MigrantoMigration trends in Switzerland
Europe
Switzerland takes in more people than it loses: 2.4M immigrants against 512.5K emigrants. Net balance +1.9M — 21% of the country's population
9M
Population
2.4M
Immigrants
512.5K
Emigrants
+1.9M
Inflow
1 in 4 residents of Switzerland was born abroad — and 1 in 19 people born in Switzerland lives abroad
#29 in the world by net migration gain
Top corridors
The largest migration flows in Switzerland
Where people come from
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
1.2M immigrants · 396.7K emigrants
2000
- Germany overtook Italy as the largest source of new arrivals
2005
- Roughly 1 in 5 residents was now foreign-born
2015
- Migration accounted for 56% of the country's population growth
2020
- The diaspora passed 500K people
Today
- Migration accounted for 59% of the country's population growth
- Since 1990: 1.2M more foreign-born residents and 115.9K more emigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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