Its average annual rent for housing is €203.20 per m² (2022).
Its 1991–2020 climate normal is a mean annual temperature of 9.6 °C with 1,271 mm of precipitation a year (Copernicus ERA5-Land).
This profile reports 25 of the 50 indicators currently tracked for European cities; the rest are not reported for Basel. Source: official datasets listed in the source registry.
Population & demographics
Population on 1 January, total
#37 of 163 · 77th pct · #3 in Switzerland
Population density (population divided by GISCO area)
#30 of 163 · 82nd pct · #2 in Switzerland
2,774
persons per km2 · 2022
Share of population aged 65 and over
#51 of 160 · 68th pct · #2 in Switzerland
21.6%
of population · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Population on 1 January, total
Basel: Population on 1 January, total in the same year and geography grain Basel: 346,276. Higher than 126 of 163 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 37,960 to 10,353,710; median 143,083.
37,960
10,353,710
median 143,083
Basel: Population on 1 January, total in the same year and geography grain
Basel 346,276 Higher than 126 of 163 records in the same comparison group Median 143,083
Population density (population divided by GISCO area)
Basel: Population density (population divided by GISCO area) in the same year and geography grain Basel: 2,774. Higher than 133 of 163 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 162 to 17,622; median 1,661.
162
17,622
median 1,661
Basel: Population density (population divided by GISCO area) in the same year and geography grain
Basel 2,774 Higher than 133 of 163 records in the same comparison group Median 1,661
Share of population aged 65 and over
Basel: Share of population aged 65 and over in the same year and geography grain Basel: 21.6%. Higher than 109 of 160 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 12.2% to 34.1%; median 19.7%.
12.2%
34.1%
median 19.7%
Basel: Share of population aged 65 and over in the same year and geography grain
Basel 21.6% Higher than 109 of 160 records in the same comparison group Median 19.7%
Climate (ERA5-Land normals)
Basel climate by month Basel monthly 1991-2020 normals. Temperature 0.8°C to 18.9°C; warmest Jul, coldest Jan. Precipitation up to 135mm per month.
20 200 15 150 10 100 5 50 0 0
°C
mm
J F M A M J J A S O N D
● mean temperature (°C, left) · ▮ precipitation (mm, right) Basel monthly climate normals Month Temp Precip Jan 0.8°C 87mm Feb 1.6°C 77mm Mar 5.3°C 89mm Apr 9.1°C 96mm May 13.2°C 135mm Jun 16.9°C 124mm Jul 18.9°C 129mm Aug 18.7°C 131mm Sep 14.4°C 100mm Oct 9.9°C 100mm Nov 4.7°C 98mm Dec 1.5°C 107mm
ERA5-Land 1991–2020 normals.
Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
#436 of 601 · 27th pct · #4 in Switzerland
9.6
°C · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
#409 of 601 · 32nd pct · #6 in Switzerland
0.8
°C · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
#370 of 601 · 38th pct · #3 in Switzerland
18.9
°C · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal)
ERA5-Land reanalysis total precipitation at the city centroid grid cell; not station weather.
#40 of 601 · 93rd pct · #7 in Switzerland
1,271
mm per year · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal)
ERA5-Land mean surface solar radiation; this is irradiance, NOT sunshine hours.
#274 of 601 · 54th pct · #10 in Switzerland
140
W per m2 · centroid · 1991-2020
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
Basel: Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Basel: 9.6. Higher than 163 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 1.3 to 24.5; median 10.6.
1.3
24.5
median 10.6
Basel: Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Basel 9.6 Higher than 163 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 10.6
Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
Basel: Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Basel: 0.8. Higher than 192 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range -9.3 to 13.5; median 2.6.
-9.3
13.5
median 2.6
Basel: Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Basel 0.8 Higher than 192 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 2.6
Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
Basel: Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Basel: 18.9. Higher than 230 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 12.5 to 38.1; median 19.3.
12.5
38.1
median 19.3
Basel: Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Basel 18.9 Higher than 230 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 19.3
Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal)
Basel: Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Basel: 1,271. Higher than 561 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 261 to 2,516; median 816.
261
2,516
median 816
Basel: Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Basel 1,271 Higher than 561 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 816
Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal)
Basel: Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Basel: 140. Higher than 327 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 96 to 230; median 136.
96
230
median 136
Basel: Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Basel 140 Higher than 327 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 136
Housing & living costs
Average annual rent for housing per m2
€203.20e
EUR per m2 per year · 2022
Employment
Total employment/jobs (workplace based)
#20 of 141 · 86th pct · #3 in Switzerland
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Total employment/jobs (workplace based)
Basel: Total employment/jobs (workplace based) in the same year and geography grain Basel: 275,543. Higher than 121 of 141 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 15,527 to 5,298,886; median 71,369.
15,527
5,298,886
median 71,369
Basel: Total employment/jobs (workplace based) in the same year and geography grain
Basel 275,543 Higher than 121 of 141 records in the same comparison group Median 71,369
Education
Share of students in higher education in the total population
#80 of 142 · 44th pct · #6 in Switzerland
62e
students per 1000 residents · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Share of students in higher education in the total population
Basel: Share of students in higher education in the total population in the same year and geography grain Basel: 62. Higher than 62 of 142 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 1 to 288; median 71.
1
288
median 71
Basel: Share of students in higher education in the total population in the same year and geography grain
Basel 62 Higher than 62 of 142 records in the same comparison group Median 71
Crude birth rate
Annual live births per 1000 residents for the reported Eurostat geography; not a fertility rate.
#96 of 154 · 38th pct · #8 in Switzerland
9
births per 1000 residents · 2022
Crude death rate
Annual deaths per 1000 residents for the reported Eurostat geography; age structure strongly affects comparisons.
#64 of 156 · 59th pct · #1 in Switzerland
11
deaths per 1000 residents · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Crude birth rate
Basel: Crude birth rate in the same year and geography grain Basel: 9. Higher than 58 of 154 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 0 to 39; median 10.
0
39
median 10
Basel: Crude birth rate in the same year and geography grain
Basel 9 Higher than 58 of 154 records in the same comparison group Median 10
Crude death rate
Basel: Crude death rate in the same year and geography grain Basel: 11. Higher than 92 of 156 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 6 to 16; median 10.
6
16
median 10
Basel: Crude death rate in the same year and geography grain
Basel 11 Higher than 92 of 156 records in the same comparison group Median 10
Number of registered cars per 1000 population
Registered cars per resident, not congestion, traffic speed or household car access.
#128 of 137 · 7th pct · #9 in Switzerland
391
cars per 1000 population · 2022
People killed in road accidents per 10000 population
Small annual rates can be volatile; do not present as a full traffic-safety score.
#107 of 140 · 21st pct · #3 in Switzerland
0
deaths per 10000 population · 2022
Cost of a combined monthly ticket for 5-10 km in the central zone
Cost of a taxi ride of 5 km to the centre at daytime
#4 of 81 · 94th pct · #4 in Switzerland
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Number of registered cars per 1000 population
Basel: Number of registered cars per 1000 population in the same year and geography grain Basel: 391. Higher than 9 of 137 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 257 to 816; median 482.
257
816
median 482
Basel: Number of registered cars per 1000 population in the same year and geography grain
Basel 391 Higher than 9 of 137 records in the same comparison group Median 482
People killed in road accidents per 10000 population
Basel: People killed in road accidents per 10000 population in the same year and geography grain Basel: 0. Higher than 30 of 140 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 0 to 1; median 0.
0
1
median 0
Basel: People killed in road accidents per 10000 population in the same year and geography grain
Basel 0 Higher than 30 of 140 records in the same comparison group Median 0
Cost of a taxi ride of 5 km to the centre at daytime
Basel: Cost of a taxi ride of 5 km to the centre at daytime in the same year and geography grain Basel: €25. Higher than 76 of 81 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range €8 to €33; median €12.
€8
€33
median €12
Basel: Cost of a taxi ride of 5 km to the centre at daytime in the same year and geography grain
Basel €25 Higher than 76 of 81 records in the same comparison group Median €12
Country price context (PPP)
Country price level index for GDP
160
EU27_2020=100 · CH · 2024
Total nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments
#20 of 82 · 76th pct · #3 in Switzerland
1,386,786d
nights / year · 2022
Nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments by residents
587,582d
nights / year · 2022
Nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments by non-residents
799,204d
nights / year · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Total nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments
Basel: Total nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments in the same year and geography grain Basel: 1,386,786. Higher than 62 of 82 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 30,931 to 71,423,725; median 683,405.
30,931
71,423,725
median 683,405
Basel: Total nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments in the same year and geography grain
Basel 1,386,786 Higher than 62 of 82 records in the same comparison group Median 683,405
Number of cinema seats per 1000 residents
Cinema-seat capacity per resident; not annual attendance or a culture score.
#93 of 121 · 23rd pct · #7 in Switzerland
16
seats per 1000 residents · 2022
Cinema attendance per year
Culture attendance count where reported; not a full cultural-offer index.
#50 of 117 · 57th pct · #5 in Switzerland
538,695
visits per year · 2022
Number of public libraries (all distribution points)
Library distribution points where reported; not library visits or service quality.
#8 of 124 · 94th pct · #2 in Switzerland
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Number of cinema seats per 1000 residents
Basel: Number of cinema seats per 1000 residents in the same year and geography grain Basel: 16. Higher than 28 of 121 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 0 to 53; median 23.
0
53
median 23
Basel: Number of cinema seats per 1000 residents in the same year and geography grain
Basel 16 Higher than 28 of 121 records in the same comparison group Median 23
Cinema attendance per year
Basel: Cinema attendance per year in the same year and geography grain Basel: 538,695. Higher than 67 of 117 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 0 to 35,526,645; median 454,396.
0
35,526,645
median 454,396
Basel: Cinema attendance per year in the same year and geography grain
Basel 538,695 Higher than 67 of 117 records in the same comparison group Median 454,396
Number of public libraries (all distribution points)
Basel: Number of public libraries (all distribution points) in the same year and geography grain Basel: 85. Higher than 116 of 124 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 1 to 539; median 10.
1
539
median 10
Basel: Number of public libraries (all distribution points) in the same year and geography grain
Basel 85 Higher than 116 of 124 records in the same comparison group Median 10
Regional context (NUTS) Values describe the city's NUTS region, not the city itself
Life expectancy at birth, both sexes
Common questions What is the population of Basel? Basel had a population of 346,276 on 1 January 2022 (Eurostat greater city figure), the 37th largest of the 163 reporting greater city records in the same year.
What is the climate of Basel? Its 1991–2020 ERA5-Land normal is a mean annual temperature of 9.6 °C (January 0.8 °C, July 18.9 °C) with 1,271 mm of precipitation a year. This is reanalysis, not station weather.
How much is rent in Basel? Eurostat reports an average annual rent of €203.20 per m² (2022). This is a single reported field, not a full housing-cost basket.
Not reported for this city: Air quality (EEA annualized), Resident perception survey. Eurostat Urban Audit coverage is voluntary, so some indicators are unavailable for some cities.
Eurostat flags: e = estimated · d = definition differs
Every figure is an official indicator with its source linked. Ranks compare only records with the same reference year and geography grain. See the methodology .
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