The museum in figures

The Natural History Museum Basel is part of the presidential department. Below are its key financial, research and visitor numbers for 2024.

Income

86% of our income comes from contributions by the canton of Basel-Stadt. Besides that, we finance the museum's operation through admission fees, sales in the museum shop, revenue from services and through third-party funds from sponsors, benefactors and foundations.

Expenditure

60.2% of our expenses relate to staff costs. 22.3% are needed to cover the cost of renting the museum's premises. Around a sixth of our expenditure is used on running the museum, maintaining the collections, carrying out research and for exhibitions.

Income in detail

Admissions 681'196.– 5,44%
Museum shop 187'308.– 1,50%
Guiding Tours/Events 95'886.– 0,76%
Other revenue 68'977.– 0.55%
Third-party funding exhibitions 186'666.– 1,49%
Third-party funding research 326'528.– 2,61%
Public contributions provenance research 159'984.– 1,28%
Public contributions 10'817'287.– 86,37%
Total 12'523'832.– 100%

Expenses in detail

Material costs 2'191'970.– 17,50%
Property rental 2'789'336.– 22,27
Staffing costs 7'542'526.– 60,23%
Total 12'523'832.– 100%

Visitors and users

Permanent exhibitions 84'001 52.8%
Temporary exhibition SEXY - Driving force of life 50'845 32%
Temporary exhibition Wildlife Photographer of the Year 24'193 15.2%
Total number of visitors and other guests 159'037 100%
     
Other guests* 4'879  
*Other guests using the museum's location without visiting the exhibitions.    

School groups

Canton Basel-Stadt 1'419 68,8%
Canton Basel-Land 450 21,8%
Rest of Switzerland 144 6,9%
Abroad 51 2,5%
Total 2'064 100%

Figures for collections and research

Number of loans of objects   12'361
Number of new collection objects   12'448
Number of days on which guest scientists visited   346
Scientific publications by the museum's own employees   61
Scientific publications by external scientists about parts of the collection   62

Events

In 2024, the museum team designed and carried out a total of 456 different events.