Breite: narrow shape, broad green space, average demographics.
May 5, 2026Breite is a narrow, green neighborhood in Basel with a high share of parks and nature, giving it a park-like character near the city center. It has a balanced age structure, moderate socioeconomic indicators, and an older housing stock, with population density and foreign national share close to the city average.
Breite is home to 9,326 people and covers 0.7 square kilometers, making it an average-sized neighborhood in Basel. Despite its name, which suggests breadth, the neighborhood is actually quite narrow, stretching along the Birs and Rhine rivers. The Birs forms the cantonal border, while the St. Albanteich-Promenade marks the boundary with the St. Alban quarter to the west.
The most distinctive feature of Breite is its exceptionally high share of green space. With 36 percent of its surface covered by parks and nature, Breite ranks among the greenest neighborhoods in Basel, far exceeding the city average. This abundance of greenery gives the area a distinctly park-like character, unusual for a neighborhood so close to the city center.
Breite has a population density that places it 11th out of 21 neighborhoods. Its foreign national share stands at 38.3 percent, ranking 13th, which is close to the city average. The youth dependency ratio is 23.3 percent, ranking 13th, while the old-age dependency ratio is 30.9 percent, ranking 11th. These figures suggest a balanced age structure, with neither an exceptionally young nor an exceptionally old population.
Socially and economically, Breite presents a mixed picture. The share of welfare recipients is 4.0 percent, which is moderate compared to other neighborhoods. The unemployment rate is 4.3 percent, also around the middle of the pack. The share of single-person households is 28.4 percent, indicating a moderately urban lifestyle. The share of long-term residents is 31.8 percent, suggesting a community with a fair degree of stability but not exceptionally rooted. The average construction year of buildings is 1942, meaning the housing stock is older, and the share of single-family homes is 12.9 percent, which is relatively low, reinforcing the area's dense, urban character. The average apartment size is 70.9 square meters, and living space per person is 39.4 square meters, both close to the city norm. The Gymnasium attendance rate is 26.5 percent, indicating a solid but not exceptional level of educational aspiration.
No meaningful trend data was provided for this neighborhood.
Table 1: Summary of Neighbourhood Indicators for Breite 2024
| Metric | Unit | Value | rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welfare recipient rate | % | 4.0 | 12 |
| Share of foreign nationals | % | 38.3 | 9 |
| Share of persons living alone | % | 28.4 | 15 |
| Gymnasium attendance rate [%] | % | 26.5 | 7 |
| Old-age dependency ratio | % | 30.9 | 11 |
| Share of long-term residents | % | 31.8 | 13 |
| Youth dependency ratio | % | 23.3 | 9 |
| Share of single-family homes | % | 13.0 | 9 |
| Share of green space | % | 36.0 | 15 |
| Floor space per apartment | m² | 70.9 | 9 |
| Living space per person (m²) | m² | 39.4 | 9 |
| Unemployment rate | % | 4.3 | 16 |
Figure 1: Location of Breite
Figure 2: Squaremeter living area per capita in Basel-Stadt
Figure 3: Radar Chart of Neighborhood-Indicators for Breite
Figure 4: Ranking of Old age Dependecy Rate
Additional resources: Wohnviertel-App, Wohnviertel (bs.ch)
🤖 This text was generated with the assistance of AI. All quantitative statements are derived directly from the dataset listed under Data Source.