Clara is the smallest of Basel's 21 neighborhoods, covering just 0.2 square kilometers, or 0.6 percent of the city's total area. It is home to 4,410 people, ranking 17th in population size among Basel's neighborhoods.

The most distinctive finding about Clara is its exceptionally high share of foreign nationals. At 51.6 percent, Clara has the third-highest proportion of foreigners in all of Basel, far above the city average. This makes it one of the most internationally diverse neighborhoods in the city.

Geographically, Clara sits at the edge of the Messequartier and functions primarily as a business and service district. Its surface area is the smallest of any neighborhood in Basel. The population is almost evenly split between men and women, with 2,208 men and 2,202 women. The youth dependency ratio is very low, ranking 19th out of 21 neighborhoods, meaning there are relatively few children compared to working-age adults. The old-age dependency ratio is moderate, ranking 12th.

Socially and economically, Clara stands out as a commercial hub. The number of jobs per resident is extremely high, reflecting its character as a center for hotels, offices, and services. The share of single-person households is also elevated, consistent with an urban, transient population. The share of long-term residents, or "Sesshafte," is low, ranking among the lowest in the city, which indicates a high turnover of inhabitants. The unemployment rate is 4.0 percent, and the welfare rate is 5.3 percent, both around the middle of the city's range.

The average construction year of residential buildings in Clara is 1929, placing it among the older building stocks in Basel. This aligns with its historic character as a long-established commercial district.