“If the permanent and non-permanent resident population are added together, Switzerland is likely to exceed the threshold of nine million inhabitants this year,” the newspaper wrote on SundayExternal link.
Since the introduction of the free movement of people with the European Union (EU), the Swiss population has grown twice as fast as that of France or the United Kingdom – and 20 times faster than that of Germany, due to high levels of immigration. The reasons behind this: Switzerland’s high quality of life and flourishing economy, the paper said.
There will be consequences for the environment, infrastructure and living conditions, the newspaper warned. Green areas will be built over, traffic will keep increasing and the country’s CO2 reduction targets will become even harder to reach. The SonntagsZeitung said it expected immigration to be a key topic in Switzerland in election year 2023.
“Switzerland certainly benefits from immigration, but it is also associated with disadvantages and costs,” he said. Fears over increased unemployment and salaries decreasing due to the free movement of people have not come to pass, Straumann pointed out.
But overall immigration was a zero-sum game for the country. “We may have full employment, a stable economy and growth, but per capita prosperity is only increasing slowly and is by no means benefiting everyone,” he said.
According to the latest official figures, Switzerland’s permanent resident population reached 8,738,800 at the end of 2021, which is 0.8% more than in 2020.
Popular Stories
More
Multinational companies
Azeri fossil-fuel cash cow brings controversy to Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
What to watch in 2023: the political outlook for Switzerland
This content was published on
An energy minister in a tight spot; a foreign minister who can’t afford to fail, and a past squabble that could shake up the federal elections.
Swiss population projected to top 10 million by 2050
This content was published on
Those 65 and older will see their ranks swell, while the working-age population will grow more slowly, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
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.