 1928 20,056 6952 1929 20,690 6990 1930 21,315 7057 1931 21,303 7209 1932 20,094 7192 1933 19,247 7055 1941 14,289 7389 1950 9515 11,064 1951 10,068 12,317 1952 10,713 12,629 1953 10,776 12,563 1954 10,645 12,219 1955 11,194 13,290 1956 11,958 15,301 1957 12,803 17,644 1958 13,448 18,589 1959 13,549 19,735 1960 14,121 22,644 1961 14,954 26,281 1962 15,838 28,507 1963 16,435 29,399 1964 15,939 30,776 1965 14,262 31,110 1966 13,120 32,145 1967 13,054 33,530 1968 12,778 34,401 1969 12,488 31,843 1970 11,526 31,034 1971 10,961 30,788 1972 10,550 31,639 1973 10,149 32,224 1974 9721 32,111 1975 9362 30,667 1976 8970 28,735 1977 8762 27,689 1978 8637 27,072 1979 8445 26,910 1980 7898 25,632 1981 7845 25,498 1982 7779 25,297 1983 7743 25,002 1984 7597 24,515 1985 7556 24,053 1986 7690 23,759 1987 7765 23,398 1988 7853 23,158 1989 8049 22,795 1990 8186 22,526 1992 8607 22,312 1993 8900 21,344 1994 9144 20,760 1995 9376 20,290 1996 9806 19,413 1997 9980 18,646 1998 10,451 17,802 1999 11,089 17,171 2000 12,184 16,354 2001 13,149 15,774 2002 14,345 15,517 2003 15,559 14,985 2004 17,152 14,609 2005 19,309 14,241 2006 21,864 13,946 2007 25,379 13,715 2008 27,870 13,598 2009 28,826 13,373 2010 29,877 13,096 2011 31,124 13,144 2012 31,513 13,227 2013 32,185 13,579 2014 32,830 14,032 2015 33,110 14,276 2016 33,548 14,543 2017 33,788 14,764 2018 33,579 15,080 2019 33,268 15,506 2020 32,648 15,589 2021 31,813 15,930 2022 31,916 16,614 2023 32,155 17,138 2024 32,091 17,492 2025 32,598 18,106
The city grows in the north and west
Since 1993 the city’s population has grown by 25.4 per cent, but very unevenly. Kreis 11 (Affoltern, Oerlikon, Seebach) grew by 54.5 per cent, or 28,545 people – a small town’s worth. Fewer people live in the old town (Kreis 1) today than in 1993.
Population growth by district, 1993–2025, per cent Kreis 1 -3.6 % Kreis 1: -3.6 % Kreis 2 +34.1 % Kreis 2: +34.1 % Kreis 3 +11.4 % Kreis 3: +11.4 % Kreis 4 +3.8 % Kreis 4: +3.8 % Kreis 5 +38.8 % Kreis 5: +38.8 % Kreis 6 +19.6 % Kreis 6: +19.6 % Kreis 7 +18.8 % Kreis 7: +18.8 % Kreis 8 +13.3 % Kreis 8: +13.3 % Kreis 9 +35.9 % Kreis 9: +35.9 % Kreis 10 +18.9 % Kreis 10: +18.9 % Kreis 11 +54.5 % Kreis 11: +54.5 % Kreis 12 +19.5 % Kreis 12: +19.5 % Source: Bevölkerung nach Stadtkreis , Statistik Stadt Zürich / Open Data Zürich (Data as of 10 October 2026)
Data as a table District 1993 2025 % Kreis 1 5961 5747 -3.6 Kreis 2 28,607 38,360 34.1 Kreis 3 46,340 51,608 11.4 Kreis 4 28,300 29,380 3.8 Kreis 5 11,495 15,954 38.8 Kreis 6 30,579 36,584 19.6 Kreis 7 33,788 40,152 18.8 Kreis 8 15,833 17,936 13.3 Kreis 9 45,003 61,178 35.9 Kreis 10 35,092 41,726 18.9 Kreis 11 52,419 80,964 54.5 Kreis 12 27,481 32,832 19.5
One empty flat in about 950
On 1 June 2026, 252 of the city’s 238,459 dwellings stood empty, a vacancy rate of 0.11 per cent. Even the highest value since 2009 was only 0.22 per cent (2014). For rents, see the 2026 rent survey .
Vacancy rate on 1 June, per cent of all dwellings 0 % 0.1 % 0.2 % 0.3 % 2009: 0.05 % 2009 2010: 0.06 % 2011: 0.06 % 2011 2012: 0.1 % 2013: 0.11 % 2013 2014: 0.22 % 2015: 0.22 % 2015 2016: 0.22 % 2017: 0.21 % 2017 2018: 0.2 % 2019: 0.14 % 2019 2020: 0.15 % 2021: 0.17 % 2021 2022: 0.07 % 2023: 0.06 % 2023 2024: 0.07 % 2025: 0.1 % 2025 2026: 0.11 % 2026 Source: Leerstehende Wohnungen nach Stadtquartier, Zimmerzahl, Gebäudeart, Bewohnungsart und Gebäudealter , Statistik Stadt Zürich / Open Data Zürich (Data as of 10 October 2026)
Data as a table Year Empty Dwellings % 2009 105 207,403 0.05 2010 134 207,651 0.06 2011 120 209,165 0.06 2012 205 210,738 0.1 2013 227 213,325 0.11 2014 471 214,852 0.22 2015 483 216,542 0.22 2016 484 218,232 0.22 2017 454 220,759 0.21 2018 447 223,510 0.2 2019 306 225,971 0.14 2020 339 227,964 0.15 2021 381 229,614 0.17 2022 161 230,438 0.07 2023 144 232,604 0.06 2024 169 234,893 0.07 2025 235 237,154 0.1 2026 252 238,459 0.11
Hot days have almost tripled
At the Stampfenbachstrasse station, there were on average 5.7 days a year from 1993 to 2002 on which the hourly mean temperature reached 30 °C. From 2016 to 2025 there were 16.5. In 2026, there had already been 48 such days by 9 October 2026 – more than in any full year since measurements began (previous record: 30 days in 2015). The hatched bar is the current year. These counts use the day’s highest hourly mean; MeteoSwiss’s official definition uses the daily maximum and gives somewhat more hot days.
Hot days per year (highest hourly mean ≥ 30 °C), Stampfenbachstrasse station 0 20 40 60 1993: 2 1993 1994: 16 1995: 6 1996: 2 1997: 0 1997 1998: 13 1999: 2 2000: 3 2001: 5 2001 2002: 8 2003: 26 2004: 4 2005: 14 2005 2006: 20 2007: 5 2008: 8 2009: 9 2009 2010: 11 2011: 10 2012: 12 2013: 14 2013 2014: 6 2015: 30 2016: 10 2017: 21 2017 2018: 17 2019: 20 2020: 14 2021: 6 2021 2022: 20 2023: 21 2024: 19 2025: 17 2025 2026: 48 Source: Täglich aktualisierte Meteodaten, seit 1992 , Statistik Stadt Zürich / Open Data Zürich (Data as of 10 October 2026)
Data as a table Year Hot days 1993 2 1994 16 1995 6 1996 2 1997 0 1998 13 1999 2 2000 3 2001 5 2002 8 2003 26 2004 4 2005 14 2006 20 2007 5 2008 8 2009 9 2010 11 2011 10 2012 12 2013 14 2014 6 2015 30 2016 10 2017 21 2018 17 2019 20 2020 14 2021 6 2022 20 2023 21 2024 19 2025 17 2026 48
Zurich votes differently from Switzerland more and more often
Since 1933, the city has decided differently from Switzerland as a whole in 91 of 591 federal ballots. For decades that happened in about one ballot in seven. In the 2020s it is one in four. The widest gap of recent years came on 14 June 2026, on the Volksinitiative «Keine 10-Millionen-Schweiz! (Nachhaltigkeitsinitiative)»: 24.1 per cent yes in the city, 45.2 per cent across Switzerland. For this analysis, the city’s result is always the sum of its districts’ results.
Federal ballots in which the City of Zurich voted differently from Switzerland, per cent 0 % 10 % 20 % 30 % 1930s: 6 % 1930s 6 % 1940s: 18 % 1940s 18 % 1950s: 16 % 1950s 16 % 1960s: 12 % 1960s 12 % 1970s: 16 % 1970s 16 % 1980s: 13 % 1980s 13 % 1990s: 12 % 1990s 12 % 2000s: 15 % 2000s 15 % 2010s: 16 % 2010s 16 % 2020s: 25 % 2020s 25 % Source: Abstimmungsresultate der Stadt Zürich, seit 1933 , Statistik Stadt Zürich / Open Data Zürich (Data as of 5 October 2026)
Data as a table Decade Ballots different % 1930s 16 1 6 1940s 17 3 18 1950s 45 7 16 1960s 26 3 12 1970s 86 14 16 1980s 62 8 13 1990s 100 12 12 2000s 93 14 15 2010s 83 13 16 2020s 63 16 25
Zurich First-Hand