Key Figures

Portuguese Presence in Switzerland as of 31.12.2024

• 263,028 Portuguese nationals live in Switzerland (260,412 residents as of 31.12.2023).
• 4,462 non-permanent residents (4,819 in 2023).
• 3rd largest foreign community.
• 11.3% of foreigners (11.8% in 2023).
• Present in all 26 cantons.
• Largest in Fribourg, Grisons, Neuchâtel, and Valais.
• In Fribourg and Valais, 1 in 3 foreigners is Portuguese.
• Canton with the most Portuguese: Vaud (56,561) (Vaud 56,270 in 2023).
• 75% of Portuguese reside in six cantons: Vaud, Geneva, Valais, Zurich, Fribourg, and Bern, all with over 15,000 residents (13,000 in 2023).
• 75% hold a long-term residence permit - type C (77% in 2023).
• 18.9% are under 18 years old (19.3% in 2023).
• 3.2% of citizens are over 65 years old (2.8% in 2023).
• 44.7% of the population is female (44.5% in 2023).
• 49.2% are single (48.4% in 2023).
• 8,308 cross-border workers (7,735 in 2023), of which 48.5% work in Geneva (49.4% in 2023).
• Unemployment rate: 6.3% (6.8% in 2023).
• 1,845 Portuguese obtained Swiss citizenship in 2024 (2,356 in 2023).
• 57 dual Portuguese citizens hold seats in communal and cantonal political bodies (34 in 2023).
• Remittances to Portugal in 2024: €1,135.18 million (€1,985.50 million in 2023).