MigrantoImmigrants in Switzerland
2.4M foreign-born residents — the #29 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 36% of all immigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Germany | 371816 |
| Italy | 273822 |
| Portugal | 202178 |
| France | 195100 |
| Turkey | 86906 |
| North Macedonia | 85065 |
| Ukraine | 80919 |
| Spain | 71167 |
| Serbia | 68585 |
| Bosnia | 58221 |
| Austria | 57640 |
| Poland | 53044 |
| Brazil | 51063 |
| United Kingdom | 48706 |
| USA | 42809 |
| Romania | 40167 |
| Sri Lanka | 37483 |
| Eritrea | 31946 |
| Russia | 30466 |
| China | 30309 |
| Hungary | 29553 |
| Syria | 29396 |
| India | 27635 |
| Slovakia | 24437 |
| Netherlands | 24215 |
| Afghanistan | 24005 |
| Thailand | 22654 |
| Morocco | 21949 |
| Croatia | 19802 |
| Greece | 19484 |
| Belgium | 19211 |
| Colombia | 17521 |
| Iran | 17038 |
| Czech Republic | 16719 |
| Philippines | 16482 |
| Tunisia | 14494 |
| Dominican Republic | 13870 |
| Canada | 13033 |
| Vietnam | 12927 |
| Bulgaria | 12532 |
| Iraq | 12464 |
| Peru | 12080 |
| Argentina | 11810 |
| Algeria | 11016 |
| Sweden | 10012 |
By region of origin
Europe is the leading region of origin at 76%
1.8M
188.5K
128.8K
106.3K
79.4K
55.8K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Switzerland.
Immigration is a key driver of population growth
50% of the population growth of Switzerland since 1990 came from new immigrants, reflecting immigration's central demographic role.
A significant share of residents were born abroad
1 in 4 residents of Switzerland is foreign-born — 2.4M out of 9M, representing 26.3% of the population.
Top source countries have shifted significantly since 1990
5 new countries have entered the top 20: Ukraine, Romania, Eritrea — Ukraine rose from outside the top 20 to rank #7.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1221707 |
| 1995 | 1298377 |
| 2000 | 1395537 |
| 2005 | 1575766 |
| 2010 | 1719495 |
| 2015 | 1975782 |
| 2020 | 2154485 |
| 2024 | 2371751 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Germany | Italy | Portugal | France | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 234879 | 266625 | 100958 | 99313 | 65429 |
| 1995 | 250441 | 257127 | 115033 | 105573 | 67011 |
| 2000 | 268635 | 249113 | 131724 | 112955 | 68983 |
| 2005 | 300781 | 250428 | 156741 | 126528 | 73866 |
| 2010 | 323003 | 243157 | 179838 | 135578 | 76194 |
| 2015 | 349435 | 260982 | 220901 | 156030 | 78454 |
| 2020 | 359069 | 269298 | 212350 | 175221 | 82295 |
| 2024 | 371816 | 273822 | 202178 | 195100 | 86906 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Switzerland as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Switzerland
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Switzerland?
Around 2.4M foreign-born residents live in Switzerland, making it the #29-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Switzerland come from?
Most immigrants in Switzerland come from Germany, Italy and Portugal — these three countries account for about 36% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Switzerland are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 26% of the population of Switzerland — that's 2.4M out of a total population of 9M.
How has immigration to Switzerland changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Switzerland has grown from 2M to 2.4M people, a growth of about 20%.
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