Immigration to Switzerland 2024: Decline of 6 Percent
Immigration into the permanent foreign resident population fell by 15.6 percent compared to the previous year, to 83,392 persons in 2024. The vast majority entered together with family members in order to take up employment in Switzerland. At the end of 2024, 2,368,364 foreign nationals were permanently residing in Switzerland.
In the past year, 170’607 persons immigrated into the permanent foreign resident population, representing a decline of 10’946 persons, or 6 percent, compared to the previous year.
Immigration from the EU/EFTA area accounted for 70.7 percent of total immigration at 120’546 persons (-9’937 persons, or -7.6%). From third countries, 50’061 persons immigrated; that is 1’009 persons, or -2.4%, fewer than in the previous year.
Rise in Emigration
At the same time, 78’906 persons from the permanent foreign resident population left Switzerland: this represents 4.8 percent more emigrants than in the previous year. In total, 60’597 EU/EFTA nationals (+5.9%) and 18’309 third-country nationals (+1.3%) departed.
Net immigration into the permanent foreign resident population decreased by 15’459 persons to 83’392 persons (difference between immigration and emigration plus statistical adjustments). The migration balance of EU/EFTA nationals stood at 53’738 persons (-14’235), that of third-country nationals at 29’654 (-1’224).
At 42’433 persons, family reunification accounted for 24.9 percent of immigration into the permanent foreign resident population (-8.3%); of these, 15.6 percent entered through family reunification with a Swiss national.
Cooling of the Labour Market
After two years of strong economic growth, the labour market cooled as expected from spring 2024 onwards. Nevertheless, a severe shortage of skilled workers continues to prevail in most economic sectors.
Last year, 94’578 people immigrated for the purpose of permanent employment; that is 8.7 percent or 9’300 people fewer than in the previous year. Immigration from the EU/EFTA area amounted to 85’189 people (-7.7%). The number of workers from the EU/EFTA who came to Switzerland for short-term employment (non-permanent resident population) stood at 72’169 people (-4.2%). Of the quota-based residence permits for employed persons from third countries, 69 percent of short-stay permits L (2’779) and 79 percent of residence permits B (3’543) had been used by the end of December.
Employment as the most important reason for immigration
Since the introduction of the free movement of persons between Switzerland and the EU/EFTA in 2002, employment has been the most important reason for EU/EFTA nationals to immigrate into the permanent foreign resident population. The share of employed persons in this group has steadily increased, rising from 53 percent in 2002 to 65 percent in 2021, before stabilising at 71 percent in 2023 and 2024.
The main reason for immigration from third countries is family reunification, although the trend has been declining since 2014. In the period from 2002 to 2024, the share of employed third-country nationals fluctuated between 8 and 11 percent. The share of persons from the asylum sector who received a permanent residence permit also fluctuated between 7 and 23 percent during the period 2008–2024; this development reflects the course of conflicts abroad.
At the end of 2024, 1’578’629 EU/EFTA nationals and 789’735 third-country nationals were permanently residing in Switzerland. Italians, with 346’981 persons, remain the largest foreign population group in Switzerland, followed by German (332’132), Portuguese (263’028) and French (173’353) nationals. In total, 40’077 people were naturalised last year.
