More and more settlements? From 1997 to 2018, the settlement area grew by 16%; although it decreased per capita.

The settlement area includes both buildings and all facilities and infrastructures for living, leisure (e.g., gardens, public parks), mobility (e.g., roads), and work (e.g., industrial and office areas). Despite the per capita decline, the total settlement area increased significantly during the same period. The population grew from 7.0 to 8.3 million people, an increase of 18%. At the same time, the total settlement area rose from 2819 to 3271 square kilometers (km²), an increase of 452 km² or 16%. For comparison: the canton of Obwalden covers 491 km². About two-thirds (67%) of this growth was due to additional building area, with residential areas being by far the most important driver. Since existing settlements are usually surrounded by agricultural land – which does not enjoy the same legal protection as forests – most of the settlement growth between 1985 and 2018 came at the expense of agriculture: around 90% of the newly claimed settlement area was created on formerly agricultural land.