About Brienz (BE)
Brienz is a village and municipality on the northern shore of Lake Brienz, at the foot of the Brienzer Rothorn mountain, and in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. Besides the village of Brienz, the municipality includes the settlements of Kienholz and Axalp.
- Canton
- Bern
- Area
- 48.1 km²
Population
3'256residents
Median taxable income
CHF 58'560
Vacancy
1.02%
Foreign residents
15.8%
Dwellings
2'745
Jobs (FTE)
1'523
Tax multiplier
175%
Land use across the commune
Every 100 × 100 m of Brienz (BE), 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
1'523 full-time-equivalent jobs across 299 businesses — services make up 65% of employment, industry 28% (2018).
Source BFS STATENT
1'523FTE total
Primary7.0%
Secondary28.4%
Tertiary64.6%
Land use
5% built-up, 39% agricultural, 34% forest. Measured across 4'815 hectares (2018).
Source BFS Arealstatistik
Settlement6.5%
Agriculture49.8%
Forest43.7%
Water0.0%
Election Results
SVP led the 2023 National Council election with 37.3%, ahead of SP at 16.7%.
Source BFS
SVP37.3%−1.4 pp
SP16.7%+4.3 pp
FDP9.3%+0.3 pp
GLP9.2%+1.7 pp
Grüne7.6%−4.2 pp
EDU6.4%+1.0 pp
Mitte5.9%
Others
3.1%
2023 vs 2019
Primary / second-home mix
62.2% of dwellings are primary residences; 37.8% are second homes (2026). The Zweitwohnungsgesetz applies here — new second-home construction is restricted.
Source BFS
Primary residences62.2%
Second homes37.8%
Second-home quota > 20% — Zweitwohnungsgesetz applies
Climate data
Annual mean 8.7°C with 1'341 mm of rain. Warmest in July (17.9°C), coldest in January (-1.1°C). Station: Meiringen, 589 m.
Source MeteoSchweiz
8.7°C
Annual mean
Mean 8.7°C
Rain 1341 mm
Meiringen · 589 m.a.s.l. · 1991–2020 normals
Warming trend
Mean annual temperature at Meiringen has risen by +2.1°C between the first 30 observed years (1890–1919) and the most recent (1996–2025).
Source MeteoSchweiz NBCN
+2.1°C
mean 1996–2025 vs. 1890–1919
Meiringen · 589 m.a.s.l. · 1890–2025
