Numbers published on Tuesday by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) showed the population increased by 73,900 in 2022, a similar rise to 2021. All of the country’s 26 cantons saw an increase.
The rise was driven by immigration: after a slowdown in new arrivals during the Covid-19 pandemic years 2020-2021, last year saw 190,500 people moving to Switzerland, a 15% increase on the previous year, the FSO said.
With emigration numbers rising only slightly, to 120,400, net migration (the difference between arrivals and departures) thus climbed by 43.5% to 70,100.
As in previous years, the most common place of origin of immigrants were the neighbouring countries of Germany, Italy, and France.
Low birth-rate
At 82,000 the number of births fell by 8.5% in 2022, while the birth rate in terms of the overall population fell to a historic low of 9.3 births per 1,000 residents.
In most cantons, there were more deaths recorded than births.
Some projections predict the resident population is set to top the 9 million mark this year, with the symbolic 10 million point to be reached by 2050. How to deal with the country’s ageing society and demographic shifts is an ongoing political battlefield, one which may also play a role in national elections in October.
Tying and untying the knot
The FSO statistics also included figures on marriages and divorces. The former grew last year by 11.7%, including some 700 same-sex couples (such unions became possible in 2022 for the first time) and 2,200 conversions of same-sex partnerships to marriages. Divorces fell by 6.3% 40,700. Current trends show around two of every five marriages ending in separation.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Abroad
The citizenship obstacle course facing spouses of Swiss Abroad
Swiss committee wants to end government resignations during legislative term
This content was published on
Members of the Federal Council should no longer be able to leave office before the end of their term, according to a House of Representatives committee.
Swiss government seat: Ritter and Pfister nominated to succeed Amherd
This content was published on
Markus Ritter from St Gallen and Martin Pfister from Zug were officially nominated by the Centre Party on Friday to succeed Defence Minister Viola Amherd.
Top Swiss court rejects Russian request for administrative tax assistance
This content was published on
There is currently no reason to transmit banking information to the Russian Federation, the Swiss Federal Court has ruled.
After strike by radiologists, doctors demonstrate in Bern
This content was published on
Following a strike by radiology technicians in Fribourg, doctors, vets, dentists and chiropractors expressed their frustration on Friday outside parliament in the Swiss capital.
Eurovision and bleak world situation are top themes at Basel carnival
This content was published on
The Eurovision Song Contest and the gloomy global situation are among the main themes of Basel Fasnacht (carnival) this year.
Prices of Swiss investment properties continue to rise despite stagnating rents
This content was published on
Although rents in Switzerland stagnated or fell in the final quarter of last year, prices for investment properties continued to rise. Both apartment buildings and office properties have become more expensive.
Probe into wrong Swiss pension figures clears federal office
This content was published on
Employees of the Swiss Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) did not breach their duty of care when calculating pension prospects, an investigation has concluded.
This content was published on
Hotels in the southern Swiss canton of Ticino welcomed significantly more guests last December than in the same month of the previous year.
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.