Swiss Abroad Statistics 2024
There were 826 700 Swiss citizens residing in other countries on 31 December 2024. Their numbers have increased since 2023 (+13 300 people or +1.6%). Three quarters of the Swiss abroad have more than one nationality.
Source: Press release FDHA | Graphics: Federal statistical office FSO
Of the 826 700 Swiss citizens residing abroad, 530 500 live in Europe (64%). The largest communities are in France (212 100), Germany (101 000), Italy (52 600), the UK (40 900) and Spain (27 300). In these five countries, the number of Swiss citizens grew between 2023 and 2024, with the highest growth in Spain (+3.1%) and the lowest in Italy (+1.2%).
While there are fewer Swiss nationals in Portugal and Bosnia and Herzegovina (7600 and 1400 respectively), the increase recorded in 2024 was higher than in other European countries (+10.2% and +13.5%).
Some 296 200 Swiss citizens reside 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 84 700 Swiss citizens residing in the United States make up the largest community of Swiss abroad outside Europe. The second and third-largest communities are in Canada and Australia, with 41 700 and 26 600 Swiss citizens respectively.
Compared with 2023, the number of Swiss citizens abroad has increased on most continents, including Asia (+3.3%), Europe (+1.9%), North America (+1.0%), Oceania (+0.8%) and Africa (+0.5%). In Latin America and the Caribbean, the number of Swiss abroad has fallen slightly (‒0.1%).
An ageing population
Among the Swiss abroad, 21% of people are under 18, 55% are aged 18‒64 and 24% are aged 65 or over. All age groups have grown since 2023 (by +0.9%, +0.8% and +4.2% respectively). As in previous years, the biggest change was seen in the older age group.
The ageing of the Swiss abroad was the main reason for this trend, in addition to migration. Another factor could be methodological, due to potential under-reporting of deaths in the registers.
Among the countries with large communities of Swiss abroad, Thailand (43%), Portugal (36%), South Africa (33%) and Spain (33%) had the highest percentage of older Swiss citizens. Between 2023 and 2024, Portugal and Thailand saw particularly large increases in the share of older people among the Swiss abroad (+15.9% and +7.1% respectively).
Statistics
At the end of 2024, 826 700 Swiss citizens lived abroad.
Community of the Swiss Abroad in numbers:
of all Swiss citizens live abroad.
have multiple citizenships.
Swiss citizens emigrated in 2023.