List of Switzerland Cantons and Capitals - List of Cantons in Switzerland

Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: May 22, 2026

Switzerland is divided into 26 Cantons, also known as "states" or "Cantons" in other countries. Here is a list of the 26 Cantons in alphabetical order:

Switzerland is a landlocked country in Central Europe surrounded by Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein. The country is divided into 26 cantons, which function as the main administrative and political divisions of Switzerland. Bern is the federal capital city, while Zürich is the largest city and the country’s biggest financial and economic center.

The country is known for the Alps, mountain lakes, medieval towns, and multilingual culture spread across German, French, Italian, and Romansh-speaking regions. Different cantons are known for banking, tourism, manufacturing, watchmaking, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and international diplomacy, and each canton has a high level of autonomy within the Swiss federal system.

Key Facts

List of Cantons and Capitals of Switzerland

Total administrative divisions shown: 26 | Combined population: 8,962,300 | Combined area: 41,285 km²

#	Canton Name	Canton Capital	Geographic Region	Area (km²)	Population (Official Estimate 2025)
1	Aargau	Aarau	Northern Switzerland	1,404	720,000
2	Appenzell Ausserrhoden	Herisau	Eastern Alps	243	57,000
3	Appenzell Innerrhoden	Appenzell	Eastern Alps	173	16,500
4	Basel-Landschaft	Liestal	Northwestern Switzerland	518	295,000
5	Basel-Stadt	Basel	Rhine Border Region	37	205,000
6	Bern	Bern	Central Plateau	5,959	1,080,000
7	Fribourg	Fribourg	Western Plateau	1,671	340,000
8	Geneva	Geneva	Western Border Region	282	525,000
9	Glarus	Glarus	Eastern Alps	685	42,000
10	Graubünden	Chur	Southeastern Alps	7,105	205,000
11	Jura	Delémont	Jura Mountains	839	74,000
12	Lucerne	Lucerne	Central Switzerland	1,494	430,000
13	Neuchâtel	Neuchâtel	Western Switzerland	803	178,000
14	Nidwalden	Stans	Central Alps	276	45,000
15	Obwalden	Sarnen	Central Alps	491	39,000
16	Schaffhausen	Schaffhausen	Northern Border Region	298	87,000
17	Schwyz	Schwyz	Central Switzerland	908	167,000
18	Solothurn	Solothurn	Northwestern Plateau	791	282,000
19	St. Gallen	St. Gallen	Eastern Switzerland	2,026	525,000
20	Thurgau	Frauenfeld	Northeastern Switzerland	991	295,000
21	Ticino	Bellinzona	Southern Alps	2,812	360,000
22	Uri	Altdorf	Central Alps	1,077	38,000
23	Valais	Sion	Southwestern Alps	5,224	365,000
24	Vaud	Lausanne	Lake Geneva Region	3,212	860,000
25	Zug	Zug	Central Switzerland	239	132,000
26	Zürich	Zürich	Northeastern Plateau	1,729	1,620,800

Largest Cantons by Area

Graubünden - 2,743 sq mi (7,105 km²)
Bern - 2,301 sq mi (5,959 km²)
Valais - 2,017 sq mi (5,224 km²)
Vaud - 1,240 sq mi (3,212 km²)
Ticino - 1,086 sq mi (2,812 km²)
St. Gallen - 782 sq mi (2,026 km²)
Zürich - 668 sq mi (1,729 km²)
Fribourg - 645 sq mi (1,671 km²)

Most Populous Cantons

Zürich - Population: 1,620,800 (Official Estimate 2025)
Bern - Population: 1,080,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Vaud - Population: 860,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Aargau - Population: 720,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Geneva - Population: 525,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
St. Gallen - Population: 525,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Lucerne - Population: 430,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Valais - Population: 365,000 (Official Estimate 2025)

Smallest Cantons by Area

Basel-Stadt - 14 sq mi (37 km²)
Appenzell Innerrhoden - 67 sq mi (173 km²)
Zug - 92 sq mi (239 km²)
Appenzell Ausserrhoden - 94 sq mi (243 km²)
Nidwalden - 107 sq mi (276 km²)
Geneva - 109 sq mi (282 km²)

Cantons by Geographic Grouping

Central Alps: Nidwalden, Obwalden, Uri
Central Plateau: Bern
Central Switzerland: Lucerne, Schwyz, Zug
Eastern Alps: Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Glarus
Eastern Switzerland: St. Gallen
Jura Mountains: Jura
Lake Geneva Region: Vaud
Northeastern Plateau: Zürich
Northeastern Switzerland: Thurgau
Northern Border Region: Schaffhausen
Northern Switzerland: Aargau
Northwestern Plateau: Solothurn
Northwestern Switzerland: Basel-Landschaft
Rhine Border Region: Basel-Stadt
Southern Alps: Ticino
Southeastern Alps: Graubünden
Southwestern Alps: Valais
Western Border Region: Geneva
Western Plateau: Fribourg
Western Switzerland: Neuchâtel

Landlocked Cantons

All 26 cantons of Switzerland are landlocked because Switzerland has no coastline.

Cantons Sharing an International Border

Basel-Stadt - borders France and Germany
Basel-Landschaft - borders France
Geneva - borders France
Graubünden - borders Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein
Jura - borders France
Neuchâtel - borders France
Schaffhausen - borders Germany
St. Gallen - borders Austria and Liechtenstein
Ticino - borders Italy
Thurgau - borders Germany
Valais - borders France and Italy
Vaud - borders France

Major Economic Activities by Canton

Canton	Main Economic Activity	Known For
Zürich	Finance and technology	Banking and global business center
Geneva	International diplomacy and finance	United Nations offices and banking
Bern	Government and manufacturing	Federal administration and engineering
Ticino	Tourism and services	Italian-speaking culture and lakes
Graubünden	Tourism and hydropower	Alpine resorts and winter sports
Vaud	Research and agriculture	Universities and vineyards

Important Natural and Cultural Areas

Swiss Alps: Valais, Graubünden, Bern, Uri
Lake Geneva Region: Vaud and Geneva
Matterhorn Mountain: Valais
Jungfrau Region: Bern
Old City of Bern: Bern Canton
St. Moritz Resort: Graubünden

Sources

World Countries and Capitals

South America Countries Location Maps

List of Switzerland Cantons and Capitals - Cantons in Switzerland