decreased at a rate of -5.2%. Most of the population () speaks German (87.0%), with Serbo-Croatian being second most common ( 3.8%) and Italian being third ( 3.4%). , the gender distribution of the population was 49.6% male and 50.4% female. The age distribution, , in Herisau is; 1,194 people or 7.5% of the population are between 0–6 years old. 1,775 people or 11.2% are 6-15, and 835 people or 5.3% are 16–19. Of the adult population, 945 people or 6.0% of the population are between 20–24 years old. 4,760 people or 30.0% are 25–44, and 3,831 people or 24.1% are 45–64. The senior population distribution is 1,702 people or 10.7% of the population are between 65–79 years old, and 840 people or 5.3% are over 80. In the 2007 federal election the FDP received 76.7% of the vote. The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Herisau about 66.2% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule). Historical population The historical population is given in the following table: Weather Herisau has an average of 154 days of rain per year and on average receives of precipitation. The wettest month is July during which time Herisau receives an average of of precipitation. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 13.9 days. The month with the most days of precipitation is May, with an average of 15.3, but with only of precipitation. The driest month of the year is February with an average of of precipitation over 13.9 days. Economy Herisau is located in the centre of eastern Switzerland. As early as 1537 it established itself as an important centre of trade and commerce. Herisau has an unemployment rate of 2.01%. , there were 340 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 115 businesses involved in this sector. 2,959 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 189 businesses in this sector. 4,505 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 651 businesses in this sector. Transport The municipality has three railway stations: , , and . Sport SC Herisau plays in the Swiss 1. Liga. Notable residents Johannes Zollikofer (1633-1692), priest, lived in Herisau from 1666 to his death Santiago Roth (1850 in Herisau – 1924), a Swiss Argentine paleontologist Jakob Heierli (1853-1912), the Swiss archaeologist and prehistorian,