About Susten
Susten Pass is a mountain pass in the Swiss Alps. The pass road, built from 1938–1945, connects Innertkirchen in the canton of Bern with Wassen in the canton of Uri. A 300-metre long tunnel crosses the pass at 2,224 metres.
- Canton
- Valais
- Area
- 54.3 km²
Population
4'340residents
Median taxable income
CHF 61'454
Vacancy
1.14%
Foreign residents
18.9%
Dwellings
2'632
Jobs (FTE)
1'699
Tax multiplier
130%
Land use across the commune
Every 100 × 100 m of Susten, 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
1'699 full-time-equivalent jobs across 350 businesses — services make up 74% of employment, industry 14% (2018).
Source BFS STATENT
1'699FTE total
Primary12.2%
Secondary14.3%
Tertiary73.5%
Land use
7% built-up, 20% agricultural, 46% forest. Measured across 5'514 hectares (2018).
Source BFS Arealstatistik
Settlement9.3%
Agriculture27.6%
Forest63.1%
Water0.0%
Election Results
Mitte led the 2023 National Council election with 51.1%, ahead of SVP at 28.8%.
Source BFS
Mitte51.1%
SVP28.8%+7.6 pp
SP12.4%−1.2 pp
Grüne3.9%−1.4 pp
FDP1.9%+0.6 pp
GLP1.8%+1.2 pp
PdA0.2%
2023 vs 2019
Primary / second-home mix
74.3% of dwellings are primary residences; 25.7% are second homes (2026). The Zweitwohnungsgesetz applies here — new second-home construction is restricted.
Source BFS
Primary residences74.3%
Second homes25.7%
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 Grächen has risen by +2.4°C between the first 30 observed years (1864–1893) and the most recent (1996–2025).
Source MeteoSchweiz NBCN
+2.4°C
mean 1996–2025 vs. 1864–1893
Grächen · 1605 m.a.s.l. · 1864–2025
