An aerial view of the international district in Geneva, with the European headquarters of the United Nations in the centre
KEYSTONE/ VALENTIN FLAURAUD
The number of staff working for the United Nations, international organisations, non-governmental agencies and diplomatic missions in Geneva has risen to over 33,000, according to new figures.
This content was published on
2 minutes
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.
The Geneva cantonal statistics officeExternal link reported on Thursday that 25,972 people were working for 34 international organisations in the western Swiss city in March 2018 (+2.7% compared to 2017), including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Geneva is also home to the UN’s European headquarters which employs around 9,500.
The statistics office said the number of permanent international civil servants had fallen slightly by 0.6%, while non-permanent contracts had risen by 11.7%. The latter now represent 30% of all contracts.
In addition, 4,211 people work for permanent diplomatic missions or consulates in Geneva accredited to the UN or to other international organisations.
The number of NGOs based the city has also increased. According to the canton’s International Geneva welcome service (CAGI), 399 were registered this year, employing 2,878 people. Of these, 192 NGOs employed at least one person. Almost two-thirds employed less than ten people, mostly in the humanitarian, human rights, migration, law, employment, economics, trade, science and telecommunications fields. The status of the 207 other NGOs was unclear.
Last year, the amount of money spent or invested by the Geneva-based international organisations and NGOs hit a record CHF6.2 million ($6.22 billion), up 3.6% compared to 2016. Over half of this amount – including salaries and insurance and pension payments – was spent or invested in Switzerland.
The statistics office said there had been 3,364 international conferences and meetings held in the city last year – a record – up almost 19% compared to the previous year. In all, 221,166 people participated.
The local authorities boast that there are “more protocol receptions in Geneva than in New York and more international conferences than in any city in the world”. Last year, Geneva welcomed around 4,700 international VIPs, including 97 heads of state, 44 prime ministers, over 2,000 ministers and nearly 700 royal family members.
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.
Swiss government rejects proposed super-rich inheritance tax
This content was published on
Switzerland’s government rejected a proposal to jack up inheritance taxes on the super rich, diminishing the chances of the plan passing in a national vote.
Swiss government wants to ban swastika in crackdown on extremist symbols
This content was published on
The Federal Council wants to ban the Nazis’ swastika emblem in public as well as other symbols associated with the Third Reich. Anyone who flouted the law would be fined CHF200 in future.
Switzerland greenlights use of self-driving cars on motorways from March 2025
This content was published on
From March 2025, drivers will be allowed to use self-driving technology on Swiss motorways and let go of their steering wheel.
Swiss justice minister discusses plight of Syrian migrants in Brussels
This content was published on
Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans met his European counterparts in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the situation of Syrian asylum-seekers in Europe. Jans called for coordinated action by European states.
Swiss companies invest more in their foreign subsidiaries
This content was published on
In 2023, Swiss-companies invested more money in their foreign subsidiaries than they withdrew for the first time since 2018.
Federal Court clears Swiss journalist in 3D-printed gun case
This content was published on
The Federal Court has acquitted a journalist from Swiss public television, RTS, who had been fined over a TV investigation into the dangers of 3D-printed weapons.
Rising healthcare costs remain the greatest concern of Swiss residents
This content was published on
The rising costs of healthcare and health insurance premiums remain a major concern for Swiss residents, a survey published on Thursday shows. Other major worries are the environment and pensions.
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
How well do you know International Geneva?
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.