Immigration to Switzerland lost momentum in 2025, with fewer foreign nationals moving to the country and more deciding to leave, according to provisional figures released by the State

Secretariat for Migration (SEM).

The SEM reported on Monday that around 83,000 foreign residents left Switzerland in 2025, an increase of about 5% compared with the previous year. At the same time, approximately 165,000 foreign nationals moved to Switzerland, marking a 3% decline from 2024.

As a result, net immigration fell for the second consecutive year. In 2025, Switzerland recorded a net gain of 75,000 foreign nationals, which is 10% lower than in 2024, the SEM said.

The slowdown was particularly noticeable among arrivals from EU and EFTA countries, where immigration dropped by around 5% year on year. Employment remained the primary motivation for most of those who did move to Switzerland.

An even sharper decline was seen among migrants from non-EU countries, with around 20% fewer new arrivals compared with the previous year.

Despite the slowdown, Switzerland remains one of Europe’s most international countries. By the end of 2025, about 2.4 million foreign nationals were living in Switzerland, out of a total population of 9.1 million.

Officials noted that the figures are provisional, but they confirm a clear trend: Switzerland’s long-strong immigration growth is easing as departures increase and new arrivals slow. Photo by warrenski, Wikimedia commons.