Dornbirn: population and statistics
Dornbirn has a population of 52,252 (2026) across 120.9 km², or 432 people per km². It ranks 10 of 2,092 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +8.6% between 2016 and 2026.
- 52,252 residents
- 120.9 km²
- 432 people/km²
- 445 m
Dornbirn in numbers
Key points
Among the 96 municipalities in Vorarlberg, Dornbirn ranks No. 1 by population.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 24.7% of the area's trade licences.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 40° generates about 1,116 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Vorarlberg for “Population”.
- Number 1 in Vorarlberg for “Private households”.
- “Private households”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Families”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Enterprises”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 16,933 football pitches.
- Its population density is 3.9 times the national average.
Population of Dornbirn over time
Dornbirn had 48,121 residents in 2016 and 52,252 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 50,257 |
| 2022 | 50,360 |
| 2023 | 51,222 |
| 2024 | 51,876 |
| 2025 | 52,108 |
| 2026 | 52,252 |
All indicators for Dornbirn
Value for the municipality, then the regional average and the national median (for counts: regional and national totals). The gauge places the municipality between the lowest and highest value in the country.
Population
| Indicator | Dornbirn | Vorarlberg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people under 15 (2026) | 15.3% | 15.5% | 14.5% | ranked 668 of 1,982 | |
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2026) | 18.7% | 19.4% | 22.1% | ranked 1,690 of 1,982 | |
| Median age (2026) | 42.2 years | – | 46.2 | ranked 1,826 of 1,982 | |
| Share of women (2026) | 50.3% | 50.3% | 50.3% | ranked 920 of 1,982 |
Housing
| Indicator | Dornbirn | Vorarlberg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private households (2024) | 23,367 | 179,909 | 4,139,571 | ranked 10 of 2,091 | |
| Average household size (2024) | 2.20 persons | – | 2.35 | ranked 1,561 of 1,981 |
Economy
| Indicator | Dornbirn | Vorarlberg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2024) | 4,000 | 29,888 | 743,940 | ranked 10 of 2,091 | |
| Establishments (2024) | 4,727 | 34,310 | 850,266 | ranked 11 of 2,091 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 90.8 | 83.4 | 91.3 | ranked 1,015 of 1,981 | |
| Active trade licences (2026) | 4,784 | 37,112 | 945,381 | ranked 12 of 2,088 | |
| Trade licences per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 91.6 | 90.0 | 98.4 | ranked 1,219 of 1,978 | |
| Municipal taxes and levies per inhabitant (2019) | 671 € | 650 € | 344 € | ranked 277 of 1,976 | |
| Municipal debt per inhabitant (2019) | 3,122 € | 2,089 € | 1,414 € | ranked 247 of 1,976 |
Employment
| Indicator | Dornbirn | Vorarlberg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate (aged 15 to 64) (2024) | 74.6% | 75.2% | 77.4% | ranked 1,503 of 1,981 | |
| Unemployment rate (aged 15 and over) (2024) | 5.5% | 5.1% | 3.5% | ranked 323 of 1,981 | |
| Persons employed in establishments in the municipality (2024) | 30,358 | 206,368 | 4,878,849 | ranked 12 of 2,091 | |
| Jobs per 100 inhabitants (2024) | 58.3 | 50.1 | 32.4 | ranked 269 of 1,981 |
Transport
| Indicator | Dornbirn | Vorarlberg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of out-commuters among employed persons by place of residence (2024) | 51.2% | 67.6% | 77.3% | ranked 1,889 of 1,981 |
Society
| Indicator | Dornbirn | Vorarlberg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2024) | 23.2% | 20.8% | 8.5% | ranked 90 of 1,981 | |
| Families (2024) | 13,917 | 112,558 | 2,490,615 | ranked 10 of 2,091 |
Education
| Indicator | Dornbirn | Vorarlberg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 15 and over with an apprenticeship, BMS, AHS or BHS as highest qualification (2024) | 53.9% | 58.4% | 66.4% | ranked 1,955 of 1,981 | |
| Share of people aged 15 and over with a university, academy or college qualification as highest qualification (2024) | 17.2% | 14.1% | 11.0% | ranked 205 of 1,981 |
Business sectors: Dornbirn
Share of each sector in total trade licences; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade24.7% ×1.1
- Health and social work14.0% ×1.4
- Professional, scientific and technical12.6% ×0.9
- Other service activities8.8% ×1.0
- Information and communication6.7% ×0.9
- Construction6.6% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services6.3% ×0.8
- Manufacturing6.3% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Dornbirn
Where is Dornbirn?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Dornbirn?
Dornbirn has 52,252 residents (2026), ranking 10 of 2,092 municipalities.
How big is Dornbirn?
Dornbirn covers 120.9 km², with a density of 432 people per km².
Is the population of Dornbirn growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Dornbirn went from 48,121 to 52,252, a change of +8.6%.
Where is Dornbirn?
Dornbirn is in Vorarlberg. It belongs to Dornbirn (district). Latitude 47.417, longitude 9.750.
Private households: what is the figure for Dornbirn?
In Dornbirn, “Private households” stands at 23,367 (2024), ranking 10 of 2,091 municipalities; the national median is 771.
Families: what is the figure for Dornbirn?
In Dornbirn, “Families” stands at 13,917 (2024), ranking 10 of 2,091 municipalities; the national median is 534.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Dornbirn?
In Dornbirn, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 40° produces about 1,116 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Dornbirn?
The nearest to Dornbirn are Schwarzach (3.3 km), Bildstein (4.9 km), Lustenau (6.0 km), Wolfurt (6.3 km), Lauterach (6.9 km).