The curve
How many people lived in Switzerland, year by year since 1860, and what the three main OFS/BFS scenarios show up to 2050.
Population of Switzerland, 1860–2050
Permanent resident population on 31 December of each year. Observed until 2025, then the three main OFS/BFS scenarios.
Persons
- Permanent resident population (observed)
- OFS/BFS scenario: high
- OFS/BFS scenario: reference
- OFS/BFS scenario: low
- Range between the OFS/BFS low and high scenarios
- 1981: change of data source (FPC → ESPOP)
- 2011: change of data source (ESPOP → STATPOP)
Votes marked on the curve
- 1970 Initiative «Gegen die Überfremdung» · · Rejected
- 2000 Bilaterale Abkommen mit der EU · · Accepted
- 2014 Initiative «Against mass immigration» · · Accepted
- 2020 Initiative «For moderate immigration (Limitation Initiative)» · · Rejected
- 2026 «Sustainability initiative» (Limiting the national population) · · Rejected
Permanent resident population (observed) rose from 2,515,396 in 1860 to 9,127,125 in 2025. In 2050, the projections range from 9,317,362 (OFS/BFS scenario: low) to 11,338,011 (OFS/BFS scenario: high). Note: 1981: change of data source (FPC → ESPOP). Note: 2011: change of data source (ESPOP → STATPOP).
Show the data as a table
| Year | Permanent resident population (observed) | OFS/BFS scenario: high | OFS/BFS scenario: reference | OFS/BFS scenario: low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 2,515,396 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1861 | 2,533,077 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1862 | 2,554,257 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1863 | 2,575,649 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1864 | 2,594,555 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1865 | 2,611,102 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1866 | 2,625,400 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1867 | 2,637,538 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1868 | 2,647,583 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1869 | 2,657,614 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1870 | 2,673,468 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1871 | 2,686,618 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1872 | 2,701,982 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1873 | 2,718,108 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1874 | 2,733,487 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1875 | 2,749,393 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1876 | 2,767,666 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1877 | 2,785,514 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1878 | 2,802,222 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1879 | 2,817,307 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1880 | 2,840,501 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1881 | 2,851,255 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1882 | 2,860,234 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1883 | 2,871,264 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1884 | 2,883,670 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1885 | 2,892,184 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1886 | 2,901,605 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1887 | 2,911,233 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1888 | 2,922,897 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1889 | 2,949,577 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1890 | 2,972,024 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1891 | 3,000,632 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1892 | 3,032,945 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1893 | 3,063,218 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1894 | 3,091,585 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1895 | 3,122,589 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1896 | 3,161,271 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1897 | 3,201,298 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1898 | 3,240,943 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1899 | 3,282,407 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1900 | 3,318,985 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1901 | 3,364,073 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1902 | 3,411,135 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1903 | 3,453,716 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1904 | 3,496,188 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1905 | 3,536,835 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1906 | 3,582,151 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1907 | 3,625,456 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1908 | 3,671,165 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1909 | 3,711,868 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1910 | 3,756,842 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1911 | 3,778,312 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1912 | 3,805,595 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1913 | 3,828,431 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1914 | 3,849,766 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1915 | 3,860,635 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1916 | 3,871,760 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1917 | 3,878,896 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1918 | 3,864,844 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1919 | 3,869,481 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1920 | 3,883,360 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1921 | 3,908,521 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1922 | 3,928,566 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1923 | 3,952,134 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1924 | 3,970,682 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1925 | 3,989,227 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1926 | 4,009,537 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1927 | 4,024,345 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1928 | 4,040,177 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1929 | 4,052,557 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1930 | 4,070,042 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1931 | 4,091,602 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1932 | 4,110,388 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1933 | 4,136,343 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1934 | 4,159,698 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1935 | 4,178,640 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1936 | 4,198,782 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1937 | 4,217,126 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1938 | 4,235,430 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1939 | 4,252,902 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1940 | 4,268,964 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1941 | 4,296,693 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1942 | 4,326,774 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1943 | 4,360,681 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1944 | 4,392,319 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1945 | 4,428,117 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1946 | 4,490,000 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1947 | 4,549,100 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1948 | 4,611,200 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1949 | 4,668,000 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1950 | 4,717,200 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1951 | 4,778,900 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1952 | 4,844,100 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1953 | 4,907,000 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1954 | 4,970,300 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1955 | 5,033,700 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1956 | 5,097,400 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1957 | 5,162,800 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1958 | 5,230,000 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1959 | 5,295,500 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1960 | 5,360,153 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1961 | 5,508,435 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1962 | 5,639,195 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1963 | 5,749,299 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1964 | 5,829,156 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1965 | 5,883,788 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1966 | 5,952,216 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1967 | 6,031,353 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1968 | 6,104,074 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1969 | 6,168,700 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1970 | 6,193,064 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1971 | 6,233,744 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1972 | 6,288,168 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1973 | 6,326,525 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1974 | 6,356,285 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1975 | 6,320,978 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1976 | 6,284,029 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1977 | 6,278,319 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1978 | 6,285,156 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1979 | 6,303,573 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1980 | 6,335,243 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1981 | 6,372,904 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1982 | 6,409,713 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1983 | 6,427,833 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1984 | 6,455,896 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1985 | 6,484,834 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1986 | 6,523,413 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1987 | 6,566,799 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1988 | 6,619,973 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1989 | 6,673,850 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1990 | 6,750,693 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1991 | 6,842,768 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1992 | 6,907,959 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1993 | 6,968,570 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1994 | 7,019,019 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1995 | 7,062,354 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1996 | 7,081,346 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1997 | 7,096,465 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1998 | 7,123,537 | no value | no value | no value |
| 1999 | 7,164,444 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2000 | 7,204,055 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2001 | 7,255,653 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2002 | 7,313,853 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2003 | 7,364,148 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2004 | 7,415,102 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2005 | 7,459,128 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2006 | 7,508,739 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2007 | 7,593,494 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2008 | 7,701,856 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2009 | 7,785,806 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2010 | 7,870,134 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2011 | 7,954,662 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2012 | 8,039,060 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2013 | 8,139,631 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2014 | 8,237,666 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2015 | 8,327,126 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2016 | 8,419,550 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2017 | 8,484,130 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2018 | 8,544,527 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2019 | 8,606,033 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2020 | 8,670,300 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2021 | 8,738,791 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2022 | 8,815,385 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2023 | 8,962,258 | no value | no value | no value |
| 2024 | 9,051,029 | 9,067,083 | 9,036,689 | 9,006,257 |
| 2025 | 9,127,125 | 9,173,280 | 9,110,251 | 9,046,995 |
| 2026 | no value | 9,280,089 | 9,183,137 | 9,085,730 |
| 2027 | no value | 9,386,909 | 9,255,056 | 9,122,405 |
| 2028 | no value | 9,493,334 | 9,325,771 | 9,156,985 |
| 2029 | no value | 9,599,209 | 9,395,055 | 9,189,472 |
| 2030 | no value | 9,704,335 | 9,462,885 | 9,219,804 |
| 2031 | no value | 9,808,603 | 9,529,186 | 9,247,954 |
| 2032 | no value | 9,909,472 | 9,591,362 | 9,271,464 |
| 2033 | no value | 10,006,799 | 9,649,441 | 9,290,472 |
| 2034 | no value | 10,100,696 | 9,703,546 | 9,304,862 |
| 2035 | no value | 10,191,103 | 9,753,528 | 9,314,869 |
| 2036 | no value | 10,278,612 | 9,801,190 | 9,323,042 |
| 2037 | no value | 10,363,278 | 9,846,559 | 9,329,590 |
| 2038 | no value | 10,445,181 | 9,889,772 | 9,334,582 |
| 2039 | no value | 10,524,398 | 9,930,997 | 9,338,363 |
| 2040 | no value | 10,601,103 | 9,970,305 | 9,340,930 |
| 2041 | no value | 10,677,145 | 10,008,822 | 9,342,601 |
| 2042 | no value | 10,752,673 | 10,046,650 | 9,343,290 |
| 2043 | no value | 10,827,763 | 10,083,783 | 9,343,071 |
| 2044 | no value | 10,902,348 | 10,120,200 | 9,342,029 |
| 2045 | no value | 10,976,491 | 10,155,952 | 9,340,237 |
| 2046 | no value | 11,049,999 | 10,190,929 | 9,337,441 |
| 2047 | no value | 11,122,927 | 10,225,083 | 9,333,763 |
| 2048 | no value | 11,195,312 | 10,258,375 | 9,329,238 |
| 2049 | no value | 11,266,993 | 10,290,781 | 9,323,783 |
| 2050 | no value | 11,338,011 | 10,322,244 | 9,317,362 |
About the data
Observed population
The permanent resident population of Switzerland on 31 December of each year, as published by the OFS/BFS. One value per year; no value is interpolated.
The OFS/BFS table names these data sources:
- 1860–1980: estimates based on federal population censuses (FPC)
- 1981–2010: Statistics of the annual state of population (ESPOP)
- 2011–2025: Population and Households Statistics (STATPOP)
Each change of data source (1981 and 2011) is a break in the series. The chart marks it with two slanted lines.
Values up to 1980 are annual OFS/BFS estimates based on the federal population censuses, not annual counts.
Source and processing: Permanent resident population since 1860
OFS/BFS scenarios
The chart shows the three main scenarios of the OFS/BFS publication “Population scenarios for Switzerland 2025–2055”: reference, high and low, up to 2050. The publication runs to 2055.
The scenarios start from the population on 1 January 2024. For 2024 and 2025, the chart therefore shows observed and projected values side by side.
According to the OFS/BFS, scenarios are conditional projections, not forecasts.
For the assumptions of each scenario, see the OFS/BFS: table px-x-0104000000_101 on the OFS/BFS website
Source and processing: Population scenarios for Switzerland 2025–2055
Votes marked on the curve
The curve marks a selection of federal votes about immigration or the size of the population, accepted and rejected alike. Dates, titles and results come from Swissvotes.
All federal votes on the track
Source and processing: Swissvotes – database of federal popular votes