Population
The population of Aarau grew continuously from 1800 until about 1960, when the city reached a peak population of 17,045, more than five times its population in 1800. However, since 1960 the population has fallen by 8%. There are three reasons for this population loss: firstly, since the completion of Telli (a large apartment complex), the city has not had any more considerable land developments. Secondly, the number of people per household has fallen; thus, the existing dwellings do not hold as many people. Thirdly, population growth was absorbed by neighboring municipalities in the regional urban area, and numerous citizens of Aarau moved into the countryside. This trend might have stopped since the turn of the 21st century. Existing industrial developments are being used for new purposes instead of standing empty.
Aarau has a population (as of 31 December 2011) of 20,043. As of 2008, 19.8% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 1%. Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks German (84.5%), with Italian being second most common ( 3.3%) and Serbo-Croatian being third ( 2.9%).
The age distribution, as of 2008, in Aarau is; 1,296 children or 8.1% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 1,334 teenagers or 8.4% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 2,520 people or 15.8% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 2,518 people or 15.8% are between 30 and 39, 2,320 people or 14.6% are between 40 and 49, and 1,987 people or 12.5% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 1,588 people or 10.0% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 1,219 people or 7.7% are between 70 and 79, there are 942 people or 5.9% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 180 people or 1.1% who are 90 and older.
As of 2000, there were 1,365 homes with 1 or 2 persons in the household, 3,845 homes with 3 or 4 persons in the household, and 2,119 homes with 5 or more persons in the household. The average number of people per household was 1.99 individuals. In 2008 there were 1,594 single family homes (or 18.4% of the total) out of a total of 8,661 homes and apartments.
In Aarau about 74.2% of the population (between age 25–64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule). Of the school age population (in the 2008/2009 school year), there are 861 students attending primary school, there are 280 students attending secondary school, there are 455 students attending tertiary or university level schooling, there are 35 students who are seeking a job after school in the municipality.
| Population Growth | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| year | population | Swiss Nationals |
% German Speaking |
% Italian Speaking |
% Romansh Speaking |
% Protestant | % Roman Catholic |
| 1558 | ca. 1,200 | ||||||
| 1764 | 1, 868 | ||||||
| 1798 | 2, 458 | ||||||
| 1850 | 4,657 | 4,299 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1880a | 5,914 | 5,381 | 99.2% | 0.7% | 0.2% | 81.9% | 17.4% |
| 1910 | 9,593 | 7,986 | 90.6% | 2.2% | 6.7% | 71.7% | 26.6% |
| 1930 | 11,666 | 10,472 | 95.3% | 1.7% | 2.3% | 72.7% | 25.4% |
| 1950 | 14,280 | 13,373 | 93.8% | 2.2% | 3.2% | 70.4% | 27.9% |
| 1970 | 16,881 | 13,782 | 82.4% | 1.6% | 11.2% | 60.1% | 37.6% |
| 1990 | 16,481 | 13,146 | 81.7% | 1.0% | 5.3% | 49.7% | 33.0% |
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