About Gais
Gais is a village and a municipality in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden in Switzerland. The area of Gais is 21.21 km2 (8.19 sq mi).
- Canton
- Appenzell Ausserrhoden
- Area
- 21.2 km²
Population
3'134residents
Median taxable income
CHF 66'299
Vacancy
1.56%
Foreign residents
13.3%
Dwellings
1'667
Jobs (FTE)
1'326
Tax multiplier
335%
Land use across the commune
Every 100 × 100 m of Gais, coloured by how it's used. Drawn from the BFS Arealstatistik 2025 release — the most recent nationwide snapshot.
Source BFS Arealstatistik
Loading statistics …
Jobs & economy
1'326 full-time-equivalent jobs across 306 businesses — services make up 66% of employment, industry 25% (2018).
Source BFS STATENT
1'326FTE total
Primary8.5%
Secondary25.5%
Tertiary66.0%
Land use
7% built-up, 47% agricultural, 44% forest. Measured across 2'119 hectares (2018).
Source BFS Arealstatistik
Settlement7.0%
Agriculture48.1%
Forest44.8%
Water0.0%
Election Results
FDP led the 2023 National Council election with 45.3%, ahead of SVP at 45.2%.
Source BFS
FDP45.3%−7.6 pp
SVP45.2%+0.1 pp
Mitte9.4%
2023 vs 2019
Primary / second-home mix
82.3% of dwellings are primary residences; 17.8% are second homes (2026).
Source BFS
Primary residences82.3%
Second homes17.8%
Climate data
Annual mean 8.7°C with 1'433 mm of rain. Warmest in July (17.5°C), coldest in January (0.2°C). Station: St. Gallen, 776 m.
Source MeteoSchweiz
8.7°C
Annual mean
Mean 8.7°C
Rain 1433 mm
Sun ≈135 days
St. Gallen · 776 m.a.s.l. · 1991–2020 normals
Warming trend
Mean annual temperature at St. Gallen has risen by +2.5°C between the first 30 observed years (1864–1893) and the most recent (1996–2025).
Source MeteoSchweiz NBCN
+2.5°C
mean 1996–2025 vs. 1864–1893
St. Gallen · 776 m.a.s.l. · 1864–2025
