Foreign population rises to 19.2 per cent

The number of foreigners living in Switzerland rose last year to reach 19.2 per cent of the resident population. The authorities said the upturn in the economy had led to an increase in the number of work permits issued to foreigners.

The number of foreigners living in Switzerland rose last year to reach 19.2 per cent of the resident population. The authorities said the upturn in the economy had led to an increase in the number of work permits issued to foreigners.

The federal office for foreigners said 1,36 million foreigners lived in Switzerland in 1999, an increase of nearly 21,000 people over the previous year. The figures exclude asylum-seekers, international civil servants and seasonal workers.

The office said the increase came almost exclusively from non-western Europeans. It said the main rise was in the number of Bosnians (up 13,211), while the largest drop was in the number of Italians (-6,913).

This has resulted in a fall in the proportion of foreigners from countries of the European Union or European Free Trade Association. These made up 58.5 per cent of the foreign population last year, compared to 82.9 per cent in 1980.

Overall, the Italians are still the largest group, representing 23.9 per cent of the foreign populations, followed by Yugoslav nationals (13.8 per cent).

From staff and wire reports