Observatório da Emigração

Switzerland

22/03/2021

Annual Series

A.1 Foreign-born population, 2000-2019

(individuals)

Years	Total Population		Foreign-born
	Total Population		All foreign-born			Born in Portugal
	N	Change in %	N	As a % of total population	Change in %	N	As a % of total population	As a % of all foreign-born	Change in %
2019	8,606,033	0.7	2,590,039	30.1	1.4	214,087	2.5	8.3	-1.7
2018	8,544,527	0.7	2,553,416	29.9	1.4	217,662	2.6	8.5	-1.5
2017	8,484,130	0.8	2,519,068	29.7	1.6	220,904	2.6	8.8	-1.0
2016	8,419,550	1.1	2,480,032	29.5	2.6	223,099	2.6	9.0	3.0
2015	8,327,126	1.1	2,416,394	29.0	2.6	216,714	2.6	9.0	1.2
2014	8,237,666	1.2	2,354,837	28.6	2.9	214,079	2.6	9.1	1.2
2013	8,139,631	1.3	2,289,560	28.1	3.2	211,451	2.6	9.2	6.2
2012	8,039,060	1.1	2,218,445	27.6	2.8	199,209	2.5	9.0	6.3
2011	7,954,662	1.1	2,158,424	27.1	4.0	187,409	2.4	8.7	8.8
2010	7,870,134	1.1	2,075,182	26.4	56.5	172,274	2.2	8.3	4.6
2009	7,785,806	1.1	1,326,262	17.0	3.0	164,691	2.1	12.4	4.6
2008	7,701,856	1.4	1,287,496	16.7	5.4	157,455	2.0	12.2	8.0
2007	7,593,494	1.1	1,221,068	16.1	4.1	145,736	1.9	11.9	5.6
2006	7,508,739	0.7	1,173,324	15.6	1.2	138,065	1.8	11.8	3.9
2005	7,459,128	0.6	1,159,677	15.6	1.4	132,872	1.8	11.5	4.8
2004	7,415,102	0.7	1,144,304	15.4	1.7	126,789	1.7	11.1	7.0
2003	7,364,148	0.7	1,124,813	15.3	1.7	118,521	1.6	10.5	6.7
2002	7,313,853	0.8	1,106,438	15.1	2.1	111,106	1.5	10.0	4.0
2001	7,255,653	0.7	1,083,580	14.9	2.5	106,828	1.5	9.9	-26.1
2000	7,204,055	..	1,056,843	14.7	..	134,675	1.9	12.8	..

Last annual update: 22/03/2021

Metadata

Note The concept of resident population refers, by the OFS, to permanent. 1. The values up to 2009 for those born abroad and in Portugal correspond to individuals born outside Switzerland with foreign and Portuguese nationality, respectively (it is not possible to have the variable 'country of birth' per country, only by category 'outside and within the Switzerland'); 2. As of 2010, the values for those born abroad correspond to those born outside Switzerland; 3. The previous values for foreigners were revised in 2010 by the local statistics institute and started to includ, also according to the definition of the concept of permenant resident population, asylum seekers who have been living in Switzerland for 12 months or more. 4. The values of those born abroad in 2017 and 2018 were reviewed by the Office Fédéral de la Statistique in 27/08/2020.

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Office Fédéral de la Statistique, total and foreign population in Population résidante permanente selon le sexe et la catégorie de nationalité, à la fin de l'année; born abroad with foreign and Portuguese nationality in Population résidante permanente et non permanente selon la région, la nationalité et le lieu de naissance (2010-2013); Portuguese until 20096 in Population résidante permanente étrangere selon la nationalité par pays et les cantons; Portuguese until 2013 in Population résidante selon année, canton, type de population, sexe, autorisation de résidence, classe d'âge et nationalité (Database).

A.2 Foreign population, 2000-2019

(individuals)

Years	Total population		Foreigners
	Total population		All foreigners			Foreigners with Portuguese citizenship
	N	Change in %	N	As a % of total population	Change in %	N	As a % of total population	As a % of all foreigners	Change in %
2019	8,606,033	0.7	2,175,375	25.3	1.3	260,100	3.0	10.0	-1.2
2018	8,544,527	0.7	2,148,275	25.2	1.0	263,311	3.1	10.3	-1.2
2017	8,484,130	0.8	2,126,392	25.1	1.2	266,557	3.2	10.6	-0.8
2016	8,419,550	1.1	2,101,146	25.0	2.6	268,660	3.2	10.8	0.4
2015	8,327,126	1.1	2,048,667	24.6	2.5	267,474	3.2	11.1	1.8
2014	8,237,666	1.2	1,998,459	24.3	3.2	262,748	3.2	11.2	3.8
2013	8,139,631	1.3	1,937,447	23.8	3.6	253,227	3.1	11.1	6.4
2012	8,039,060	1.1	1,869,969	23.3	3.0	237,945	3.0	10.7	6.4
2011	7,954,662	1.1	1,815,994	22.8	2.8	223,667	2.8	10.4	5.2
2010	7,870,134	1.1	1,766,277	22.4	3.0	212,586	2.7	10.2	3.2
2009	7,785,806	1.1	1,714,004	22.0	2.7	206,019	2.6	15.5	4.7
2008	7,701,856	1.4	1,669,715	21.7	4.2	196,842	2.6	15.3	7.6
2007	7,593,494	1.1	1,602,093	21.1	3.1	183,028	2.4	15.0	5.1
2006	7,508,739	0.7	1,554,527	20.7	0.8	174,198	2.3	14.8	3.8
2005	7,459,128	0.6	1,541,912	20.7	1.1	167,857	2.3	14.5	4.8
2004	7,415,102	0.7	1,524,663	20.6	1.6	160,249	2.2	14.0	6.5
2003	7,364,148	0.7	1,500,907	20.4	1.6	150,448	2.0	13.4	6.2
2002	7,313,853	0.8	1,476,966	20.2	2.0	141,696	1.9	12.8	4.1
2001	7,255,653	0.7	1,447,553	20.0	1.6	136,135	1.9	12.6	0.5
2000	7,204,055	..	1,424,370	19.8	..	135,449	1.9	12.8	..

Last annual update:22/03/2021

Metadata

A.3 Consular registrations, 2008-2019

(individuals)

Years	All registrations		Registrations by migrants born in Portugal			Registrations by migrants with Portuguese citizenship
Years	N	Change in %	N	As a % of all registrations	Change in %	N	As a % of all registrations	Change in %
2019	439,342	30.4	..	..	..	..	..	..
2018	336,975	3.5	..	..	..	..	..	..
2017	325,459	2.7	..	..	..	..	..	..
2016	316,832	0.9	..	..	..	..	..	..
2015	314,081	2.9	..	..	..	..	..	..
2014	305,128	3.5	..	..	..	..	..	..
2013	294,925	2.2	..	..	..	..	..	..
2012	288,465	3.5	210,327	72.9	2.6	283,679	98.4	3.5
2011	278,692	-0.1	204,989	73.6	-1.1	274,016	98.3	-1.7
2010	278,933	3.1	207,196	74.3	4.8	278,737	99.9	5.7
2009	270,466	4.2	197,785	73.1	0.0	263,640	97.5	1.6
2008	259,565	..	197,738	76.2	..	259,376	99.9	..

Last annual update: 19/10/2020

Metadata

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Portuguese consulates abroad and Consular Management System (DGACCP), values grantes upon request.

A.4 Foreign inflows, 2000-2019

(individuals)

Years	Total inflows		Portuguese inflows
Years	N	Change in %	N	As a % of total population	Change in %
2019	145,608	-0.4	8,443	5.8	-3.4
2018	146,183	-0.7	8,733	6.0	-6.0
2017	147,142	-13.8	9,257	6.3	-9.4
2016	167,407	3.0	10,123	6.0	-21.8
2015	162,563	0.9	12,325	7.6	-23.5
2014	161,149	-3.8	15,221	9.4	-31.7
2013	167,248	10.8	20,039	12.0	6.1
2012	151,002	7.5	18,892	12.5	25.8
2011	140,508	0.7	15,020	10.7	18.1
2010	139,495	0.9	12,720	9.1	-6.9
2009	138,269	-16.9	13,601	9.8	-29.8
2008	161,629	12.4	17,657	10.9	15.0
2007	143,855	34.2	15,351	10.7	23.4
2006	107,177	8.2	12,441	11.6	2.5
2005	99,091	-1.8	12,138	12.2	-11.6
2004	100,834	2.0	13,539	13.4	10.7
2003	98,812	-6.3	12,228	12.4	35.8
2002	105,014	5.3	9,005	8.6	107.2
2001	99,746	18.5	4,347	4.4	0.8
2000	84,200	..	4,311	5.1	..

Last annual update: 27/08/2020

Metadata

Note 1. the flows relate to the entry of foreign permanent resident population (including changes of status) by nationality; 2. in 2014 the Office Fédéral de la Statistique changed the method of collecting and accounting entries in Switzerland, including Portuguese. For this reason, we updated the data for 2011 and 2012 on 10/16/2014; 3. Regarding Portuguese entries in Switzerland, the Office Fédéral des Migrations presents different data from the Office Fédéral de la Statistique, namely for the year 2012 with a value of 19,643 and for 2013 with a value of 21,296 (see page 12, here).

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Office Fédéral de la Statistique, Immigration de la population résidante permanente selon Année et Nationalité.

A.5 Acquisition of citizenship of the destination country, 2000-2019

(individuals)

Years	Acquisition of citizenship by all foreigners		Acquisition of citizenship by Portuguese
Years	N	Change in %	N	As a % of total population	Change in %
2019	41,127	-3.3	2,816	6.8	-16.7
2018	42,493	-5.8	3,285	7.7	-19.3
2017	44,949	4.7	3,919	8.7	-2.6
2016	42,937	5.5	4,020	9.4	13.7
2015	40,689	23.9	3,537	8.7	44.6
2014	32,836	-3.7	2,447	7.5	12.0
2013	34,061	1.7	2,184	6.4	5.5
2012	33,500	-7.5	2,071	6.2	-6.8
2011	36,012	-9.2	2,211	6.1	-0.3
2010	39,314	-10.5	2,217	5.6	-5.4
2009	43,440	-2.1	2,336	5.4	32.7
2008	44,365	1.1	1,761	4.0	-25.0
2007	43,889	-6.4	2,201	5.0	-8.3
2006	46,711	21.5	2,383	5.1	58.3
2005	38,437	7.7	1,505	3.9	25.5
2004	35,685	0.7	1,199	3.4	2.9
2003	35,424	-3.1	1,165	3.3	26.6
2002	36,515	32.4	920	2.5	18.1
2001	27,583	-4.0	779	2.8	1.8
2000	28,700	..	765	2.7	..

Last annual update: 27/08/2020

Metadata

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Office Fédéral de la Statistique, Acquisition de la nationalité suisse selon la nationalité antérieure.

A.6 Remittances, 2000-2020

(euros, thousands)

Years	Inward flows (thousand euros) (a)		Outward flows (thousand euros) (b)		Balance (a/b)
Years		Change in %		Change in %	Balance (a/b)
2020	1,037,020	4.9	7,600	17.3	136
2019	988,660	9.9	6,480	22.5	153
2018	899,460	12.8	5,290	-1.3	170
2017	797,490	14.4	5,360	1.9	149
2016	697,280	-22.1	5,260	0.0	133
2015	851,290	4.7	5,260	18.2	162
2014	812,810	10.1	4,450	15.6	183
2013	738,130	5.9	3,850	-33.5	192
2012	697,330	2.4	5,140	3.0	136
2011	680,730	11.1	4,990	10.2	136
2010	612,660	15.4	4,530	14.1	135
2009	530,880	-4.4	3,970	32.3	134
2008	554,120	1.7	3,000	2.7	185
2007	544,720	2.6	2,920	7.4	187
2006	530,720	2.1	2,720	-50.4	195
2005	519,890	-2.2	4,090	31.9	127
2004	531,060	2.8	3,100	-152.6	171
2003	516,590	-21.8	7,830	-13.3	66
2002	629,310	-14.7	8,870	40.8	71
2001	721,870	10.1	6,300	20.9	115
2000	655,880	..	5,210	..	126

Last annual update: 17/02/2021

Metadata

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from Banco de Portugal, BP stat, Estatísticas de balança de pagamentos, Remessas de emigrantes/imigrantes.

Census

B.1 Resident population by census and nationality, according to country of birth, 2011-2012

(individuals)

Census by nationality	Total population		All foreign-born		Born in Portugal
Census by nationality	N	%	N	%	N	%
2011/2012
Total	6,586,925	100	1,829,312	100	169,458	100
National	5,127,185	77.8	601,919	32.9	13,069	7.7
Foreign	1,459,740	22.2	1,227,393	67.1	156,389	92.3

Last annual update: 22/03/2021

Metadata

Note ! Other situations or missing values: 631

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from União Europeia, Eurostat, 2011 census hub

B.2 Resident population by census and sex, according to country of birth, 2001-2012

(individuals)

Census by sex	Total population		All foreign-born		Born in Portugal
Census by sex	N	%	N	%	N	%
2011/2012
Total	6,587,556	100	1,829,665	100	169,459	100
Male	3,237,894	49.2	885,957	48.4	93,040	54.9
Female	3,349,662	50.8	943,708	51.6	76,419	45.1
2001/2002
Total	7,288,010	100	1,840,608	100	100,975	100
Male	3,567,567	49.0	883,750	48.0	53,056	52.6
Female	3,720,443	51.0	956,858	52.0	47,919	47.5

Last annual update: 15/11/2019

Metadata

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from European Union, Eurostat, 2011 census hub

B.3 Resident population by census and age group, according to country of birth, 2001-2012

(individuals)

Census by age group	Total population		All foreign-born		Born in Portugal
Census by age group	N	%	N	%	N	%
2011/2012
Total	6,587,556	100	1,829,665	100	167,620	100
-15 Years	..	0.0	..	0.0	..	0.0
15-39 Years	2,517,892	38.2	739,056	40.4	86,146	51.4
40-64 Years	2,786,297	42.3	818,253	44.7	81,474	48.6
65+ Years	1,283,367	19.5	272,356	14.9	..	0.0
2001/2002
Total	7,288,010	100	1,840,608	100	100,975	100
-15 Years	1,244,660	17.1	135,660	7.4	6,775	6.7
15-39 Years	2,562,012	35.2	735,396	40.0	64,737	64.1
40-64 Years	2,362,332	32.4	700,206	38.0	28,859	28.6
65+ Years	1,119,006	15.4	269,346	14.6	604	0.6

Last annual update: 15/11/2019

Metadata

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from European Union, Eurostat, 2011 census hub

B.5 Resident population by census and labour force status, according to country of birth, 2011-2012

(individuals)

Census by labour force status	Total population		All foreign-born		Born in Portugal
Census by labour force status	N	%	N	%	N	%
2011/2012
Total	6,575,251	100	1,822,929	100	168,075	100
Employed	4,117,685	62.6	1,152,879	63.2	136,144	81.0
Unemployed	198,515	3.0	95,980	5.3	9,596	5.7
Inactive	2,259,051	34.4	574,070	31.5	22,335	13.3

Last annual update: 22/03/2021

Metadata

Note ! Other situations or missing values: 12,305

Source Table by Observatório da Emigração [Emigration Observatory], data from European Union, Eurostat, 2011 census hub

Notes

[ .. ]	data not available, residual data, not applicable
e	estimate

Data [+]

United Nations, DESA, Population Division: international migrant stock

OECD: database on immigrants in OECD and non-OECD countries (DIOC)

OECD: international migration database

Highlights [+]

Fewer Portuguese entering Switzerland for the sixth consecutive year

Fewer Portuguese entering Switzerland for the fifth consecutive year

Fewer Portuguese entries in Switzerland for the fourth consecutive year

Interviews [+]

Portuguese in Switzerland
[Portugueses na Suíça]

Associativism and adaptation of the Portuguese in Switzerland
[Associativismo e adaptação dos portugueses na Suíça]

The Participation of Portuguese emigrants in the elections
[A participação dos emigrantes portugueses nas eleições]

News and events [+]

Publications [+]

Migrations and returns... an unfinished story

The go and come of Portuguese emigration in Switzerland

Portuguese Emigration. Statistical Report 2018
[Emigração Portuguesa. Relatório Estatístico 2018]

Resources [+]

Research Centers

SFM – Swiss Forum for Migration and Population Studies (University of Neuchâtel)

IIP – Institut Integration und Partizipation

PDF

XLSX

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