Switzerland’s population is expected to grow by 12.5 per cent over the next 25 years, according to new forecasts from the Federal Statistics Office.

The Statistics Office estimates Switzerland will have a population of around 8.84 million in 2035, up from 7.86 million in 2010.

Population growth will be highest in cantons Vaud, 23.8 per cent, and Fribourg, 20.9 per cent. Cantons Geneva, Obwald, Lucerne and Zurich will register growth of between 14.9 per cent and 18.2 per cent.

The Statistics Office said the main causes of population growth would be international migration and “sufficiently high birth rates” to offset the impact of a higher rate of deaths.

Negative inter-cantonal migration rates will see the populations in cantons Uri, Jura and Neuchâtel grow by just two to three per cent.

The number of people living in Switzerland aged 65 and over will rise from 17.1 per cent in 2010, to 26 per cent in 2035 due to the aging of the "baby boom" generation.

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