How is the share of foreign residents measured?

It is the share of the permanent resident population without Swiss citizenship, from the BFS STATPOP register. Citizenship is not the same as place of birth or migration background.

← Canton Obwalden overview

Ranking · Data 2025 · Source: BFS

Municipalities with the highest share of foreign residents in canton Obwalden (2025)

National ranking →

Engelberg has the highest share of foreign residents in canton Obwalden: 30.3% (2025). It is followed by Alpnach (18.7%) and Sarnen (18.4%). Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS), STATPOP 2025.

Ranking

BFS · STATPOP · 2025

Rank	Municipality	Foreign residents	Residents
1	Engelberg	30.3%	4'377
2	Alpnach	18.7%	6'594
3	Sarnen	18.4%	10'906
4	Giswil	15.1%	4'013
5	Sachseln	13.3%	5'300
6	Kerns	12.5%	6'557
7	Lungern	12.1%	2'132

STATPOP 2025 · Federal Statistical Office (FSO), retrieved 31.08.2026

How we measure this

BFS · STATPOP

Share of permanent residents without Swiss citizenship, per municipality, from the BFS STATPOP register (2025). Citizenship, not place of birth. Small municipalities can show extreme values — the residents column provides the context.

Frequently asked questions

Which municipality in canton Obwalden has the highest share of foreign residents?: Engelberg has the highest share of foreign residents in canton Obwalden: 30.3% as of 2025.
How is the share of foreign residents measured?: It is the share of the permanent resident population without Swiss citizenship, from the BFS STATPOP register. Citizenship is not the same as place of birth or migration background.