Demographic trends in Swiss community abroad
Of the 826,700 Swiss nationals living abroad, 24% are over 65 years old. Estate planning, health insurance and banking issues can be a challenge for pensioners abroad. For this reason, the FDFA's Consular Directorate (CD) launched a range of information and communication channels to raise awareness of these potential challenges among Swiss nationals abroad.
Presentation of proportion of Swiss abroad per continent, 2024. © FSO
Federal Statistical Office (FSO) figures show that the rate in growth seen in recent years is continuing, with 826,700 Swiss nationals registered at a Swiss representation abroad in 2024. This is a rise of 1.6% on the previous year.
The largest increase is in the 65-plus age group. Compared to 2023, this group has increased by 4.2% and now accounts for 24% of all Swiss citizens living abroad. By comparison, the proportion of under-18s is 22% (a 0.9% rise on the previous year) while the proportion of people aged between 18 and 64 has increased by 0.8%. The proportion of over-65s therefore accounts for 55%.
In addition to migration flows, the reasons for this include the difference between births and deaths, naturalisations and ageing in the Swiss community abroad. Thailand (43%), Portugal (36%), South Africa (33%) and Spain (33%) have a high proportion of Swiss senior citizens. High growth was recorded in Portugal in particular, with an increase of 15.9%, and Thailand, with 7.1%.
These developments also mean changing priorities for the Swiss community abroad. Healthcare, pensions, retirement and nursing homes as well as estate planning are issues that are of particular concern to pensioners abroad. In order to provide expert and comprehensive advice for current and future Swiss nationals abroad, the CD, Swiss Abroad Solidarity Fund 'Soliswiss' and Swiss Compensation Office (SCO), launched a series of webinars on estate planning, health insurance and banking issues for the Swiss abroad.
The webinar series is part of the 'Ageing Abroad' project launched by the FDFA, focusing on preventive measures, information and advice on precautions to take before leaving Switzerland. A range of measures and tools such as the webinar series have been developed to advise and support affected persons and representations abroad in all matters relating to retirement. For a carefree retirement abroad, it is essential to plan and clarify in good time matters such as healthcare, a living will, and a last will.
In addition to providing information, the project has also helped to raise awareness and urge people to take responsibility in this regard. In the Swiss Abroad Act, personal responsibility is central and lies with the individual – to prepare and carry out a stay abroad as well as to avoid falling into an emergency situation. The support provided by a Swiss representation is secondary and contingent on good preparation before moving abroad.
The Swiss Abroad Act, which came into force ten years ago, regulates the rights and obligations of Swiss nationals abroad as well as the Swiss government's obligations towards the diaspora. This includes fostering communication between the various authorities as well as between the authorities and private individuals. The CD is the central point of contact for all matters concerning the Swiss abroad and is responsible for consular services worldwide.
To expand the range of communication and information tools for the Swiss community abroad, in 2022 the FDFA developed the SwissInTouch app, which summarises the main relevant topics and serves as a channel for the FDFA's external network and head office in Bern to reach the Swiss abroad.
