Increase in the number of expats leaving Switzerland

The State Secretariat for Migration has released the latest figures on immigration to Switzerland in 2025. More people left the country and fewer people immigrated compared to 2024.

Switzerland’s expat population grew at slower rate in 2025

The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) has revealed in a recent press release that fewer people are immigrating to Switzerland and more expats are leaving.

In 2025, around 83.000 people with permanent residency in the alpine nation decided to leave, which was an increase of about 5 percent year-on-year. The data also showed that around 165.000 people immigrated to Switzerland, 3 percent fewer than in 2024. 

This means that while the overall population of expats living permanently in Switzerland still grew by about 75.000 people, it was about 10 percent less than the growth reported in 2024. This is the second year in a row that net immigration declined. 

Almost 2,5 million expats living in Switzerland

In total, by the end of 2025, there were approximately 2,4 million expats living in Switzerland permanently. The decline in net immigration was more pronounced among third-country nationals (i.e., people from countries outside the EU or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)). Third-country immigration saw a 20 percent decline compared to a 5 percent decline in the number of EU/EFTA nationals immigrating.

The SEM reported that EU/EFTA nationals continue to move to Switzerland for work, with around 70 percent immigrating for a job. The employment rate among this group was over 85 percent in 2025.

Immigrants make up roughly 23 percent of the Swiss population and play an important role in the economy, filling worker shortages in roles such as doctors, nurses, teachers and construction.