About Lens
Lens is a municipality in the district of Sierre in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.
- Canton
- Valais
- Area
- 14.0 km²
Population
4'570residents
Median taxable income
CHF 61'970
Vacancy
3.08%
Foreign residents
34.0%
Dwellings
5'390
Jobs (FTE)
1'688
Tax multiplier
105%
Land use across the commune
Every 100 × 100 m of Lens, 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
1'688 full-time-equivalent jobs across 356 businesses — services make up 76% of employment, industry 10% (2018).
Source BFS STATENT
1'688FTE total
Primary13.4%
Secondary10.2%
Tertiary76.4%
Land use
22% built-up, 34% agricultural, 40% forest. Measured across 1'401 hectares (2018).
Source BFS Arealstatistik
Settlement23.2%
Agriculture35.4%
Forest41.4%
Water0.0%
Election Results
Mitte led the 2023 National Council election with 33.2%, ahead of SVP at 23.7%.
Source BFS
Mitte33.2%
SVP23.7%+6.5 pp
FDP19.2%−3.5 pp
SP12.2%−4.4 pp
Grüne7.3%−1.5 pp
GLP3.8%+3.1 pp
PdA0.7%
2023 vs 2019
Primary / second-home mix
41.8% of dwellings are primary residences; 58.2% are second homes (2026). The Zweitwohnungsgesetz applies here — new second-home construction is restricted.
Source BFS
Primary residences41.8%
Second homes58.2%
Second-home quota > 20% — Zweitwohnungsgesetz applies
Climate data
Annual mean 6.3°C with 834 mm of rain. Warmest in July (15.0°C), coldest in January (-1.6°C). Station: Montana, 1423 m.
Source MeteoSchweiz
6.3°C
Annual mean
Mean 6.3°C
Rain 834 mm
Sun ≈178 days
Montana · 1423 m.a.s.l. · 1991–2020 normals
Warming trend
Mean annual temperature at Sion has risen by +2.6°C between the first 30 observed years (1864–1893) and the most recent (1996–2025).
Source MeteoSchweiz NBCN
+2.6°C
mean 1996–2025 vs. 1864–1893
Sion · 482 m.a.s.l. · 1864–2025
