About Neuchâtel
Neuchâtel is a town, a municipality, and the capital of the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel on Lake Neuchâtel. Since the fusion in 2021 of the municipalities of Neuchâtel, Corcelles-Cormondrèche, Peseux, and Valangin, the city has approximately 45,000 inhabitants. The city is sometimes referred to historically by the German name Neuenburg; both the French and German names mean 'New Castle'.
- Canton
- Neuchâtel
- Area
- 30.2 km²
Population
45'309residents
Median taxable income
CHF 60'608
Vacancy
1.04%
Foreign residents
32.9%
Dwellings
26'250
Jobs (FTE)
35'804
Tax multiplier
65%
Land use across the commune
Every 100 × 100 m of Neuchâtel, coloured by how it's used. Drawn from the BFS Arealstatistik 2025 release — the most recent nationwide snapshot.
Source BFS Arealstatistik
Loading statistics …
Jobs & economy
35'804 full-time-equivalent jobs across 4'175 businesses — services make up 84% of employment, industry 15% (2018).
Source BFS STATENT
35'804FTE total
Primary0.3%
Secondary15.4%
Tertiary84.3%
Land use
31% built-up, 16% agricultural, 53% forest. Measured across 3'007 hectares (2025).
Source BFS Arealstatistik
Settlement31.1%
Agriculture15.6%
Forest53.3%
Water0.0%
Election Results
SP led the 2023 National Council election with 27.0%, ahead of Grüne at 20.2%.
Source BFS
SP27.0%+6.8 pp
Grüne20.2%−4.4 pp
FDP18.4%−1.1 pp
SVP12.0%+3.2 pp
GLP8.0%−3.9 pp
PdA7.7%−0.2 pp
Sol.
3.2%−0.8 pp
Others
3.6%
2023 vs 2019
Primary / second-home mix
85.9% of dwellings are primary residences; 14.1% are second homes (2026).
Source BFS
Primary residences85.9%
Second homes14.1%
Climate data
Annual mean 10.7°C with 956 mm of rain. Warmest in July (20.1°C), coldest in January (1.8°C). Station: Neuchâtel, 485 m.
Source MeteoSchweiz
10.7°C
Annual mean
Mean 10.7°C
Rain 956 mm
Sun ≈150 days
Neuchâtel · 485 m.a.s.l. · 1991–2020 normals
Warming trend
Mean annual temperature at Neuchâtel has risen by +2.4°C between the first 30 observed years (1864–1893) and the most recent (1996–2025).
Source MeteoSchweiz NBCN
+2.4°C
mean 1996–2025 vs. 1864–1893
Neuchâtel · 485 m.a.s.l. · 1864–2025
