All Switzerland’s localities in a single database

A locality (town, city, village) is a geographically defined developed area that is of national importance and which may also incorporate secondary residential zones. Each location is designated by an unambiguous place name and a unique post code.

When searches are carried out on the Internet or with the aid of a navigation device, place names are the most commonly entered search parameters. A place name also forms an integral part of the postal address of a building. The Federal Office of Topography swisstopo compiles, manages and publishes the official directory of towns and cities as a dataset (“PLZO_CH”) listing the names, postcodes and perimeters of all localities in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Status of the directory

swisstopo constantly updates the data based on input from the cantons and Swiss Post. Every month it posts an updated version online that can be downloaded free of charge.

Utilisation of the directory

The official directory of towns and cities can be used for a broad variety of tasks:

• For carrying out analyses that require a spatial reference to Switzerland’s addressing system
• In combination with other geodata sets
• As a visual background for orientation in global information and CAD systems
• For comprehensive statistical analyses and simulations
• As a reference dataset for the development of information systems.

The directory is a valuable tool in cases in which important localities do not take the form of political municipalities, for example for political analyses or within the framework of initiatives and referenda where there is a need to verify signatures.

Terms of use

Procurement of data