Hard: population and statistics
Hard has a population of 13,800 (2026) across 17.9 km², or 773 people per km². It ranks 50 of 2,092 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +4.5% between 2016 and 2026.
- 13,800 residents
- 17.9 km²
- 773 people/km²
- 397 m
Hard in numbers
Key points
Among the 96 municipalities in Vorarlberg, Hard ranks No. 7 by population.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 23.7% of the area's trade licences.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,192 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Families”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Private households”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Share of people aged 15 and over with an apprenticeship, BMS, AHS or BHS as highest qualification”: lower than in 97% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 2,500 football pitches.
- Its population density is 7.0 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Fußach, 2.3 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Bregenz (29,270 residents), 4.8 km away.
Population of Hard over time
Hard had 13,207 residents in 2016 and 13,800 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,591 |
| 2022 | 13,793 |
| 2023 | 13,786 |
| 2024 | 13,787 |
| 2025 | 13,639 |
| 2026 | 13,800 |
All indicators for Hard
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 | Hard | Vorarlberg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people under 15 (2026) | 15.7% | 15.5% | 14.5% | ranked 507 of 1,982 | |
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2026) | 19.7% | 19.4% | 22.1% | ranked 1,489 of 1,982 | |
| Median age (2026) | 43.5 years | – | 46.2 | ranked 1,602 of 1,982 | |
| Share of women (2026) | 51.1% | 50.3% | 50.3% | ranked 416 of 1,982 |
Housing
| Indicator | Hard | Vorarlberg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private households (2024) | 6,063 | 179,909 | 4,139,571 | ranked 58 of 2,091 | |
| Average household size (2024) | 2.24 persons | – | 2.35 | ranked 1,415 of 1,981 |
Economy
| Indicator | Hard | Vorarlberg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprises (2024) | 912 | 29,888 | 743,940 | ranked 79 of 2,091 | |
| Establishments (2024) | 1,023 | 34,310 | 850,266 | ranked 85 of 2,091 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 75.0 | 83.4 | 91.3 | ranked 1,576 of 1,981 | |
| Active trade licences (2026) | 1,250 | 37,112 | 945,381 | ranked 71 of 2,088 | |
| Trade licences per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 90.6 | 90.0 | 98.4 | ranked 1,270 of 1,978 | |
| Municipal taxes and levies per inhabitant (2019) | 580 € | 650 € | 344 € | ranked 392 of 1,976 | |
| Municipal debt per inhabitant (2019) | 2,371 € | 2,089 € | 1,414 € | ranked 476 of 1,976 |
Employment
| Indicator | Hard | Vorarlberg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate (aged 15 to 64) (2024) | 74.0% | 75.2% | 77.4% | ranked 1,605 of 1,981 | |
| Unemployment rate (aged 15 and over) (2024) | 6.4% | 5.1% | 3.5% | ranked 185 of 1,981 | |
| Persons employed in establishments in the municipality (2024) | 6,011 | 206,368 | 4,878,849 | ranked 97 of 2,091 | |
| Jobs per 100 inhabitants (2024) | 44.1 | 50.1 | 32.4 | ranked 556 of 1,981 |
Transport
| Indicator | Hard | Vorarlberg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of out-commuters among employed persons by place of residence (2024) | 71.8% | 67.6% | 77.3% | ranked 1,385 of 1,981 |
Society
| Indicator | Hard | Vorarlberg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of foreign nationals (2024) | 20.4% | 20.8% | 8.5% | ranked 147 of 1,981 | |
| Families (2024) | 3,815 | 112,558 | 2,490,615 | ranked 49 of 2,091 |
Education
| Indicator | Hard | Vorarlberg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 15 and over with an apprenticeship, BMS, AHS or BHS as highest qualification (2024) | 56.5% | 58.4% | 66.4% | ranked 1,910 of 1,981 | |
| Share of people aged 15 and over with a university, academy or college qualification as highest qualification (2024) | 13.9% | 14.1% | 11.0% | ranked 506 of 1,981 |
Business sectors: Hard
Share of each sector in total trade licences; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade23.7% ×1.1
- Health and social work18.2% ×1.8
- Professional, scientific and technical9.7% ×0.7
- Other service activities8.4% ×1.0
- Manufacturing7.0% ×1.2
- Construction7.0% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services6.9% ×0.9
- Administrative and support services6.6% ×0.8
Sunshine and temperatures: Hard
Where is Hard?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Hard?
Hard has 13,800 residents (2026), ranking 50 of 2,092 municipalities.
How big is Hard?
Hard covers 17.9 km², with a density of 773 people per km².
Is the population of Hard growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Hard went from 13,207 to 13,800, a change of +4.5%.
Where is Hard?
Hard is in Vorarlberg. It belongs to Bregenz (district). Latitude 47.489, longitude 9.690.
Families: what is the figure for Hard?
In Hard, “Families” stands at 3,815 (2024), ranking 49 of 2,091 municipalities; the national median is 534.
Private households: what is the figure for Hard?
In Hard, “Private households” stands at 6,063 (2024), ranking 58 of 2,091 municipalities; the national median is 771.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Hard?
In Hard, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,192 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Hard?
The nearest to Hard are Fußach (2.3 km), Lauterach (3.4 km), Bregenz (4.8 km), Höchst (5.0 km), Wolfurt (5.1 km).