Ranking · Data 2025 · Source: BFS
The fastest-shrinking municipalities in canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden
National ranking →Wald is shrinking fastest in canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden: its population fell -1.4 % in 2025. Next come Schwellbrunn (-0.8 %) and Stein (-0.3 %). The basis is the year’s population change. Source: FSO (BEVNAT).
Ranking
BFS · 2025| Rank | Municipality | Population change | Residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wald | -1.4% | 916 |
| 2 | Schwellbrunn | -0.8% | 1'543 |
| 3 | Stein | -0.3% | 1'492 |
| 4 | Rehetobel | -0.2% | 1'710 |
| 5 | Grub | 0% | 986 |
| 6 | Speicher | 0.1% | 4'505 |
| 7 | Hundwil | 0.2% | 967 |
| 8 | Urnäsch | 0.4% | 2'382 |
| 9 | Gais | 0.5% | 3'150 |
| 10 | Heiden | 0.7% | 4'413 |
| 11 | Schönengrund | 0.7% | 561 |
| 12 | Herisau | 1% | 16'100 |
| 13 | Bühler | 1.2% | 1'958 |
| 14 | Wolfhalden | 1.3% | 1'913 |
| 15 | Lutzenberg | 1.4% | 1'340 |
| 16 | Trogen | 1.5% | 1'905 |
| 17 | Teufen | 1.9% | 6'646 |
| 18 | Reute | 2% | 717 |
| 19 | Waldstatt | 2.1% | 1'906 |
| 20 | Walzenhausen | 2.8% | 2'111 |
BEVNAT (Statistik der natürlichen Bevölkerungsbewegung) 2025 · Federal Statistical Office (FSO), retrieved 11.09.2026
How we measure this
BFSChange in the permanent resident population during calendar year 2025, in percent of the population on 1 January, from the FSO statistics on natural population movement (BEVNAT) and migration. This ranking shows the same measure from the other end: the steepest declines first. A negative value means shrinkage.
Frequently asked questions
- Which municipality in canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden is shrinking fastest?
- Wald: -1.4 % population in 2025 — the steepest decline of any municipality in canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden. Source: FSO (BEVNAT).
- Why do some municipalities shrink?
- The year’s population change comes from births, deaths and in/out-migration (FSO BEVNAT). When deaths and departures outweigh births and arrivals, the population falls. The percentage makes small and large municipalities comparable.