About Heiden
Heiden is a village and a municipality in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden in Switzerland. Its Biedermeier village around the church square is listed as a heritage site of national significance.
- Canton
- Appenzell Ausserrhoden
- Area
- 7.5 km²
Population
4'383residents
Median taxable income
CHF 63'047
Vacancy
1.12%
Foreign residents
22.8%
Dwellings
2'321
Jobs (FTE)
2'799
Tax multiplier
390%
Land use across the commune
Every 100 × 100 m of Heiden, 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
2'799 full-time-equivalent jobs across 360 businesses — services make up 64% of employment, industry 33% (2018).
Source BFS STATENT
2'799FTE total
Primary2.6%
Secondary33.3%
Tertiary64.0%
Land use
18% built-up, 51% agricultural, 31% forest. Measured across 749 hectares (2018).
Source BFS Arealstatistik
Settlement18.4%
Agriculture50.7%
Forest30.9%
Water0.0%
Election Results
FDP led the 2023 National Council election with 42.1%, ahead of SVP at 37.2%.
Source BFS
FDP42.1%−17.1 pp
SVP37.2%−0.3 pp
Mitte19.3%
2023 vs 2019
Primary / second-home mix
85.4% of dwellings are primary residences; 14.6% are second homes (2026).
Source BFS
Primary residences85.4%
Second homes14.6%
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
