In 2022, the number of Swiss citizens living abroad passed the 800,000 mark. Roughly 11% of the Swiss population lives abroad. Of the more than 800,000 Swiss abroad registered at the end of 2022, around 64% live in Europe.
The Swiss community around the globe
More
Against all odds: Switzerland’s first female federal judge
This content was published on
Fifty years ago, Margrith Bigler-Eggenberger became the first woman to serve as a judge on Switzerland’s highest court.
This content was published on
A recent investigation by Swiss public television, RTS, appears to confirm the risks of pesticides used on imported flowers, some of which are banned in Switzerland.
How Swiss festive bad boy Schmutzli cleaned up his act
This content was published on
Once upon a time, a mysterious dark-faced figure would enter Swiss homes on December 6, beating and (briefly) abducting children into behaving better. Schmutzli needed an image makeover.
This content was published on
The use of AI tools such as ChatGPT has become commonplace among young people, with a third using them every week, according to the JAMES 2024 study.
This content was published on
The climate crisis is taking its toll on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) mountain huts dotted across the Alps. Many buildings are at risk, but a special fund for hut renovations will soon be empty.
Swiss astronaut Marco Sieber completes NASA space station training
This content was published on
Swiss astronaut Marco Sieber has just completed six months of training at the US space agency NASA in Texas. This takes him a step closer to travelling to the ISS.
Swiss parliament clears way for new start with e-ID
This content was published on
A new attempt to introduce electronic proof of identity has been made in Switzerland. The Senate has resolved the final differences in the legal provisions on a state e-ID.
Swiss parliament wants CHF15 million for women’s Euro 2025
This content was published on
Parliament wants Switzerland to support next year’s European Women’s Football Championship with CHF15 million ($17 million).
Swiss Senate approves federal budget without opposition
This content was published on
The Swiss army will receive an additional CHF530 million in 2025, and no cuts will be made to direct payments for agriculture. What is unclear is how much will be saved on foreign aid.
Swiss anti-EEA politician, Chevallaz, dies aged 77
This content was published on
Former Swiss politician and army brigadier Martin Chevallaz, who campaigned against closer ties to the European Union, died on Thursday at the age of 76.
This content was published on
As Swiss parliamentarians debate slashing state funding of NGOs, it remains unclear exactly how much money is being doled out to agencies.
Swiss pension forecast fiasco caused by faulty methodology
This content was published on
Incorrect forecasting of Swiss pension expenditure resulted from faulty methodology rather than classic miscalculations, an investigation has found.
Sanctions enforcement: Bern ‘cannot rule out’ Switzerland gets Russian gold via Central Asia
This content was published on
The Swiss government admits that it cannot rule out the presence of Russian gold in trade flows with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
This content was published on
The House of Representatives on Wednesday cut the foreign aid budget by CHF250 million ($282 million) in favour of the army.
Swiss judges pay around CHF3 million in annual ‘taxes’ to political parties
This content was published on
In 2023, Swiss judges paid “mandate taxes” to their political parties worth almost CHF3 million ($3.4 million), according to a report by Swiss public television, RTS.
The CHF1,000 dance of death and other unforgettable Swiss banknotes
This content was published on
The Swiss National Bank puts a lot of thought into the design of its banknotes, some of which really grabbed the public’s imagination.
Are initiatives to combat gender-based violence having an impact?
This content was published on
Authorities and civil society are looking for ways to deal with gender-based violence. Are these initiatives having an impact? Join the discussion.
This content was published on
Christmas is just around the corner – along with the annual stress of finding the right presents for your loved ones. A Swiss games researcher explains why traditional board games continue to fascinate us.
Prime Energy bankruptcy: false promises and Bertrand Piccard’s fees
This content was published on
Hundreds of savers were seduced by the photovoltaic investment promised by the now bankrupt company Prime Energy Cleantech. An investigation has revealed that a sixth of their money actually went into property.
Polish firm blacklisted for breaching Swiss arms embargo
This content was published on
The Polish firm UMO SP has been blacklisted after it resupplied Swiss ammunition to Ukraine in violation of Swiss arms embargo policies.
Swiss Abroad clearly in favour of motorway expansion
This content was published on
Unlike Switzerland as a whole, where only 47% of voters on Sunday backed government plans for bigger motorways, the Swiss Abroad gave them a clear thumbs-up.
Swiss Abroad seeking love: a legacy in New Zealand
This content was published on
Vor über 60 Jahren wagte Hanni Padrutt den grossen Schritt nach Neuseeland. Mit ihrer Auswanderung legte sie den Grundstein für eine vielköpfige Swiss-Kiwi-Familie.
Taxes on pension payments: no problem for the Swiss Abroad
This content was published on
If Switzerland introduces more taxes on pension capital withdrawals, this will not affect Swiss nationals abroad. Tricks for them already exist.
Why can’t the Swiss government help projects like Edelweiss Village in Canada?
This content was published on
Now that the houses of the former Swiss mountain guides in the Rocky Mountains have been saved, what can Switzerland do to safeguard Swiss cultural heritage abroad?
This content was published on
Negotiations for new agreements between Switzerland and the EU are nearing conclusion. However, the “Compass Initiative”, driven by influential billionaires, seeks to raise the bar for these agreements.
Morins Jewellery: a symbol of tradition with a modern twist
This content was published on
Far more than just gold and enamel earrings, Morins are treasured by many in the Engadine as a cultural legacy passed from mother to daughter.
Heard the one about the Swiss company installing laugh detectors?
This content was published on
A Swiss insurer is testing the frequency of laughter in an office to improve job satisfaction. Workers who don’t laugh enough are sent an email with a funny video.
There are increasingly more managers in Switzerland
This content was published on
Despite the trend towards flat hierarchies, the number of managers is not decreasing but rather increasing. Here are the reasons as to why.
The miraculous resurrection of Canada’s Edelweiss Village
This content was published on
On the brink of demolition, a group of Swiss-style chalets in the Canadian Rocky Mountains has been given a new lease of life. SWI swissinfo.ch visits a Swiss heritage site that is full of stories.
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
