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.
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Born in London, Simon is a multimedia journalist who has worked for www.swissinfo.ch since 2006. He speaks French, German and Spanish and focuses on science, technology and innovation issues.
Many Swiss ‘know little’ about International Geneva
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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.
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Over 750 NGOs now active in International Geneva
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New research has identified over 750 non-governmental organisations currently operating in so-called International Geneva.
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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
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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.
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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…
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