Ranking · Data 2025 · Source: BFS
The fastest-shrinking municipalities in canton Schwyz
National ranking →Steinerberg is shrinking fastest in canton Schwyz: its population fell -1.1 % in 2025. Next come Lachen (-0.9 %) and Illgau (-0.4 %). The basis is the year’s population change. Source: FSO (BEVNAT).
Ranking
BFS · 2025| Rank | Municipality | Population change | Residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steinerberg | -1.1% | 954 |
| 2 | Lachen | -0.9% | 9'448 |
| 3 | Illgau | -0.4% | 819 |
| 4 | Steinen | -0.3% | 3'762 |
| 5 | Vorderthal | -0.3% | 1'032 |
| 6 | Reichenburg | -0.3% | 4'142 |
| 7 | Feusisberg | -0.2% | 5'588 |
| 8 | Wangen | -0.2% | 5'574 |
| 9 | Küssnacht | 0.3% | 14'185 |
| 10 | Rothenthurm | 0.4% | 2'604 |
| 11 | Freienbach | 0.4% | 17'100 |
| 12 | Wollerau | 0.5% | 7'631 |
| 13 | Ingenbohl | 0.5% | 9'599 |
| 14 | Muotathal | 0.6% | 3'604 |
| 15 | Tuggen | 0.6% | 3'491 |
| 16 | Arth | 0.7% | 12'616 |
| 17 | Galgenen | 0.8% | 5'506 |
| 18 | Einsiedeln | 0.8% | 16'667 |
| 19 | Lauerz | 1.4% | 1'165 |
| 20 | Alpthal | 1.4% | 641 |
| 21 | Sattel | 1.5% | 2'097 |
| 22 | Altendorf | 1.5% | 7'539 |
| 23 | Innerthal | 1.6% | 194 |
| 24 | Schübelbach | 1.7% | 9'919 |
| 25 | Morschach | 1.7% | 1'402 |
| 26 | Gersau | 1.8% | 2'505 |
| 27 | Schwyz | 1.8% | 16'735 |
| 28 | Unteriberg | 1.9% | 2'524 |
| 29 | Oberiberg | 2.7% | 941 |
| 30 | Riemenstalden | 3.5% | 88 |
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 Schwyz is shrinking fastest?
- Steinerberg: -1.1 % population in 2025 — the steepest decline of any municipality in canton Schwyz. 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.