Quick facts
Zürich overview
Zürich (orange) and the other large cities of Switzerland
Zürich lies in Zurich in Switzerland at 47.37°N, 8.55°E, about 429 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Zurich (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Switzerland: the next largest cities are Geneva (201,741), Basel (177,595), Lausanne (139,111). Together, the three largest cities hold 8.8% of the national population.
The national capital, Bern, is about 95 km away; the nearest large city is Opfikon, 7 km from Zürich.
Switzerland as a whole has a live population of 9,019,955 (+0.4% a year) and ranks #100 of 238 countries — see the Switzerland population page for the full statistics and the Switzerland atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Zürich
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Opfikon Zurich | 7 km | 21,554 |
| Horgen Zurich | 12 km | 22,662 |
| Uster Zurich | 13 km | 34,715 |
| Wetzikon Zurich | 19 km | 24,764 |
| Winterthur Zurich | 20 km | 111,840 |
| Zug Zug | 22 km | 30,542 |
| Rapperswil Saint Gallen | 26 km | 34,776 |
| Frauenfeld Thurgau | 34 km | 25,607 |
Largest cities in Switzerland
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zürich | Zurich | 415,367 |
| 2 | Geneva | Geneva | 201,741 |
| 3 | Basel | Basel-City | 177,595 |
| 4 | Lausanne | Vaud | 139,111 |
| 5 | BernCapital | Bern | 121,631 |
| 6 | Winterthur | Zurich | 111,840 |
| 7 | Luzern | Lucerne | 81,691 |
| 8 | Sankt Gallen | Saint Gallen | 75,833 |
| 9 | Lugano | Ticino | 63,185 |
| 10 | Bellinzona | Ticino | 43,220 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Zürich?
Zürich has about 415,367 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Zürich the capital of Switzerland?
No. The capital of Switzerland is Bern (121,631 people), about 95 km away. Zürich is the largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Zürich compared with the rest of Switzerland?
Its 415,367 residents are 4.6% of the 9,019,955 people living in Switzerland today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Zürich?
In Zurich, Switzerland, at latitude 47.37 and longitude 8.55, 429 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Opfikon (7 km), Horgen (12 km), Uster (13 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Zürich Population 2026 — Switzerland. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/switzerland/zuerich/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/switzerland/zuerich/">Zürich Population 2026 — Switzerland</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.