Statistics on the Swiss Abroad

Services and visa

All consular services and visa issues are provided by the Regional Consular Centre Southern Africa in Pretoria.

Consular services
Visa and entry to Switzerland

Services

Contact the responsible Swiss representation or consulate when you want to register or unregister as a resident, when you need a new passport, have moved or wish to apply for citizenship. The entire selection of services offered can be found in the dropdown menu to the right. The contact details of the responsible Swiss representation are shown on the corresponding page.

Swiss citizens who get into difficulties abroad, also can ask for advice and help from the Swiss representative.

The magazine for the Swiss Abroad appears six times a year and provides information about what is happening at home and the activities of Swiss associations abroad. It also answers administrative questions.

Online desk FDFA

Using the FDFA’s online consular services while abroad.

The relevant Swiss representation abroad can answer any questions concerning the FDFA’s online desk.

In 2018, the Federal Statistical Office assumed responsibility for the production of the Statistics on the Swiss Abroad, which had until then been compiled by the FDFA. The statistics are available on the webpages of the FSO and can be accessed easily and individually via an interactive table.

Figures

Around 11% of the Swiss population lives abroad. Of the 776, 300 Swiss nationals who were residing abroad at the end of 2020, more than 63% were living in Europe.

Older population on the increase

At the end of 2020, 21.1% of Swiss citizens abroad were minors under the age of 18 (163 800 persons). This number remained more or less stable compared with the previous year. There were 440 000 persons aged 18-64 years (56.7%) and 172 500 persons aged 65 and over (22.2%). The increase was particularly marked among the latter: +2.8% compared with the previous year, and only 0.2% among those aged 18-64. Furthermore, 662 centenarians were registered which represents a ratio of 9 centenarians per 10 000 Swiss citizens abroad.

The most popular destination: France

France has the largest Swiss expatriate community in Europe, followed by Germany and Italy.

A majority of women

Across the continents, more women than men lived abroad, 54% and 46% respectively in 2020. This was the case for those living in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania with percentages ranging from 52% in Africa to 56% in Europe. In contrast, more men than women were recorded in Asia at 55%.

The Federal Statistical Office website provides further information, graphics and an interactive table:

Swiss abroad in 2020