St. Johann has Basel's lowest old-age dependency ratio.
June 9, 2026St. Johann, Basel's fifth-largest neighborhood, has a notably young population with the city's lowest old-age dependency ratio. It is a diverse, mixed-area divided between residential and industrial zones, with a highly international and transient population facing above-average unemployment and social welfare rates.
St. Johann is home to 19,562 people and covers 2.3 square kilometers, making it the fifth-largest neighborhood in Basel and one of the larger ones in the city. It lies on the city's northwestern edge, bordering France and sitting close to the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg.
The neighborhood's most distinctive feature is its exceptionally low old-age dependency ratio. With a value of 23.6, St. Johann ranks 17th out of 21 neighborhoods, meaning it has one of the smallest shares of elderly residents relative to its working-age population in all of Basel. This is a notably young population structure.
St. Johann is divided into two distinct zones. The area closer to the city center is primarily residential, while the area near the border is dominated by industry. The population is highly international: 43.0 percent of residents are foreign nationals, ranking 7th in the city. The youth dependency ratio stands at 26.2, ranking 12th, which is close to the city average and indicates a moderate presence of children and teenagers.
The social and economic character of St. Johann is mixed. The unemployment rate is 4.1 percent, which is elevated compared to the city average and suggests some economic pressure. The share of residents receiving social welfare is 5.8 percent. At the same time, the share of single-person households is 23.9 percent, a relatively high figure that points to an urban, transient lifestyle. This is reinforced by the low share of long-term residents, or "Sesshafte," at 29.9 percent, indicating a population that is more mobile than rooted.
Table 1: Summary of Neighbourhood Indicators for St. Johann 2024
| Metric | Unit | Value | rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welfare recipient rate | % | 5.8 | 17 |
| Share of foreign nationals | % | 43.0 | 15 |
| Share of persons living alone | % | 23.9 | 9 |
| Gymnasium attendance rate [%] | % | 28.8 | 8 |
| Old-age dependency ratio | % | 23.6 | 5 |
| Share of long-term residents | % | 29.9 | 7 |
| Youth dependency ratio | % | 26.2 | 10 |
| Share of single-family homes | % | 24.4 | 13 |
| Share of green space | % | 30.2 | 12 |
| Floor space per apartment | m² | 72.2 | 10 |
| Living space per person (m²) | m² | 36.8 | 4 |
| Unemployment rate | % | 4.1 | 14 |
Figure 1: Location of St. Johann
Figure 2: Squaremeter living area per capita in Basel-Stadt
Figure 3: Radar Chart of Neighborhood-Indicators for St. Johann
Figure 4: Ranking of Old age Dependecy Rate
Additional resources: Wohnviertel-App, Wohnviertel (bs.ch)
🤖 This text was generated with the assistance of AI. All quantitative statements are derived directly from the dataset listed under Data Source.