Northwestern Switzerland Nordwestschweiz | |
|---|---|
Region | |
 | |
| Country |  Switzerland |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,958.2 km2 (756.1 sq mi) |
| Population (2024)[2] | |
• Total | 1,225,762 |
| • Density | 625.96/km2 (1,621.2/sq mi) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | CHF 111.553 billion (2022) |
| NUTS code | CH03 |
| HDI (2022) | 0.964[4] very high ·4th |
Northwestern Switzerland (German:Nordwestschweiz,French:Suisse du Nord-Ouest,Italian:Svizzera nordoccidentale), is asubdivision of Switzerland as defined by theFederal Statistical Office for statistical purposes. It is classified as aNUTS-2 statisticalregion of Switzerland, and encompasses thecantons ofBasel-Stadt,Basel-Landschaft, andAargau. It is different from the traditional region of the same name (Nordwestschweiz inGerman), which also includes Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft, certain northern parts of theSolothurn and only parts of the canton of Aargau.
The country of Switzerland is federally organized into26 cantons, which are the primarysub-divisions of the country.[5] For statistical purposes, theFederal Statistical Office organizes the country into broader level sub-divisions based oncardinal directions. These are classified as aNUTS-2 statisticalregions of Switzerland, and incorporate various cantons within it.[6][7]
Northwestern Switzerland consists of the areas towards the north-western periphery of the country, borderingGrand Est of France to the west andBaden-Württemberg of Germany to the north. TheBasel Trinational Eurodistrict extends across the three countries, in the area between theRhine valley and the plain of Alsace.[8] The three countries meet in the middle of theRhine River, slightly north of theDreiländereck.[9] The region encompasses an area of 1,958.2 km2 (756.1 sq mi),[1] and had a population of over 1.22 million in 2024.[2]
It encompasses thecantons ofBasel-Stadt,Basel-Landschaft, andAargau.[7] It is different from the traditional region of the same name (Nordwestschweiz inGerman), which also includes Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft, certain northern parts of theSolothurn and only parts of the canton of Aargau.[10][11]
| S.No. | Arms [a] | Code | Name | Established | Capital | GDP (2020)[13] in millionCHF | GDP per capita (2020)[14] inCHF | Population (2007) | Area(km2) | Density (per km2) | Municipalities (2018)[15] | Official languages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
| AG | Aargau | 1803 [b] | Aarau | 43,590 | 63,177 | 694,072 | 1,404 | 494 | 212 | |
| 2 | 
| BS | Basel-Stadt | 1501 (asBasel until 1999) | Basel | 37,168 | 189,354 | 201,156 | 37 | 5,444 | 3 | German |
| 3 | 
| BL | Basel-Landschaft | 1501 (asBasel until 1999) | Liestal | 20,567 | 70,866 | 292,955 | 518 | 566 | 86 | German |
The region is economically developed,[4] andBasel area is one of the major economic centers of the country.[8][19] Major industries includepharmaceuticals,chemicals, andtextiles. The economic development started in the early 1900s, when mineral deposits were found in the area. This led to setting up of various industries inPratteln. The construction of theHauenstein Railway between Basel andOlten furthered economic growth as it connected the region with the other parts of the country.Liestal serves as the center of the textile industries, and is one of the most industrialized towns in the region.[19]
47°25′41″N7°53′06″E / 47.42806°N 7.88500°E /47.42806; 7.88500