Switzerland at a glance · Size, neighbours and population
Population and share of foreigners
Topic
Today just over 9 million people live in Switzerland. The test often uses older figures «as of 2020». At that time there were about 8.6 million. Learn this figure for the test. The population is growing mainly because people immigrate from other countries.
About a quarter of the population does not have a Swiss passport. In 2020 that was about 2.1 million people, or about 25 percent. Today the share is somewhat higher, almost 28 percent. Many foreigners were born in Switzerland or have lived here for a long time.
Most foreigners come from Europe. About two thirds come from an EU or EFTA country. The largest groups come from Italy, Germany, Portugal and France. The free movement of persons with the EU makes it easier to work and live in Switzerland.
Memory aid: As of 2020: 8.6 million people, of whom 2.1 million foreigners, so a quarter. Two thirds of them from the EU.
Key terms
- Ständige Wohnbevölkerung
- Permanent resident population: all people who live permanently in Switzerland, with and without a Swiss passport.
- Ausländeranteil
- Share of foreigners: the part of the population without a Swiss passport, in percent.
- Personenfreizügigkeit
- Free movement of persons: an agreement that allows people from the EU to live and work in Switzerland, and the other way round.
Exam questions on this topic
- Around two thirds of Switzerland's foreign population ...Correct answer: A, come from an EU country.
- How many foreigners live in Switzerland (as of 2020)?Correct answer: B, 2.1 million
- How many people live in Switzerland (as of 2020)?Correct answer: D, 8.6 million
- What is the share of the foreign resident population in Switzerland (as of 2020)?Correct answer: C, 25%