Canton's population rises to 126,812

Figures published by the Federal Office of Statistics (BAS) show that, over the course of 2018, the canton’s population rose by 1,391 to 126,812.

Further figures from the BAS show that, last year, 5,762 people from the canton of Zug moved away, either to other cantons or abroad, with new arrivals amounting to 6,667. There were 810 deaths and 1,299 live births. Furthermore, 907 foreigners moved to Zug, compared with 484 Swiss nationals, meaning that the percentage of foreigners here rose from 27.9 per cent in 2017 to 28.3 per cent last year. This compares with the Swiss average of 25.1 per cent.

Despite this increase, the rate of growth in Zug’s population actually decreased when compared with the previous year, but it remains high when compared with population growth in other cantons. Zug is now actually in third place, behind those of Schwyz and Fribourg, when it comes to increased rates of growth in population.

What is interesting to note is that the canton’s population has increased by one quarter since the Millennium, with that of Risch actually increasing by 50.4 per cent over the past 18 years, whereas in Menzingen it has  grown by 2.3 per cent only in this same time period. Other municipalities have recorded increases in population growth of between 14.4 and 34.5 per cent; and with the building boom which Rotkreuz has experienced in recent years (photograph), it is only to be expected that its population should have risen accordingly.

Municipalities where a slower rate of growth in population was recorded include Unterägeri at 2.0 per cent, Steinhausen at 1.5 per cent, Walchwil at 1.3 per cent and the city of Zug with just a 1.1 per cent increase. Only in the municipality of Hünenberg did the population fall, by -0.2 per cent.

The BAS pointed out that these figures were only provisional, but there was likely to be little change when the definitive figures come out in August.

As to the future, the population of the canton is expected to increase even further, rising to an estimated 141,300 by 2030.

This article is based on a report by Laura Sibold.