About Biel VS
Biel is a village in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. It was an independent municipality until 2001, when it merged with Ritzingen and Selkingen into the municipality Grafschaft.
- Canton
- Valais
- Area
- 129.6 km²
Population
1'149residents
Median taxable income
CHF 58'013
Vacancy
2.16%
Foreign residents
13.6%
Dwellings
2'361
Jobs (FTE)
601
Tax multiplier
110%
Land use across the commune
Every 100 × 100 m of Biel VS, 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
601 full-time-equivalent jobs across 140 businesses — services make up 61% of employment, industry 21% (2018).
Source BFS STATENT
601FTE total
Primary18.5%
Secondary20.8%
Tertiary60.7%
Land use
1% built-up, 25% agricultural, 24% forest. Measured across 12'956 hectares (2018).
Source BFS Arealstatistik
Settlement2.8%
Agriculture49.6%
Forest47.6%
Water0.0%
Election Results
Mitte led the 2023 National Council election with 54.0%, ahead of SVP at 27.7%.
Source BFS
Mitte54.0%
SVP27.7%+5.0 pp
SP7.0%+0.2 pp
Grüne6.9%±0 pp
FDP2.9%+1.7 pp
GLP1.2%−0.5 pp
PdA0.4%
2023 vs 2019
Primary / second-home mix
23.4% of dwellings are primary residences; 76.6% are second homes (2026). The Zweitwohnungsgesetz applies here — new second-home construction is restricted.
Source BFS
Primary residences23.4%
Second homes76.6%
Second-home quota > 20% — Zweitwohnungsgesetz applies
Climate data
Annual mean 4.2°C with 1'183 mm of rain. Warmest in July (14.6°C), coldest in January (-7.2°C). Station: Ulrichen, 1346 m.
Source MeteoSchweiz
4.2°C
Annual mean
Mean 4.2°C
Rain 1183 mm
Sun ≈139 days
Ulrichen · 1346 m.a.s.l. · 1991–2020 normals
Warming trend
Mean annual temperature at Grimsel Hospiz has risen by +1.6°C between the first 30 observed years (1932–1961) and the most recent (1996–2025).
Source MeteoSchweiz NBCN
+1.6°C
mean 1996–2025 vs. 1932–1961
Grimsel Hospiz · 1980 m.a.s.l. · 1932–2025
