In 2018, the Federal Statistical Office assumed responsibility for the production of the Statistics on the Swiss Abroad, which had until then been compiled by the FDFA. The statistics are available on the webpages of the FSO and can be accessed easily and individually via an interactive table.
Statistics on the Swiss Abroad
Figures
Around 11% of the Swiss population lives abroad. Of the 776, 300 Swiss nationals who were residing abroad at the end of 2020, more than 63% were living in Europe.

Older population on the increase
At the end of 2020, 21.1% of Swiss citizens abroad were minors under the age of 18 (163 800 persons). This number remained more or less stable compared with the previous year. There were 440 000 persons aged 18-64 years (56.7%) and 172 500 persons aged 65 and over (22.2%). The increase was particularly marked among the latter: +2.8% compared with the previous year, and only 0.2% among those aged 18-64. Furthermore, 662 centenarians were registered which represents a ratio of 9 centenarians per 10 000 Swiss citizens abroad.
The most popular destination: France
France has the largest Swiss expatriate community in Europe, followed by Germany and Italy.
A majority of women
Across the continents, more women than men lived abroad, 54% and 46% respectively in 2020. This was the case for those living in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania with percentages ranging from 52% in Africa to 56% in Europe. In contrast, more men than women were recorded in Asia at 55%.
The Federal Statistical Office website provides further information, graphics and an interactive table:
Swiss citizens abroad Europe 2020

Swiss citizens abroad Europe 2020 (PDF, 2.0 MB, multilingual: Italian, English)
Swiss citizens abroad World 2020

Swiss citizens abroad World 2020 (PDF, 2.7 MB, multilingual: Italian, English)
Interactive map – Swiss abroad by country of residence 2019
The map shows the number of Swiss abroad and the number of Swiss emigrants for a specific country.
Swiss abroad by country of residence, 2019 (Federal Statistical Office)
Links
Archives
Statistics on the Swiss Abroad 2016 (PDF, Number of pages 7, 44.3 kB, German)
Statistics on the Swiss Abroad 2015 (PDF, Number of pages 9, 71.6 kB, German)
Statistics on the Swiss Abroad 2014 (PDF, Number of pages 9, 676.8 kB, German)
Statistics on the Swiss Abroad 2013 (PDF, Number of pages 9, 354.4 kB, German)
Statistics on the Swiss Abroad 2012 (PDF, Number of pages 9, 656.8 kB, German)
Swiss emigration to Europe in the year 2019 (PDF, 3.9 MB, multilingual: Italian, English)
Swiss emigration to Europe in the year 2018 (PDF, 3.4 MB, English)
Swiss emigration to europe in the year 2017 (PDF, 1.3 MB, German)
Swiss emigration to Europe in the year 2016 (PDF, 2.0 MB, German)
Swiss emigration to Europe in the year 2015 (PDF, 1.5 MB, German)
Swiss emigration to Europe in the year 2014 (PDF, 4.3 MB, German)
Swiss emigration to Europe in the year 2013 (PDF, 4.4 MB, German)
Swiss emigration (world) in the year 2019 (PDF, 2.5 MB, multilingual: English, Italian)
Swiss emigration (world) in the year 2018 (PDF, 2.1 MB, English)
Swiss emigration (world) in the year 2017 (PDF, 597.5 kB, German)
Swiss emigration (world) in the year 2016 (PDF, 2.1 MB, German)
Swiss emigration (world) in the year 2015 (PDF, Page 1, 1.8 MB, German)
Swiss emigration (world) in the year 2014 (PDF, Page 1, 5.0 MB, German)
Swiss emigration (world) in the year 2013 (PDF, Page 1, 6.5 MB, German)