Number of Swiss around the world grew by 1.6% in 2024

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Listening: Number of Swiss around the world grew by 1.6% in 2024

Last year, 13,300 Swiss citizens moved abroad, taking the total number of Swiss Abroad to 826,700 (+1.6%). Three-quarters have more than one nationality, new figures show.

This content was published on March 28, 2025 - 10:20

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Keystone-SDA

Français

Toujours plus de Suisses vivent à l’étranger Original
Português

Número de suíços no exterior aumentou em 2024
中文

2024年旅居海外的瑞士人数增长1.6%

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In all, 64% of Swiss Abroad live in Europe. The largest communities are in France (212,100), Germany (101,000), Italy (52,600), the UK (40,900) and Spain (27,300), according to a survey by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) published on Friday.

Some 296,200 Swiss nationals live in other parts of the world: 16% in North America, 7% in Latin America and the Caribbean, 7% in Asia, 4% in Oceania and 2% in Africa.

The largest Swiss community outside Europe is in the United States, where there are 84,700 Swiss nationals. Canada and Australia come second and third, respectively.

The Swiss Abroad in nine charts

This content was published on Mar 28, 2025 The number of Swiss people living abroad continues to increase. Five charts explain their characteristics and geographic distribution.

Looking at a break-down by age, 21% are under 18, 55% are aged 18-64 and 24% are over 65. Compared to 2023, the number of Swiss abroad has increased in all age groups.

Among the countries with large Swiss communities, Thailand (43%), Portugal (36%), South Africa (33%) and Spain (33%) stand out with a high proportion of pensionsers, notes the FSO.

Various nationalities

Three-quarters of Swiss Abroad have at least one additional nationality. The proportion of Swiss with multiple nationalities is highest in Latin America and the Caribbean (84%), Oceania (81%) and North America (79%).

+ Articles focusing on the Swiss Abroad

Argentina and Chile have the highest proportions, at 95% and 92%, respectively. The proportion of Swiss nationals with more than one nationality is particularly low in Asia and Africa. In Thailand, for example, the proportion is 37%.

Overall, the proportion of Swiss citizens with multiple nationalities living abroad is highest among the under-18s (85%), followed by the 18-64 age group (75%) and the 65+ age group (65%).

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Translated from French by DeepL/sb

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Number of Swiss around the world grew by 1.6% in 2024

Last year, 13,300 Swiss citizens moved abroad, taking the total number of Swiss Abroad to 826,700 (+1.6%). Three-quarters have more than one nationality, new figures show.