Riehen leads Basel-Stadt in both old-age and youth dependency ratios.
July 24, 2026Riehen is the largest neighbourhood in Basel-Stadt by both population and area, and it is unique in having the highest old-age and youth dependency ratios in the canton. It is a wealthy, family-oriented community with low unemployment and welfare rates, abundant green space, and spacious housing.
Riehen is the largest neighbourhood in the canton of Basel-Stadt, with 22,645 inhabitants and a surface area of 10.9 square kilometres, making up 30.3 percent of the canton's total area. It is located at the northern edge of the canton, bordering Germany.
The most distinctive finding about Riehen is that it ranks first in the canton for both the old-age dependency ratio and the youth dependency ratio. The old-age dependency ratio stands at 48.0, meaning there are 48 people aged 65 and over for every 100 working-age adults, while the youth dependency ratio is 41.3, indicating 41 children and teenagers per 100 working-age adults. This combination of high values for both ratios is unique in Basel-Stadt and reflects a population structure with many elderly residents and many children.
Riehen is the largest neighbourhood by surface area, covering 10.9 square kilometres. Its population of 22,645 is the highest of any neighbourhood in the canton. The share of foreign nationals is 29.6 percent, which ranks 17th out of 21 neighbourhoods, meaning Riehen is less diverse than the city average. The population is notably older, with an old-age dependency ratio of 48.0, the highest in the canton, and also has many children, with a youth dependency ratio of 41.3, also the highest.
Riehen is a wealthy and stable community. The share of welfare recipients is only 2.6 percent, one of the lowest rates in the canton, and the unemployment rate is similarly low at 2.8 percent. The neighbourhood is strongly family-oriented, with 65.5 percent of dwellings being single-family homes, the highest share in Basel-Stadt. The gymnasium attendance rate is 48.2 percent, indicating a highly educated population. The share of long-term residents is 40.3 percent, suggesting a rooted community with low turnover.
The share of green space in Riehen is 79.3 percent, the highest in the canton. This reflects the neighbourhood's many parks, gardens, and the extensive grounds of the Fondation Beyeler and the Wenkenhof estate. The average apartment size is 102.5 square metres, and the living space per person is 46.9 square metres, both among the highest in Basel-Stadt, underscoring the spacious and privileged living conditions that define Riehen.
Table 1: Summary of Neighbourhood Indicators for Riehen 2024
| Metric | Unit | Value | rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welfare recipient rate | % | 2.6 | 7 |
| Share of foreign nationals | % | 29.6 | 5 |
| Share of persons living alone | % | 16.6 | 3 |
| Gymnasium attendance rate [%] | % | 48.2 | 13 |
| Old-age dependency ratio | % | 48.0 | 21 |
| Share of long-term residents | % | 40.3 | 18 |
| Youth dependency ratio | % | 41.3 | 21 |
| Share of single-family homes | % | 65.5 | 18 |
| Share of green space | % | 79.3 | 20 |
| Floor space per apartment | m² | 102.5 | 19 |
| Living space per person (m²) | m² | 46.9 | 17 |
| Unemployment rate | % | 2.8 | 4 |
Figure 1: Location of Riehen
Figure 2: Squaremeter living area per capita in Basel-Stadt
Figure 3: Radar Chart of Neighborhood-Indicators for Riehen
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.