B.1a
Population by Canton: Absolute Numbers
B.1b
Population by Canton: Population density
B.1c
Population by Canton: Population Growth
B.2a
Population by Elevation of Municipality
B.2b
Population by Elevation of Municipality
B.3
Population by Size of Municipality
B.4
Present Population by Canton
B.5a
Inhabited Structures by Canton
B.6b
Average Number of Persons per Household
B.7
Population of Cantons by Age
B.8a
Total Population by Age
B.8b
Resident Population: Children and Young People
B.9a
Male Resident Population by Canton
B.9b
Female Resident Population by Canton
B.10
Resident Population by Gender and Origin
B.11a
Male Population by Age and Marital Status
B.11b
Female Population by Age and Marital Status
B.12a
Total Population by Age and Marital Status
B.13
Population of Cantons by Gender and Marital Status
B.14
Total Population by Gender, Marital Status and Nationality
B.15
Population of Cantons by Gender and Nationality
B.16
Total Population by Gender and Home Categories
B.17
Total Population by Gender and Place of Birth
B.18a
Population of Cantons by Home Categories (Absolute Numbers)
B.19
Population of Cantons by Home Canton
B.20a
Population of Cantons by Place of Birth (Absolute Numbers)
B.21
Foreigners by Home Country
B.22a
Foreigners by Home Country and Gender
B.23
Foreigners from Selected Countries by Canton
B.26
Population by Nationality and Religion
B.27
Population of Cantons by Religion
B.28
Religion of Married Couples
B.30
Population by Nationality and Native Language
B.31
Native Language of Married Couples
B.32
Population of Cantons by Native Language
B.33
Swiss Population of Cantons by Religion
B.34
Swiss Population of Cantons by Native Language
B.35
Foreign Population of Cantons by Religion
B.36
Foreign Population of Cantons by Native Language
B.37
Population Development in Different Municipalities
B.38a
Population by Marital Status and Gender (10 Cities)
B.38b
Population by Marital Status and Gender (10 Cities): Percentages
B.39a
Population by Home Categories (10 Cities)
B.39b
Population by Home Categories (10 Cities): Percentages
B.40a
Population by Religion and Nationality (10 Cities)
B.40b
Population by Religion and Nationality (10 Cities): Percentages
B.41a
Population by Native Language and Nationality (10 Cities)
B.41b
Population by Native Language and Nationality (10 Cities): Percentages
B.42
Resident Population by Gender and Foreign Population
B.43
Swiss and Foreign Resident Population by Canton
B.44
Resident Population by Mother Tongue

B

1671
2005

Population

Introduction

Since 1850, the Swiss population is being counted every ten years, with this rhythm only broken with the census of 1888 and the one of 1941. The 1836/37 census, mandated by the legislature, is spotty and suffers from considerable statistical defects. This, by the way also pertains to later censuses.

An early publication of the Federal Department of the Interior informs us about the results of the 1850 census; results of subsequent censuses were published in the “Statistical Deliveries” (“Statistische Lieferungen” / “Livraisons statistiques”) and the “Official Statistics of Switzerland” (“Amtliche Statistik der Schweiz” / “Statistique officielle de la Suisse”), respectively.

The first four Swiss national censuses had serious shortcomings, but between 1880 and 1888, survey quality increased dramatically. However, between 1880 and 1888, the variety of data covered also increased, which forced us to employ restrictions. Certain areas of Swiss demographic history were available to us from the Statistical Year Book of Switzerland, though not without some complementing. We also profited from a recently published special study by André Schluchter which is based on the Federal count of 1798.

Each census since 1860 also contains data relating to employment structure. This special aspect of population development is covered in the “Occupations” chapter.
It should be mentioned that this chapter assigns a certain priority to the presentation of regional differences. Population data on age, gender, civil status, origin, religion, and primary language is given for individual cantons as well as for ten large and medium sized cities (Zurich, Basle, Geneva, Berne, Lausanne, St. Gall, Winterthur, Lucerne, Biel/Bienne, and La Chaux-de-Fonds).

The reason why certain tables in this chapter appear incomplete and inconsistent can be found in the frequent changes in the way the census was performed. In the area of religious belief, especially, the Federal Statistical Bureau never managed to develop a consistent and enduring scheme. Another problem is the varying degree of accuracy with which each census covered the presence of resident aliens; the number of nations of origin varies from census to census.

However, this is not the place for a detailed critique of source data; such a review is a task to be undertaken within the context of a monograph of the Swiss population of the 19th and early 20th century.

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The current chapter contains 51 table(s) between 1671 and 2005