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Who we are

Who lives in Switzerland, in the categories of the OFS/BFS: nationality and dual citizenship, migration status, acquisition of Swiss citizenship and population change, with the official sources side by side.

Switzerland does not measure ethnicity. We use the official categories.

2,528,117 foreign nationals lived in Switzerland on 31 December 2025 (permanent resident population)

40.9% of the population aged 15 and over had a migration background in 2024

20.9% of Swiss nationals aged 15 and over also held another nationality in 2024 (structural survey)

The population aged 15 and over at a glance

One survey, one year: how the population aged 15 and over divides by nationality and migration status, and how Swiss nationals became Swiss and whether they hold another nationality.

Population aged 15 and over by nationality and migration status, 2024

Persons, permanent resident population in private households. Survey: structural survey of the OFS/BFS.

Official figure
  • Population without a migration background
  • 1st generation
  • 2nd generation
  • Migration background unknown

The groups overlap: the population with a migration background includes Swiss nationals (naturalised persons, and Swiss nationals by birth whose parents were both born abroad) as well as foreigners. Children under 15 and people living in collective households (for example care homes) are not in the survey.

In 2024 the survey counts 5,497,429 Swiss nationals and 2,010,080 foreigners aged 15 and over. 4,292,713 persons have no migration background; 2,568,293 belong to the 1st generation and 603,097 to the 2nd generation of the population with a migration background.

Show the data as a table
Persons; in brackets the 95% confidence interval (± % of the value)
CategoryTotalPopulation without a migration background1st generation2nd generationMigration background unknown
Swiss nationals5,497,429 (± 0.22 %)4,284,615 (± 0.32 %)743,831 (± 1.11 %)430,413 (± 1.54 %)38,569 (± 5.41 %)
Foreigners2,010,080 (± 0.68 %)8,098 (± 12.51 %)1,824,462 (± 0.73 %)172,684 (± 2.7 %)4,836 (± 17.01 %)

Swiss nationals aged 15 and over by acquisition of citizenship and other citizenship, 2024

Share of each group, in %; the numbers of persons are in the table. Survey: structural survey of the OFS/BFS.

Official figure
  • without other citizenship
  • with other citizenship

Dual citizens are Swiss nationals and are counted once, as Swiss. A naturalised person who kept the former nationality is in both groups, “naturalised” and “with other citizenship”.

In 2024, 1,147,426 of 5,497,429 Swiss nationals aged 15 and over (20.87%) also held another nationality: 742,789 of the 1,049,848 naturalised persons and 404,637 Swiss nationals since birth.

Show the data as a table
Persons; in brackets the 95% confidence interval (± % of the value)
CategoryTotalwithout other citizenshipwith other citizenship
Swiss since birth4,447,581 (± 0.3 %)4,042,944 (± 0.34 %)404,637 (± 1.59 %)
Naturalised1,049,848 (± 0.92 %)307,059 (± 1.83 %)742,789 (± 1.11 %)

Migration status

Population aged 15 and over by migration status, 2012–2024

Share of the permanent resident population aged 15 and over, in %, annual average. Survey: Swiss Labour Force Survey (SLFS).

Official figure

% of the population aged 15 and over

0204060801002012201420162018202020222024
  • Population without a migration background
  • Population with a migration background
  • 1st generation
  • 2nd generation
  • 95% confidence interval

Band: the OFS/BFS publishes a 95% confidence interval for each number of persons (± % of the value). The total has no interval, so Votara applies the same relative interval to the share.

With a migration background: foreign nationals and naturalised Swiss citizens (except those born in Switzerland whose parents were both born in Switzerland), and Swiss citizens by birth whose parents were both born abroad. The 1st and 2nd generation together make up this group. People of the 3rd or a later generation count as without a migration background, unless they are foreign nationals.

Survey data for the population aged 15 and over. The structural survey of the OFS/BFS gives other levels for the same years; the two sources are not mixed here.

Population without a migration background fell from 64.75% in 2012 to 57.83% in 2024. Population with a migration background rose from 35.24% in 2012 to 40.87% in 2024. 1st generation rose from 27.90% in 2012 to 32.54% in 2024. 2nd generation rose from 7.34% in 2012 to 8.34% in 2024.

Show the data as a table
Share in %, in brackets the 95% confidence interval
YearPopulation without a migration backgroundPopulation with a migration background1st generation2nd generation
201264.75% (64.47–65.03)35.24% (34.96–35.52)27.90% (27.66–28.14)7.34% (7.14–7.54)
201364.46% (64.18–64.74)35.52% (35.24–35.80)28.29% (28.04–28.54)7.24% (7.04–7.44)
201463.83% (63.55–64.11)36.15% (35.87–36.43)28.91% (28.66–29.16)7.24% (7.02–7.46)
201563.26% (62.98–63.54)36.73% (36.45–37.01)29.34% (29.08–29.60)7.39% (7.17–7.61)
201662.58% (62.29–62.87)37.42% (37.13–37.71)30.01% (29.75–30.27)7.41% (7.19–7.63)
201762.25% (61.96–62.54)37.74% (37.46–38.02)30.20% (29.95–30.45)7.54% (7.32–7.76)
201861.39% (61.11–61.67)37.94% (37.66–38.22)30.33% (30.08–30.58)7.62% (7.40–7.84)
201960.68% (60.39–60.97)38.18% (37.89–38.47)30.64% (30.38–30.90)7.54% (7.32–7.76)
202060.34% (60.05–60.63)38.50% (38.21–38.79)30.86% (30.60–31.12)7.64% (7.43–7.85)
202159.41% (59.12–59.70)39.38% (39.10–39.66)31.05% (30.80–31.30)8.33% (8.12–8.54)
202258.76% (58.48–59.04)39.99% (39.71–40.27)31.70% (31.45–31.95)8.28% (8.07–8.49)
202358.30% (58.01–58.59)40.43% (40.15–40.71)32.09% (31.84–32.34)8.34% (8.13–8.55)
202457.83% (57.55–58.11)40.87% (40.59–41.15)32.54% (32.29–32.79)8.34% (8.13–8.55)
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Nationality

Foreign resident population by continent of nationality, 1980–2025

Permanent foreign resident population on 31 December, in persons. Foreign nationals only: naturalised persons count as Swiss.

Official figure

Persons

0500K1M1.5M2M2.5M3M19801990200020102020
  • Oceania
  • Americas
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • 2010: new source (STATPOP); from then on including persons in the asylum process who have lived here for 12 months or more

Not in the chart: stateless persons and persons whose nationality cannot be assigned or is not stated. The table also shows the total of foreign nationals as published.

Nationality is a legal status, not an origin. Naturalisations move people out of this population.

Europe rose from 859,054 in 1980 to 2,079,926 in 2025. Asia rose from 21,569 in 1980 to 217,377 in 2025. Africa rose from 10,539 in 1980 to 130,951 in 2025. Americas rose from 20,838 in 1980 to 92,806 in 2025. Oceania rose from 1,260 in 1980 to 4,424 in 2025.

Show the data as a table
Data shown in the chart “Foreign resident population by continent of nationality, 1980–2025”
YearEuropeAsiaAfricaAmericasOceaniaTotal foreign nationals (OFS/BFS)
1980859,05421,56910,53920,8381,260913,497
1981870,48625,16211,38622,0491,268930,593
1982882,75827,19012,24223,1931,303946,931
1983881,91127,83312,53522,7811,310946,587
1984886,61729,04012,79923,3631,360953,406
1985892,74829,77213,13023,4381,326960,674
1986907,02930,68413,69723,9391,339976,958
1987928,06031,25214,34624,4731,328999,688
1988954,17033,65116,79026,4621,3981,032,714
1989984,02534,70318,32527,3981,4621,066,139
19901,036,76038,92120,29129,1491,7281,127,109
19911,092,94044,32022,42831,1721,8601,192,964
19921,136,76347,79423,86632,9781,8971,243,582
19931,178,86950,73625,64634,2721,9421,291,762
19941,213,62753,20127,19236,1641,9841,332,493
19951,238,93754,91428,80038,5851,9991,363,590
19961,240,86556,00429,91140,3612,0231,369,494
19971,240,74458,36631,34542,2852,0961,375,158
19981,242,64761,48632,95344,0432,2481,383,645
19991,253,99967,38835,44646,9552,5681,406,630
20001,261,97572,00237,61849,6872,8291,424,370
20011,272,45779,60938,78553,2683,1801,447,553
20021,288,58787,26041,67655,8753,3171,476,966
20031,304,16991,36944,32657,5603,2591,500,907
20041,321,98193,27546,57859,3253,2781,524,663
20051,334,59094,00948,08161,7323,2421,541,912
20061,344,84692,95149,77563,3713,3281,554,527
20071,385,84594,45251,86766,0933,5601,602,093
20081,443,95396,86454,79169,7773,8451,669,715
20091,479,73899,30757,70472,6933,9961,714,004
20101,504,943110,54971,52774,5113,9901,766,277
20111,545,818113,55174,83876,6384,0621,815,994
20121,591,747117,15578,15677,7364,1241,869,969
20131,646,825122,94183,87378,4334,1451,937,447
20141,698,241128,79986,70578,9774,1971,998,459
20151,733,255136,78993,81478,7734,2302,048,667
20161,758,934154,023102,98878,7584,2082,101,146
20171,772,172160,464107,49279,7924,1592,126,392
20181,786,119165,147109,54180,9704,1392,148,275
20191,804,352170,926111,60281,9184,1482,175,375
20201,831,923174,976113,64783,5914,1872,210,788
20211,854,947180,768116,19685,7314,1232,244,181
20221,893,368189,051118,93288,0134,2642,296,023
20231,994,831202,245123,32489,8784,4362,417,288
20242,042,524210,830127,74591,6854,4422,479,888
20252,079,926217,377130,95192,8064,4242,528,117
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The 8 largest foreign nationalities, 1980–2025

Permanent foreign resident population on 31 December, in persons: the nationalities with the most persons in the latest year.

Official figure

Persons

0100K200K300K400K500K19801990200020102020
  • Italy
  • Germany
  • Portugal
  • France
  • Kosovo
  • Spain
  • Türkiye
  • Ukraine
  • 2010: new source (STATPOP); from then on including persons in the asylum process who have lived here for 12 months or more

Nationality is a legal status, not an origin. Naturalisations move people out of this population.

Italy fell from 423,008 in 1980 to 346,115 in 2025. Germany rose from 87,389 in 1980 to 336,446 in 2025. Portugal rose from 10,863 in 1980 to 258,139 in 2025. France rose from 48,002 in 1980 to 179,386 in 2025. Kosovo rose from 58,755 in 2010 to 116,865 in 2025. Spain rose from 98,098 in 1980 to 104,448 in 2025. Türkiye rose from 38,353 in 1980 to 78,804 in 2025. Ukraine rose from 22 in 1992 to 74,207 in 2025.

Show the data as a table
Data shown in the chart “The 8 largest foreign nationalities, 1980–2025”
YearItalyGermanyPortugalFranceKosovoSpainTürkiyeUkraine
1980423,00887,38910,86348,002no value98,09838,353no value
1981419,65186,32613,32448,075no value100,53443,217no value
1982414,34185,90216,83548,554no value103,43847,091no value
1983407,12584,54819,90648,609no value105,10148,770no value
1984400,97083,69124,60449,060no value106,86350,063no value
1985394,81282,14331,02948,948no value109,23251,206no value
1986390,75581,37939,35449,044no value111,23453,052no value
1987387,40781,46648,21349,461no value113,44054,885no value
1988384,78681,71157,94149,938no value114,87557,173no value
1989382,27582,22269,33950,563no value115,54159,817no value
1990381,49384,48586,03551,729no value116,98764,899no value
1991380,45886,132102,20752,409no value116,32570,546no value
1992374,87287,571113,41253,071no value110,44774,07822
1993370,69988,168122,06853,418no value106,85376,592102
1994367,07490,129129,55554,421no value104,70377,981225
1995361,89291,976135,64655,407no value102,32079,372388
1996352,66993,686137,84855,974no value98,51680,177556
1997344,59195,737137,14856,750no value94,89880,333711
1998336,85098,934136,58157,881no value91,30280,286932
1999329,773103,701135,72559,879no value87,62480,6301,151
2000321,795109,785135,44961,688no value84,26680,1651,494
2001315,619117,656136,13563,329no value81,80679,9901,921
2002309,913126,048141,69665,113no value79,72979,3302,296
2003305,371134,681150,44866,917no value77,57878,1202,646
2004301,736145,967160,24968,850no value75,08577,0582,991
2005297,917158,651167,85770,901no value72,16775,9033,379
2006293,273173,908174,19873,521no value69,07174,3423,692
2007291,185203,225183,02879,278no value65,85073,1574,010
2008291,585234,640196,84287,385no value65,16672,2044,355
2009290,631251,852206,01992,473no value64,97471,5844,613
2010287,130263,271212,58695,64358,75564,12671,8354,843
2011287,995275,300223,66799,91069,64165,77571,3675,190
2012291,822284,172237,945104,02279,26169,43770,8455,483
2013298,875292,291253,227110,10386,97675,33370,4405,789
2014306,414298,027262,748116,89699,79979,61070,0516,132
2015311,742300,691267,474122,970106,87982,33469,2156,423
2016316,525303,525268,660126,970109,35283,33768,7446,533
2017317,267304,571266,557131,050110,68383,25368,1726,534
2018319,313306,188263,311134,844111,82683,65767,8046,579
2019321,309307,387260,100138,947112,78084,36267,7116,790
2020325,348309,459257,691145,461113,66086,22068,0496,932
2021328,252311,299255,236151,039114,75588,40168,7647,135
2022332,700315,963253,589157,031115,30291,39370,2797,591
2023338,050323,574255,250163,670115,96695,17074,37959,526
2024342,379329,883257,258171,053116,42598,96278,28168,302
2025346,115336,446258,139179,386116,865104,44878,80474,207

Dual citizenship

Swiss nationals who hold one or more other nationalities, from the structural survey of the OFS/BFS (population aged 15 and over).

Swiss nationals aged 15 and over with another nationality, 2015–2024

Share of Swiss nationals aged 15 and over, in %. Survey: structural survey of the OFS/BFS.

Official figure

% of Swiss nationals aged 15 and over

051015202520162018202020222024
  • Share with other citizenship

The series starts in 2015. In the published file for 2010–2014 every naturalised person is counted with another nationality, and 2010–2012 also have a large group with an unknown second nationality, so those years are not comparable.

Share with other citizenship rose from 16.60% in 2015 to 20.87% in 2024.

Show the data as a table
Data shown in the chart “Swiss nationals aged 15 and over with another nationality, 2015–2024”
YearPersons with other citizenshipShare with other citizenship
2015873,04516.60%
2016916,25717.31%
2017966,02318.14%
2018969,39618.11%
2019998,79418.57%
20201,028,32519.03%
20211,056,72319.47%
20221,094,95820.11%
20231,125,32720.57%
20241,147,42620.87%

Second nationality of Swiss nationals aged 15 and over, 2024

Persons. The OFS/BFS lists 16 states separately; each person is counted once, under the second nationality recorded by the survey.

Official figure

Swiss children under 15 are not covered. A person with three or more nationalities appears once.

The data table also lists “Other double nationality”, a group of the survey file that the OFS/BFS table does not show separately; it is not in the chart.

Most frequent second nationalities in 2024: Italy 252,439, France 125,323, Germany 123,813.

Show the data as a table
Persons; in brackets the 95% confidence interval (± % of the value)
Second nationalityPersons (± 95% confidence interval)
Italy252,439 (± 1.95 %)
France125,323 (± 2.6 %)
Germany123,813 (± 3.05 %)
Portugal48,480 (± 4.39 %)
Türkiye47,995 (± 4.96 %)
Spain47,442 (± 4.46 %)
Kosovo38,399 (± 5.45 %)
Serbia37,629 (± 5.49 %)
United Kingdom27,199 (± 6.11 %)
North Macedonia27,127 (± 6.74 %)
Bosnia and Herzegovina24,061 (± 6.77 %)
Croatia23,106 (± 6.98 %)
Brazil20,024 (± 7.37 %)
United States16,371 (± 8.23 %)
Austria14,350 (± 9.09 %)
Canada14,022 (± 8.52 %)
Other dual citizenships230,755 (± 2.12 %)
Other double nationality28,823 (± 5.96 %)

Nationality groups with and without a Swiss passport

For each nationality: the foreigners who hold it (without a Swiss passport) and the Swiss nationals who hold it as their second nationality (with a Swiss passport). The two counts come from different statistics and are shown side by side, not added up.

Largest nationality groups, with and without a Swiss passport

Persons. Foreigners: all ages, population registers (STATPOP), 31 December 2024. Swiss nationals with this second nationality: aged 15 and over, structural survey 2024.

Official figure
  • Foreigners with this nationality (all ages)
  • Swiss nationals with this second nationality (15 and over)

What is counted is a nationality held today. Not in these counts: people who gave up their former nationality when they were naturalised, Swiss children under 15 with a second nationality, and descendants of immigrants who hold Swiss nationality only.

“Of whom born in Switzerland”: foreigners born here who have not been naturalised (2nd or a later generation).

Largest groups of foreigners on 31 December 2024: Italy 342,379, Germany 329,883, Portugal 257,258. Most frequent second nationalities of Swiss nationals aged 15 and over in 2024: Italy 252,439, France 125,323, Germany 123,813.

Show the data as a table
Persons; for the survey values, in brackets the 95% confidence interval (± % of the value)
NationalityForeigners, 31.12.2024of whom born in SwitzerlandSwiss nationals with this second nationality, 2024
Italy342,37996,761252,439 (± 1.95 %)
Germany329,88340,697123,813 (± 3.05 %)
Portugal257,25858,98348,480 (± 4.39 %)
France171,05321,562125,323 (± 2.6 %)
Kosovo116,42535,61338,399 (± 5.45 %)
Spain98,96221,16347,442 (± 4.46 %)
Türkiye78,28117,85747,995 (± 4.96 %)
North Macedonia70,46919,95427,127 (± 6.74 %)
Ukraine68,3021,314not published separately
Serbia56,74314,82437,629 (± 5.49 %)
Poland48,8294,609not published separately
Austria47,9607,17214,350 (± 9.09 %)
United Kingdom37,8794,24627,199 (± 6.11 %)
Croatia32,2867,42423,106 (± 6.98 %)
Bosnia and Herzegovina26,6965,84924,061 (± 6.77 %)
Brazil25,0521,84820,024 (± 7.37 %)
United States20,1491,23216,371 (± 8.23 %)
Canada6,90957514,022 (± 8.52 %)

Acquisition of Swiss citizenship

Acquisitions of Swiss citizenship per year, 1975–2025

Persons of the permanent resident population who became Swiss in the year, all types of acquisition.

Official figure

Persons

010,00020,00030,00040,00050,00019801990200020102020
  • Acquisitions of Swiss citizenship

Crude rate in the table: acquisitions per 100 foreigners with a settlement permit (C) at the start of the year. Until 2010 the OFS/BFS also counted holders of B and L permits (12 months or more), from 2011 to 2017 holders of B permits: the rate changes in 2011 and 2018 because its base changes.

Acquisitions of Swiss citizenship rose from 12,651 in 1975 to 40,672 in 2025.

Show the data as a table
Data shown in the chart “Acquisitions of Swiss citizenship per year, 1975–2025”
YearAcquisitions of Swiss citizenshipCrude naturalisation rate (see note)
197512,6511.19
197615,2611.51
197716,8031.75
197837,1573.98
197925,6962.86
198016,0601.82
198114,2991.60
198212,7231.40
198311,8311.28
198411,8501.28
198514,3931.54
198614,4161.53
198712,3701.29
198811,3561.16
198910,3421.03
19908,6580.83
19918,7570.80
199211,1330.96
199312,8981.06
199413,7391.09
199516,7901.29
199619,1591.44
199719,1691.43
199821,2791.59
199920,3631.51
200028,7002.10
200127,5861.99
200236,5152.57
200335,4242.45
200435,6852.43
200538,4372.57
200646,7113.09
200743,8892.88
200844,3652.82
200943,4402.65
201039,3142.34
201136,0122.13
201233,5001.93
201334,0611.91
201432,8361.78
201540,6892.14
201642,9372.20
201744,9492.26
201842,4933.22
201941,1273.06
202034,1412.52
202136,9942.70
202241,4863.00
202341,2012.96
202439,9122.87
202540,6722.91

Acquisitions of Swiss citizenship by former nationality, 2025

Persons; the 15 most frequent former nationalities.

Official figure

The former nationality is the one held before naturalisation; many naturalised persons keep it (see dual citizenship).

In 2025, 40,672 persons acquired Swiss citizenship. Most frequent former nationalities: Germany 8,779, Italy 4,120, France 3,758.

Show the data as a table
Data shown in the chart “Acquisitions of Swiss citizenship by former nationality, 2025”
Former nationalityAcquisitions of Swiss citizenship
Germany8,779
Italy4,120
France3,758
Kosovo2,088
Portugal1,809
Türkiye1,382
North Macedonia1,289
Spain1,255
Serbia1,078
United Kingdom876
Eritrea838
Poland661
Russia656
Sri Lanka515
India477

Population change

Net migration and natural increase, 1971–2025

Permanent resident population, persons per year. Net migration: immigration minus emigration, including changes from the non-permanent population. Natural increase: live births minus deaths.

Official figure

Persons per year

-100K-50K050K100K150K19801990200020102020
  • Net migration
  • Natural increase
  • 2011: new source (STATPOP)

1971–1980: only the net migration is published. The share of foreigners is computed by Votara from the published totals.

Net migration rose from 2,275 in 1971 to 70,432 in 2025. Natural increase fell from 38,405 in 1971 to 6,249 in 2025.

Show the data as a table
Data shown in the chart “Net migration and natural increase, 1971–2025”
YearLive birthsDeathsNatural increaseImmigrationEmigrationNet migrationPopulation on 31 DecemberShare of foreigners on 31 December
197196,26157,85638,405no valueno value2,2756,233,74416.34%
197291,34256,48934,853no valueno value19,5716,288,16816.72%
197387,51856,99030,528no valueno value7,8296,326,52516.95%
197484,50756,40328,104no valueno value1,6566,356,28517.06%
197578,46455,92422,540no valueno value-57,8476,320,97816.34%
197674,19957,09517,104no valueno value-54,0536,284,02915.57%
197772,82955,65817,171no valueno value-22,8816,278,31915.18%
197871,37557,71813,657no valueno value-6,8206,285,15614.61%
197971,98657,45414,532no valueno value3,8856,303,57314.35%
198073,66159,09714,564no valueno value17,1066,335,24314.42%
198173,74759,76313,984121,42097,74323,6776,372,90414.60%
198274,91659,20415,712114,29093,19321,0976,409,71314.77%
198373,65960,75612,90396,50091,2835,2176,427,83314.73%
198474,71058,60216,10896,88084,92511,9556,455,89614.77%
198574,68459,58315,10198,86685,02913,8376,484,83414.81%
198676,32060,10516,215107,22284,85822,3646,523,41314.98%
198776,50559,51116,994112,72186,32926,3926,566,79915.22%
198880,34560,64819,697124,98491,50733,4776,619,97315.60%
198981,18060,88220,298130,19896,61933,5796,673,85015.97%
199083,93963,73920,200154,24497,60156,6436,750,69316.70%
199186,20062,63423,566164,773103,33361,4406,842,76817.43%
199286,91062,30224,608157,190117,03440,1566,907,95918.00%
199383,76262,51221,250144,537105,02539,5126,968,57018.54%
199482,98061,98720,993130,18899,30530,8837,019,01918.98%
199582,20363,38718,816113,96799,50914,4587,062,35419.31%
199683,00762,63720,37097,591103,398-5,8077,081,34619.34%
199780,58462,83917,74591,68798,521-6,8347,096,46519.38%
199878,94962,56916,38095,95594,7781,1777,123,53719.42%
199978,40862,50315,905107,95391,80416,1497,164,44419.63%
200078,45862,52815,930110,30290,07820,2247,204,05519.77%
200172,29561,22811,067124,07782,23441,8437,255,65319.95%
200272,37261,76810,604127,34078,41948,9217,313,85320.19%
200371,84863,0708,778119,78376,75643,0277,364,14820.38%
200473,08260,18012,902120,18879,72640,4627,415,10220.56%
200572,90361,12411,779118,27082,09036,1807,459,12820.67%
200673,37160,28313,088127,58688,21839,3687,508,73920.70%
200774,49461,08913,405165,63490,17575,4597,593,49421.10%
200876,69161,23315,458184,29786,13098,1677,701,85621.68%
200978,28662,47615,810160,62386,03674,5877,785,80622.01%
201080,29062,55317,737161,77896,83964,9397,864,01222.31%
201180,80862,09118,717164,61296,49468,1187,954,66222.83%
201282,16464,17317,991175,008103,88171,1278,039,06023.26%
201382,73164,96117,770193,302106,19687,1068,139,63123.80%
201485,28763,93821,349187,326111,10376,2238,237,66624.26%
201586,55967,60618,953188,515116,63171,8848,327,12624.60%
201687,88364,96422,919191,683120,65371,0308,419,55024.96%
201787,38166,97120,410170,945124,99745,9488,484,13025.06%
201887,85167,08820,763170,085130,22539,8608,544,52725.14%
201986,17267,78018,392169,573126,22143,3528,606,03325.28%
202085,91476,1959,719163,180109,37653,8048,670,30025.50%
202189,64471,19218,452165,640116,76948,8718,738,79125.68%
202282,37174,4257,946190,883122,12368,7608,815,38526.05%
202380,02471,8228,202263,081123,963139,1188,962,25826.97%
202478,25671,9426,314212,578129,78682,7929,051,02927.40%
202578,15371,9046,249204,261133,82970,4329,127,12527.70%

How the sources compare

Several official statistics count the same people in different ways. Votara puts them side by side and gives the documented reason for each difference.

The same population counted by two official statistics, the difference and the reason
What is comparedFirst countSecond countDifference (second vs first)Why they differ
Foreigners, end of 20252,528,117 OFS/BFS, registers (STATPOP)2,414,408 SEM-4.5% The OFS/BFS also counts people in the asylum process with 12 months or more of residence, diplomats and international officials; the SEM counts permits C, B and L (12 months or more) from its own register (SEM and OFS/BFS fact sheet, 2025).
Acquisitions of Swiss citizenship, 202540,672 OFS/BFS41,134 SEM+1.1% The SEM counts the decisions in its register, the OFS/BFS the acquisitions by members of the permanent resident population. No official note reconciles the two yet.
Population aged 15 and over, 20247,707,853 OFS/BFS, registers (STATPOP)7,507,509 OFS/BFS, structural survey-2.6% The survey leaves out people in collective households (for example care homes), diplomats and international officials.
With a migration background, aged 15 and over, 20243,171,390 OFS/BFS, structural survey3,086,020 OFS/BFS, labour force survey (SLFS)-2.7% Two samples with different weights and reference periods (end of year vs annual average). The chart of the migration status over time uses the labour force survey, the overview the structural survey.

Three OFS/BFS tables of the foreign population, the population total and the acquisitions of citizenship are also compared every night: accuracy checks