Population by migration status

Following similar approaches in many other countries, the FSO has drawn up a typology of the population by migration status for Switzerland on the basis of UN international recommendations. A person's migration status is defined by combining the following variables: the country of birth, the nationality (current and at birth) of the reference person, as well as the variables country of birth of both parents.

Typology of population by migration status
Place of birth
Nationality Place of birth of the parents
    2 in Switzerland  

1 in Switzerland

and 1 abroad

2 abroad
Switzerland Swiss at birth 0
0
II
Swiss by naturalization 0
II II
Foreigner 0
II II
Abroad Swiss at birth 0
0
I
Swiss by naturalization I I I
Foreigner I I I
I Population with a migration background, 1st generation
II Population with a migration background, 2nd generation
0 Population without a migration background

The population with a migration background' as defined by the FSO includes all foreign nationals and naturalized Swiss citizens, except for those born in Switzerland and whose parents were both born in Switzerland (3rd generation), as well as Swiss citizens at birth whose parents were both born abroad.

Key figures on persons aged 15 and over

Permanent resident population aged 15 or over, by migration status, 2022
  In thousand In %
Total

7389

100.0

4346

58.8

Swiss citizens

4339

58.7

  of whom naturalised (3rd generation or higher)

23

0.3

Persons with a foreign citizenship (3rd generation or higher)

6

0.1

2951

39.9

Swiss citizens

1115

15.1

  of whom naturalised

987

13.4

Persons with a foreign citizenship

1836

24.9

2342

31.7

Swiss citizens

685

9.3

  of whom naturalised

663

9.0

Persons with a foreign citizenship

1657

22.4

609

8.2

Swiss citizens

430

5.8

  of whom naturalised

325

4.4

Persons with a foreign citizenship

179

2.4

Population for whom some relevant data are unavailable

93

1.3

Sources: FSO, Swiss Labour Force Survey (SLFS)

In 2022, 40% of the permanent resident population aged 15 and over has a migration background (2,951,000). More than a third of this population (1,115,000) has Swiss nationality. Almost four-fifths of the persons with a migration background belong to the first generation (2,342,000). The remaining fifth was born in Switzerland and is thus part of the second generation (609,000).

The population without a migration background comprises mostly Swiss-born (99.3%), but also naturalized persons (0.5%) and foreign nationals from the third or a higher generation (0.1%).

With the exception of Swiss-born persons who have at least one parent born in Switzerland, all persons born abroad are considered as belonging to the first generation of persons with a migration background (more than 2.3 million in the population aged 15 and over).

This group is composed of:

  • foreign nationals born abroad (1,657,000);
  • foreign-born naturalized persons (663,000);
  • Swiss-born persons born abroad and whose parents were both born abroad (22,000).


The second generation, i.e. persons with a migration background born in Switzerland (609,000 individuals), is composed of:

  • naturalized persons (325,000);
  • foreign nationals with at least one parent born abroad (179,000);
  • Swiss-born persons whose parents were both born abroad (105,000).

Persons younger than 15

It is not possible to determine the migration status of children under the age of 15 with FSO data. However, information can be obtained regarding their place of birth and nationality.

Almost three-quarters of the population aged under 15 has Swiss nationality and was born in Switzerland. The remaining 30% was either born abroad (10%: 8% foreign nationals and 2% Swiss nationals), or born in Switzerland and of foreign nationality (19%).

Permanent resident population aged 0 to 14 by nationality and place of birth, 31.12.2022
  In thousand In %
Total 1327 100
Children with Swiss citizenship 970 73.1
Children with a foreign citizenship 357 26.9
1196 90.1
with Swiss citizenship 945 71.2
with a foreign citizenship 251 18.9
131 9.9
with Swiss citizenship 25 1.9
with a foreign citizenship 106 8.0
Source: FSO, Population and Households Statistics (STATPOP)

Further information

Definitions

A household’s migration status is established as follows:

The household has no migration background if neither the father nor mother alone, nor both members of a couple (with or without child(ren)) nor any person in a non-family household or other type of household is not born abroad or does not have a foreign nationality. The household has a migration background if the father or mother, or both members of a couple (with or without child(ren)) or all people in a non-family household or other type of household are born abroad or have a foreign nationality. The household has a mixed migration background if one of the two members of a couple (with or without child(ren)) or at least one of the persons in a non-family household or other type of household is born abroad or has a foreign nationality and the other(s) does/do not.

Links

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Federal Statistical Office Section Demography and Migration
Espace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland

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