Size of the dwelling

The size of the dwelling is defined by the number of rooms or its surface area.

Number of rooms

At national level, more than half of the housing stock is comprised of dwellings with 3 to 4 rooms.

Dwellings by number of rooms
  1990 2000 2010 2021
Total dwellings 3,159,977 3,569,181 4,079,060 4,688,288
1 room 237,075 241,239 260,047 300,613
2 rooms 463,941 502,636 559,278 693,260
3 rooms 889,145 976,211 1,077,308 1,268,125
4 rooms 824,230 959,666 1,129,971 1,287,805
5 rooms 419,720 524,787 624,469 700,727
6 rooms and more 325,866 364,642 427,987 437,758
Sources: FSO - Federal Population Census, Buildings and dwellings statistics

Floor space of dwellings

In 2021 the average floor space per dwelling was 99m2. The relative stability observed since 2000 (97m2) can be explained by the fact that dwellings built prior to 1981 (60% of the housing stock) have an average floor space of less than 100m2. The size of more recent dwellings, however, is larger, and dwellings built between 2001 and 2005 have an average floor space of 131m2.

Average floor space of dwellings by period of construction, 2021
Period of construction Average floor space
Total 99.1m2
before 1919   96.5m2
1919 - 1945   92.2m2
1946 - 1960   83.8m2
1961 - 1970   82.9m2
1971 - 1980   93.2m2
1981 - 1990   106.8m2
1991 - 2000 112.3m2
2001 - 2005 131.1m2
2006 - 2010 124.9m2
2011 - 2015 115.1m2
2016 - 2021 102.4m2
Source : FSO Buildings and dwellings statistics

Regional analysis shows differences at cantonal level.

Average living space and average surface area per room in the cantons, 2021
  Average living
space in m2
Average surface
area per room in m2
  99.1 27.3
Zurich   97.2 27.6
Bern   95.6 26.4
Lucerne   103.8 27.1
Uri   100.9 25.8
Schwytz   110.2 28.3
Obwalden   103.9 27.6
Nidwalden   107.8 28.2
Glarus   104.7 26.3
Zug   107.4 28.8
Fribourg   104.0 27.9
Solothurn   107.7 27.4
Basel-Stadt   79.5 26.1
Basel-Landschaft   105.5 27.3
Schaffhausen   107.3 27.5
Appenzell Ausserrhoden   111.2 26.4
Appenzell Innerrhoden   114.5 25.2
St. Gallen   104.9 26.4
Graubünden   90.3 26.2
Aargau   112.0 28.3
Thurgau   114.9 28.2
Ticino   97.8 28.3
Vaud   94.5 27.3
Valais   92.5 26.9
Neuchâtel   94.1 26.2
Geneva   85.6 27.8
Jura   102.6 25.2
Source : FSO Buildings and dwellings statistics

Statistical sources and concepts

Contact

Federal statistical office Section Population
Espace de l’Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland

info.gws@bfs.admin.ch

Remark

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