Statistics for the Swiss Abroad in 2011
The number of Swiss living abroad has topped the 700,000 mark. To be precise, 703,640 of our fellow-citizens were living outside the borders of Switzerland on 31 December 2011. Another figure is striking: 143,288 of them were entered on the electoral registers of their municipalities in order to exercise their political rights.
In a press release published on 17 February 2012, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) announced that the total number of members of the "Fifth Switzerland" had risen to 703,640 in 2011. This represents an increase of 8517 people (+1.5%) compared with 2010.
At the end of 2011, more than 10% of the people of Switzerland were living outside national
boundaries. The headcount of Swiss expatriates nearly equals the population of Switzerland's third-biggest canton, Vaud. This trend is attributable to births abroad and a simplified process for acquiring Swiss citizenship. Another reason is the steady rise in international migration.
Figures by continent and by country
For the fourth consecutive year, the continent of Asia has recorded the biggest percentage
rise in Swiss expatriates in 2011 (+4.49%). This was followed by Europe (+1.33%), Oceania (+1.11%), Africa (+0.77%) and America (+0.27%). In absolute terms, the European region saw the greatest increase, adding 5705 people, followed by Asia (+1861) and America (+462). Thus nearly 61.85% of Swiss residents abroad, 435,203 people to be precise, live in a member state of the European Union. France still plays host to the biggest Swiss expatriate community. Its 183,754 members make up 26.11% of the total of the "Fifth Switzerland." Germany is the host country with the second-largest Swiss expatriate community (79,050), followed by the USA (75,637).
A rise in the number of voters
The number of Swiss entered on the electoral registers to fulfil their civic duties has also increased to 143,288 people. This represents 5.45% more electors than in 2010. One-quarter of our fellow-citizens of voting age (26.25%) are therefore registered to exercise their political rights. Rapid introduction of electronic voting for the members of our diaspora is therefore necessary, so that they are not prevented from fulfilling their civic duties due to delays or errors in the sending of the official voting papers. For this reason, the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad launched a petition on 19 January 2012 for the rapid introduction of e-voting for all. This would also benefit voters in Switzerland.
Anyone resident in Switzerland or abroad can sign the OSA petition up to 15 August 2012. www.petition.aso.ch
For more information on the 2011 statistics for the Swiss abroad:
Statistics for the Swiss abroad in 2011 (link only in German)
