Biel/Bienne
Municipality in the canton of Bern FSO no. 371 Data 2025, as of 29 Sept 2026
In 2025, 443 of 32’336 dwellings stood vacant in Biel/Bienne, a vacancy rate of 1.37%.
The vacancy rate fell from 1.47% in 2016 to 1.37% in 2025 (-0.10 pp).
That is the 126th highest vacancy rate of 335 municipalities in the canton of Bern.
Key figures 2025
- Vacancy rate
- 1.37%
- Vacant dwellings
- 443
- Dwelling stock
- 32’336
Vacancy trend 2016-2025
| Year | Rate | Vacant | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.37% | 443 | 32’336 |
| 2024 | 1.70% | 547 | 32’176 |
| 2023 | 1.79% | 574 | 32’067 |
| 2022 | 2.43% | 775 | 31’893 |
| 2021 | 2.37% | 749 | 31’603 |
| 2020 | 2.76% | 866 | 31’377 |
| 2019 | 2.26% | 705 | 31’195 |
| 2018 | 2.43% | 747 | 30’741 |
| 2017 | 2.07% | 629 | 30’386 |
| 2016 | 1.47% | 446 | 30’340 |
Breakdown of vacant dwellings
Of the 443 vacant dwellings, 2 are in single-family houses and 441 in multi-family houses; 439 are for rent and 4 for sale; 14 are new and 429 older.
House type
| House type | Vacant | Rate | Share of vacant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family houses | 2 | 0.01% | 0.5% |
| Multi-family houses | 441 | 1.36% | 99.5% |
Sale / rent
| Sale / rent | Vacant | Rate | Share of vacant |
|---|---|---|---|
| For sale | 4 | 0.01% | 0.9% |
| For rent | 439 | 1.36% | 99.1% |
Dwelling age
| Dwelling age | Vacant | Rate | Share of vacant |
|---|---|---|---|
| New dwellings | 14 | 0.04% | 3.2% |
| Older dwellings | 429 | 1.33% | 96.8% |
Comparison
The canton of Bern average is 1.12% (6’660 vacant of 594’643 dwellings).
Across Switzerland it is 1.00% (48’455 vacant of 4’845’500 dwellings).
| Comparison | Rate | Vacant | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biel/Bienne | 1.37% | 443 | 32’336 |
| Bern | 1.12% | 6’660 | 594’643 |
| Switzerland | 1.00% | 48’455 | 4’845’500 |
More municipalities in the canton of Bern
- Bern0.43%
- Thun0.05%
- Köniz0.28%
- Ostermundigen1.11%
- Burgdorf1.43%
- Langenthal1.71%
- Steffisburg0.47%
- Lyss2.23%
- Spiez0.27%
- Saanen1.26%
- Muri bei Bern0.89%
- Münsingen0.31%
Source and method
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO), survey of vacant dwellings (Leerwohnungszählung), via stats.swiss. The dwelling stock is estimated from the published counts and rates.
House type, tenure and dwelling age are three independent breakdowns of the same vacant dwellings; they cannot be combined (there is no "rented new dwelling" figure).
Vacancy data for 2025, statistics computed on 29 Sept 2026.