About Chalais
Chalais is a municipality in the district of Sierre in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.
- Canton
- Valais
- Area
- 24.3 km²
Population
3'927residents
Median taxable income
CHF 58'199
Vacancy
0.38%
Foreign residents
21.1%
Dwellings
3'158
Jobs (FTE)
1'000
Tax multiplier
130%
Land use across the commune
Every 100 × 100 m of Chalais, 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
1'000 full-time-equivalent jobs across 243 businesses — services make up 62% of employment, industry 30% (2018).
Source BFS STATENT
1'000FTE total
Primary8.1%
Secondary29.5%
Tertiary62.4%
Land use
9% built-up, 19% agricultural, 67% forest. Measured across 2'436 hectares (2018).
Source BFS Arealstatistik
Settlement9.8%
Agriculture19.7%
Forest70.5%
Water0.0%
Election Results
Mitte led the 2023 National Council election with 24.6%, ahead of SP at 22.5%.
Source BFS
Mitte24.6%
SP22.5%−0.9 pp
FDP20.0%−6.0 pp
SVP19.1%+7.2 pp
Grüne12.0%−2.6 pp
GLP1.5%+1.2 pp
PdA0.3%
2023 vs 2019
Primary / second-home mix
57.3% of dwellings are primary residences; 42.7% are second homes (2026). The Zweitwohnungsgesetz applies here — new second-home construction is restricted.
Source BFS
Primary residences57.3%
Second homes42.7%
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 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
