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

Growth in housing stock by number of rooms

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
Switzerland	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

Surveys