List of Cantons of Switzerland by area facts for kids

Switzerland is a country in Europe made up of 26 different parts called cantons. You can think of a canton like a state in the USA or a province in Canada. Each canton has its own government and laws, but they all work together as part of Switzerland. This article will help you learn about these cantons, especially how big they are!

Cantons of Switzerland: How Big Are They?

The size of a canton is measured by its area, usually in square kilometers (km²). Knowing the area helps us understand how much land each canton covers. Some cantons are very large, with lots of mountains and open spaces, while others are quite small and might be very busy cities.

What is a Canton?

A canton is like a mini-country within Switzerland. Each one has its own unique history, culture, and even different languages spoken! For example, some cantons speak German, others speak French, and some even speak Italian or Romansh. They all have their own flags, called "coats of arms," which you can see next to their names.

Switzerland's Biggest Cantons

Switzerland has a total area of about 41,285 square kilometers. The cantons vary a lot in size.

• Graubünden is the largest canton by area. It covers about 7,105 km², which is a huge 17.2% of Switzerland's total land! It's known for its beautiful mountains and valleys.
• Berne is the second largest, with an area of 5,959 km². It's also one of the most populated cantons.
• Valais comes in third, covering 5,224 km². This canton is famous for its high mountains, including the Matterhorn.

These three cantons alone make up a big part of Switzerland's land!

Switzerland's Smallest Cantons

On the other end of the scale, some cantons are much smaller.

• Basel-City is the smallest canton, with an area of just 37 km². It's mostly a city area, which is why it has a very high population density (lots of people living in a small space).
• Appenzell Innerrhoden is also very small, covering 173 km². It's known for its traditional Swiss culture.
• Zug is another smaller canton at 239 km². It's a busy economic center.

Even though these cantons are small, they are very important to Switzerland.

Why Size and Population Matter

The area of a canton tells us how much space it has. But it's also interesting to look at the population (how many people live there) and population density (how many people live per square kilometer).

For example, Graubünden is huge but has a relatively small population, meaning it has lots of open space. On the other hand, Basel-City is tiny but has many people, making it very crowded. This shows how diverse Switzerland's cantons are, from wide-open natural areas to bustling city centers.

Images for kids

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  Coat of arms of Graubünden

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  Coat of arms of Berne

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  Coat of arms of Valais

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  Coat of arms of Vaud

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  Coat of arms of Ticino

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  Coat of arms of St. Gallen

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  Coat of arms of Zürich

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  Coat of arms of Fribourg

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  Coat of arms of Lucerne

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  Coat of arms of Aargau

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  Coat of arms of Uri

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  Coat of arms of Thurgau

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  Coat of arms of Schwyz

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  Coat of arms of Jura

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  Coat of arms of Neuchâtel

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  Coat of arms of Solothurn

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  Coat of arms of Glarus

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  Coat of arms of Basel-Country

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  Coat of arms of Obwalden

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  Coat of arms of Schaffhausen

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  Coat of arms of Geneva

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  Coat of arms of Nidwalden

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  Coat of arms of Appenzell Ausserrhoden

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  Coat of arms of Zug

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  Coat of arms of Appenzell Innerrhoden

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  Coat of arms of Basel-City