Figures released by the Federal Statistical Office on FridayExternal link showed net immigration of European Union (EU)/European Free Trade Association (EFTA) citizens rose by nearly 31,000 in 2018, slightly more than in 2017.
Overall immigration – which is managed by quotas for foreigners from third countries (including, for example, the United States) and temporary limits on some newer members of the EU – increased 2.9% to nearly 55,000 people.
This means that almost 2.1 million foreigners – more than two-thirds of them from the EU and EFTA countries – lived in Switzerland at the end of 2018 (of these, some 400,000 were born in Switzerland). The total population is 8.4 million.
Italians make up the biggest group of foreigners, followed by Germans and Portuguese.
Free movement?
The statistics come at a time when the country’s free movement of people policy is being challenged.
Non-EU Switzerland allows free movement of people from EU and EFTA members Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway in return for enhanced access to the EU’s single market.
But the conservative right Swiss People’s Party and anti-EU AUNS group are trying to force a referendum on ending the free-movement accord with the EU, arguing there are too many foreigners. No date for a vote has been set.
More
More
Initiative to stop free movement with EU takes next step
This content was published on
Campaigners seeking to end Switzerland’s free movement of people agreement with the EU have handed in signatures in Bern.
The Swiss government opposes the referendum, saying free movement is an essential part of ties with the EU, which is Switzerland’s biggest trading partner.
The EU and Switzerland are currently also locked in negotiations on a framework agreement for bilateral relations which includes the free movement of people.
Popular Stories
More
Workplace Switzerland
Trump tariff shock: how Switzerland is positioning itself
What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?
Should there be a limit to the passing on of Swiss citizenship? Or is the current practice too strict and it should still be possible to register after the age of 25?
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Switzerland postpones online platform scrutiny as US tensions rise
This content was published on
Switzerland has delayed regulating large online platforms such as Google, Facebook, YouTube and X while trade tensions are rising.
Swiss Rhône river region braces for possible flooding
This content was published on
A pre-alert for possible flooding has been announced for the Rhône river as some regions of Switzerland brace for bad weather.
Switzerland commits CHF250 million for humanitarian aid
This content was published on
Switzerland allocates CHF250m to the World Food Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
This content was published on
Swiss electricity grid operator posts CHF103.8 million net profit, an increase of CHF3.8 million from 2023, boosted by higher tariffs.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Defining the 25% foreign population in Switzerland
This content was published on
For the first time, Switzerland has 2 million foreigners living in its midst. But just who exactly are they? These graphics offer an explanation.
EU ramps up pressure on Switzerland to sign framework deal
This content was published on
The EU has stepped up pressure on Switzerland to sign a framework agreement by threatening to freeze discussions in other areas of cooperation.
This content was published on
The Swiss government says it will limit the number of Britons who can enter the country to work in the case of a no deal on March 29.
This content was published on
New statistics underline Geneva’s status as the most international canton: almost two-thirds of residents have a foreign passport.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.