This directory contains the names, perimeters and post codes of all localities in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.
All Switzerland’s localities in a single database
Localities are areas that together cover the entire territory of Switzerland without overlapping. They are artificial administrative subdivisions created to form unique building addresses throughout Switzerland. In addition to localities, the boundaries of postal code areas are also defined. The dataset comprises approximately 4,100 localities and NPA6 areas.
The place name 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 listing the names, postcodes and perimeters of all localities in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.
Production and updates
swisstopo constantly updates the data based on input from the cantons and Swiss Post. An updated version is always published on the first day of each month.
Use 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.
The official directory of towns and cities is available in the following coordinate systems:
LV95
WGS84 (only CSV)
Updates
The official directory of towns and cities is updated monthly as of the first of each month. Changes relating to the official directory of towns and cities are registered and reported by the relevant cantonal authorities and Swiss Post. If something should nonetheless be overlooked, it can be notified directly to the relevant cantonal surveying authority.
Production information and release notes are not available in English. Please select your preferred language in the navigation bar to view the documents.
Municipal number allocated by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (SFSO)
Abbreviation of canton
A full description of the attributes can be found in the product information.
The official directory of towns and cities, and thus the applicable dataset, only lists postcodes pertaining to building addresses. This means that the directory of towns and cities only lists postcodes which according to SwissPost specifically refer to «domicile addresses», i.e., codes 10 and 20 in the directory and the SwissPost database.
All other zip code types such as professional zip codes, company zip codes and internal zip codes, i.e. the so-called administrative zip codes (i.e. zip code type > 20, according to SwissPost), are not listed. These include, for example, the zip codes 3001, 3003.
Generally speaking, the perimeter of the municipality and the perimeter of the locality (including the postcode) are not congruent. It is the locality and postcode – not the municipality – that are of relevance for the address.
For information purposes, the name of the municipality is included in the official directory of building addresses.
The spelling of localities and municipalities can also vary. For further information, please refer to the corresponding recommendation regarding the spelling of locality and municipality names.
A municipality can comprise several localities and/or postcodes. It is also possible for a given locality/postcode to refer to several municipalities.
Since January 2023, for a locality and postcode all municipalities whose perimeter intersects the perimeter of a locality are listed in the dataset.
Examples:
The city of Bern is a municipality. It comprises a locality with the same name and with a number of postcodes: 3004, 3005, 3006, 3007, 3008, 3010, 3012, 3013, 3014, 3015, 3018, 3019, 3020, and 3027 Bern. In addition, there are other localities with other postcodes that are located within the municipal territory of Bern near its boundary, e.g. 3037 Herrenschwanden, 3072 Ostermundigen.
The municipality of Köniz comprises several localities with different postcodes: 3084 Wabern, 3095 Spiegel b. Bern, 3098 Köniz, 3097 Liebefeld, 3098 Schliern b. Köniz, 3144 Gasel, 3145 Niederscherli, 3172 Niederwangen b. Bern, 3173 Oberwangen b. Bern, 3147 Mittelhäusern and part of 3174 Thörishaus.
The postcode for Thörishaus (3174) concerns the municipalities of both Neuenegg and Köniz.
There are also postcodes for localities that extend beyond the cantonal border, e.g. 2016 Renans (canton of Bern)
