Municipality · Bern

Brienz (BE)

Get to know 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.

Read the full introduction

Besides the village of Brienz, the municipality includes the settlements of Kienholz and Axalp.

Wikipedia contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Landscape

The shape of the place

The land-use survey ending in 2018 shows how the area is shared between buildings, woodland, farmland and water.

39%

Agriculture

Agriculture39%
Forest34%
Other22%
Settlement5%
Water1%

Survey period ending 2018 · BFS

Climate

Through the seasons

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.

Meiringen · 589 m.a.s.l. · 1991–2020 normals · MeteoSchweiz

8.7°C

Annual average

Precipitation

1'341 mm

-1°18°Temperature and sunshine across the year.

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).

18902025

Source: MeteoSchweiz NBCN

Housing

Finding a home here

The recorded housing stock includes 2'791 homes. The details below show when they were counted and how the stock is changing.

Homes to rent Homes to buy

2'791

Dwellings

More about Housing

Vacancy

0.57%As of 1 June 2026

2026

0.57%

10.50

20222026

Vacancy
2015	1.10%
2016	1.14%
2017	1.16%
2018	1.16%
2019	0.80%
2020	1.37%
2021	0.87%
2022	0.82%
2023	0.63%
2024	0.55%
2025	1.02%
2026	0.57%

Dwellings2'791Counted on 31 Dec 2025 · in 1'500 residential buildings

Newly built dwellings0During 2024

Primary residences62%Dwelling inventory 2026

Broadband coverage79%FibreAs of 2026 · Broadband coverage is one part of everyday infrastructure. This is coverage across the reported area; availability at a particular home still depends on its address.

People

The people who live here

The population grew by 9.5% between 2010 and 2025. The annual record shows how that change unfolded.

End of 2025

2025

3'264

3.3K1.6K0

20212025

Population
2010	2'981
2011	2'973
2012	3'019
2013	2'998
2014	3'073
2015	3'101
2016	3'080
2017	3'120
2018	3'092
2019	3'117
2020	3'158
2021	3'185
2022	3'225
2023	3'278
2024	3'256
2025	3'264

More about People

Population

3'264End of 2025

2025

3'264

3.3K1.6K0

20212025

Population
2010	2'981
2011	2'973
2012	3'019
2013	2'998
2014	3'073
2015	3'101
2016	3'080
2017	3'120
2018	3'092
2019	3'117
2020	3'158
2021	3'185
2022	3'225
2023	3'278
2024	3'256
2025	3'264

Foreign residents

15.9%End of 2025

2025

15.9%

15.980

20212025

Foreign residents
2010	8.8%
2011	8.6%
2012	9.2%
2013	9.2%
2014	10.6%
2015	10.6%
2016	10.8%
2017	11.0%
2018	11.1%
2019	12.3%
2020	12.5%
2021	13.0%
2022	13.9%
2023	15.4%
2024	15.8%
2025	15.9%

Jobs (FTE)

1'244

As of 2024 · The reported area accounts for 1'244 full-time-equivalent jobs. This describes employment located here, rather than the number of residents who work.

2024

1'244

1.2K6220

20202024

Jobs (FTE)
2011	1'149
2012	1'156
2013	1'201
2014	1'139
2015	1'175
2016	1'124
2017	1'081
2018	1'099
2019	1'122
2020	1'136
2021	1'152
2022	1'162
2023	1'168
2024	1'244

Politics

Local choices

Strongest party: SVP · 37.3% · 2023

Election results (1971–2023)

Turnout 48.7%

Source: FSO

Taxes & income

A picture of local costs

Single person without children, gross wage CHF 100'000 · Canton, municipality and personal tax, without church, federal and wealth tax · tax year 2026

CHF 15'347

/ year

More about Taxes & income

Income taxCHF 15'347/ yearTax year 2026

Single person without children, gross wage CHF 100'000 · Canton, municipality and personal tax, without church, federal and wealth tax · tax year 2026

Tax multiplier

175%Tax year 2026

2026

175%

18190.50

20222026

Tax multiplier
2010	181%
2011	181%
2012	181%
2013	181%
2014	181%
2015	181%
2016	181%
2017	181%
2018	181%
2019	181%
2020	181%
2021	181%
2022	181%
2023	181%
2024	175%
2025	175%
2026	175%

Median taxable income

CHF 42'000All taxpayers · tax period 2022

2022

CHF 42'000

42K21K0

20182022

Median taxable income
2010	CHF 35'200
2011	CHF 35'000
2012	CHF 35'150
2013	CHF 35'600
2014	CHF 37'750
2015	CHF 38'000
2016	CHF 39'500
2017	CHF 39'550
2018	CHF 39'300
2019	CHF 39'800
2020	CHF 40'200
2021	CHF 41'200
2022	CHF 42'000

Median net income

CHF 46'600As of 2022

2022

CHF 46'600

46.6K23.3K0

20182022

Median net income
2010	CHF 40'600
2011	CHF 40'850
2012	CHF 40'700
2013	CHF 41'000
2014	CHF 43'000
2015	CHF 43'000
2016	CHF 44'700
2017	CHF 44'550
2018	CHF 44'400
2019	CHF 45'000
2020	CHF 45'100
2021	CHF 46'275
2022	CHF 46'600

Paying direct federal tax70%As of 2022

Cantonal tax multiplier

297.5%Tax year 2026

2026

297.5%

302.5151.30

20222026

Cantonal tax multiplier
2010	306%
2011	306%
2012	306%
2013	306%
2014	306%
2015	306%
2016	306%
2017	306%
2018	306%
2019	306%
2020	306%
2021	302.5%
2022	302.5%
2023	302.5%
2024	302.5%
2025	297.5%
2026	297.5%

Federal data — BFS (STATPOP, STATENT, land use), ESTV, BAKOM, ARE. Asking rents and prices: Homematch, from listings on Swiss portals.

The municipality

Settlement type: Intermediate
Municipality type: Municipality of a rural centre
Language region: German
Labour market region: Meiringen
Mountain region: Yes

Federal Statistical Office · 2020