This indicator shows the share of persons who obtained Swiss citizenship in a year. It therefore reflects both the willingness of foreign nationals living in Switzerland to apply for Swiss citizenship, and the readiness of the Swiss authorities to grant it.
From an integration perspective, an increase in the crude rate of naturalisation indicates an improved situation.
The crude rate of naturalisation among persons holding a B or C permit is almost three times higher among persons born in Switzerland than among those born abroad.
Since 2011, the crude rate of naturalisation among holders of a B or C permit has declined slightly among the population born abroad, whereas it has increased among the population born in Switzerland. After a drop in 2020 for all the population groups considered, an increase is observed in 2021 and 2022.
The crude rate of naturalisation of foreign nationals born in Switzerland is higher than that of foreign nationals born abroad in all cantons. The exceptions are the cantons of Obwalden and Appenzell Innerrhoden, which show a similar level for both populations. The biggest gap is found in the cantons of Bern and Zurich.
The crude rate of naturalisation shows the ratio between the number of Swiss citizenship acquisitions registered in a calendar year and the number of B and C permit holders at the beginning of the same calendar year. It is calculated by dividing the number of people who were naturalised in year X by the number of holders of a B or C permit on 1 January of year X. However, this indicator does not provide any information on the number of naturalisation applications rejected.
