New NGOs and staff boost International Geneva statistics
Geneva is home to well-known international organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO), and the UN’s European headquarters (large white building in photo)
Keystone / Fabrice Coffrini
There are now almost 34,000 people working in so-called “International Geneva”. The increase is mainly due to new non-governmental organisations and staff, recent figures show.
This content was published on
2 minutes
I am a climate and science/technology reporter. I am interested in the effects of climate change on everyday life and scientific solutions.
Born in London, I am a dual citizen of Switzerland and the UK. After studying modern languages and translation, I trained as a journalist and joined swissinfo.ch in 2006. My working languages are English, German, French and Spanish.
Many Swiss ‘know little’ about International Geneva
This content was published on
Switzerland invests millions in its strategy towards “International Geneva”, yet many people in the German-speaking region are unfamiliar with it.
The statistics office said the number of international civil servants on non-permanent contracts continued to increase (+5%). They now represent 30% of all contracts, compared to less than a quarter in 2012.
An additional 4,203 people work for permanent diplomatic missions or consulates in Geneva accredited to the UN or to other international organisations. A total of 179 states are represented.
NGOS: a rise
The number of NGOs based in the city continues to rise steadily. According to the canton’s International Geneva welcome service (CAGIExternal link), 420 (+5%) were registered this year, employing 3,109 people (+6%). Of these, 200 NGOs employed at least one person, while two-thirds employed less than ten. Most are active in the humanitarian, human rights and migration fields. The status of 220 other NGOs in the canton was unclear.
The amount of money spent or invested by international agencies in Geneva continues to smash records. Last year it hit CHF6.3 billion ($6.3 billion), up 1.8% compared to 2017. Over half of this amount – mostly salaries and insurance and pension payments (91% of total) – was spent or invested in Switzerland, the office said.
After a steep rise from 2014 to 2017, the number of international conferences and meetings fell slightly to 3,236 last year, with a total of 207,147 people attending.
More
More
VIPs get red carpet welcome in Geneva
This content was published on
Geneva boasts more protocol receptions and international conferences than any other city in the world.
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
Living longer: What do you think about the longevity trend?
The longevity market is booming thanks in part to advances in the science of ageing. What do you think of the idea of significantly extending human lifespan?
SWISS cancels flight to Tel Aviv following missile attack near Ben Gurion airport
This content was published on
After a missile landed near Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport, Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) cancelled its flight from Zurich to Tel Aviv on Sunday.
Swiss foreign minister rejects mandatory referendum for EU deals
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis defended the government’s decision to make EU deals subject to an optional rather than a mandatory referendum.
Pro-choice and anti-abortion activists face off in Geneva
This content was published on
Anti-abortion Christian groups held a silent prayer in front of the Geneva train station on Saturday, to the whistles and shouts of pro-choice demonstrators.
Swiss army soldier seriously injured in accident on Simplon Pass
This content was published on
A member of the Swiss army was seriously injured on Friday while manoeuvring a self-propelled howitzer on the Simplon Pass.
Basel attempts world‘s largest over-60s disco before Eurovision Song Contest
This content was published on
It was billed as a world record attempt for the biggest over-60s disco of all time. But most visitors came to Basel to have fun.
Basel prepares 700 volunteers for the Eurovision Song Contest
This content was published on
Around 320 people took part in one of the two official information events for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Basel on Friday.
More Swiss soldiers involved in accidents during training in Austria
This content was published on
The Swiss army has reported various accidents involving Swiss soldiers during the exercise “TRIAS 25” in Austria. Some have led to hospitalisations.
Swiss court rules vegan meat substitutes can’t use animal names
This content was published on
Vegan meat substitutes may not bear animal names such as “planted.chicken” according to a ruling by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Over 750 NGOs now active in International Geneva
This content was published on
New research has identified over 750 non-governmental organisations currently operating in so-called International Geneva.
This content was published on
The number of staff working for the United Nations, international organisations, NGOs and diplomatic missions in Geneva has topped 33,000.
Many Swiss ‘know little’ about International Geneva
This content was published on
Switzerland invests millions in its strategy towards “International Geneva”, yet many people in the German-speaking region are unfamiliar with it.
This content was published on
Have you been following recent developments in International Geneva? Take our multiple-choice quiz to test your knowledge.
This content was published on
The international district in Geneva is undergoing huge changes as part of the long-term “Jardin des Nations” cantonal development project. In all, over CHF2 billion ($2 billion) is being invested in new buildings and major renovations, as well as local transport. A considerable chunk of the finance consists of federal and cantonal loans. Here are…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.