The population of Switzerland has grown at rates unseen since the 1960s, data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) has revealed. By the end of last year, over 8,9 million people called the alpine nation home.

Population of Switzerland grows at nearly double the rate seen in 2022

According to the report, Switzerland's permanent population increased by 146.900 people in 2023, the fastest population growth recorded since the early 1960s and nearly twice the rate reported in 2022. The permanent resident population - Swiss citizens resident in the country and those with residence permits - rose by 1,7 percent to a total of 8.962.300 people.

In terms of Swiss cantons, Valais reported the largest increase last year, with the population expanding by 2,4 percent. It was followed by Schaffhausen and Aargau (2,2 percent each). By sheer numbers, the population increased the most in Vaud (1,2 percent), while Uri (10,8 percent), Valais (8,7 percent) and Appenzell Innerrhoden (8,4 percent) saw the largest increases in their non-Swiss populations.

Immigration the main driver of population growth in Switzerland

Indeed, the FSO noted that immigration was the “main factor in population growth” in Switzerland last year. 263.100 people moved to the alpine nation in 2023, an increase of 37,8 percent compared to 2022. At the same time, emigration rates increased slightly (1,5 percent) but only to a total of 124.000. This means that the ratio of immigration to emigration is the highest ever reported in Switzerland, with migration now accounting for 95 percent of population growth.

22.000 of the arrivals last year were Swiss citizens, while 241.000 were non-Swiss nationals. Ukrainians were the largest group to become permanent residents, making up 19,6 percent of the total. This is mainly because Ukrainian refugees who come to Switzerland are only included in the data after one year, meaning the large number of people who fled in 2022 following the Russian invasion are only counted as permanent residents now.

They were followed by German citizens (10 percent), Swiss (8,4 percent), French (7,6 percent) and Italian (7,5 percent). By the end of 2023, 27 percent of the Swiss population (2.417.300) were not citizens. All Swiss cantons saw more migrants arrive than leave, with net migration rates as a proportion of population being largest in Jura, Basel-Land and Appenzell Innerrhoden.

Swiss population continues to age faster

Finally, the FSO noted that the over-65 population of Switzerland continues to rise, increasing by 2,3 percent in 2023 alone to over 1,6 million people. Cantons Obwalden, Fribourg, Nidwalden, Schwyz, Thurgau and Uri saw the largest proportion of their populations reaching retirement age. By the end of the year, one in five people in Switzerland were over 64 years old, while over 2.000 people were over 100 years old.

Thumb image credit: Michael Derrer Fuchs / Shutterstock.com