- Notes from the Federal Palace
Almost half of Swiss Abroad live in a neighbouring country
17.07.2026 – Federal Statistical Office
As at 31 December 2025, there were 838,600 Swiss citizens living abroad. Their number has continued to grow since 2024 (+11,900 people, an increase of 1.4%). Almost half of the Swiss Abroad have settled in a country bordering Switzerland. These statistics on the Swiss Abroad were released by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
At the end of 2025, there were 838,600 Swiss citizens living abroad, 11% of the total population holding Swiss nationality. Almost half of Swiss Abroad (47%), 392,200 people, live in a country that shares a border with Switzerland. One quarter (212,400) live in mainland France, while 12% (102,100) live in Germany, 6% (53,100) in Italy, 2% (19,100) in Austria and 1% (5,600) in Liechtenstein.
Many Swiss live in the border regions and big cities of neighbouring countries
Around 50,800 Swiss live in the Haute-Savoie department of France. Other French border regions are also home to a large number of people of Swiss nationality, such as the departments of Ain (18,100), Haut-Rhin (17,000) and Doubs (14,500). Lörrach (5,100), Waldshut (4,300) and Konstanz (3,000), three regions of Germany that are geographically close to Switzerland, are also prime living destinations. The same trend can be seen in bordering regions of Italy and Austria: the Italian provinces of Como (4,400) and Varese (3,900) and the Austrian district of Rheintal-Bodenseegebiet (3,700) are all home to several thousand Swiss.
Some Swiss citizens also choose to settle in major cities in neighbouring countries. Around 11,800 Swiss people live in Paris, 8,000 in Berlin, 6,800 in the Province of Milan, 4,500 in Vienna, 4,400 in Munich, 3,700 in Rome and 3,100 in Hamburg.
For more information: Regional distribution of Swiss citizens living abroad in neighbouring countries
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