How many foreigners live in Switzerland (as of 2020)?
Wie viele Ausländerinnen und Ausländer leben in der Schweiz (Stand 2020)?
Correct answer: B
- A 3.5 million3.5 Millionen
- B 2.1 million2.1 Millionen
- C 630'000630'000
- D 1.1 million1.1 Millionen
Why
In 2020, about a quarter of the roughly 8.6 million inhabitants did not have a Swiss passport. That is about 2.1 million people.
Exam answer: «2,1 Millionen» (as of 2020). Today: about 2.5 million (FSO, end of 2025, provisional).
Common mistakes
- D: 1.1 million
- 1.1 million would be only about one eighth of the population; but the share is about a quarter.
- A: 3.5 million
- 3.5 million would be about 40 percent of the population; that is too many.
Topic
Population and share of foreigners
Today just over 9 million people live in Switzerland. The test often uses older figures «as of 2020». At that time there were about 8.6 million. Learn this figure for the test. The population is growing mainly because people immigrate from other countries.
Switzerland at a glance
Size, neighbours and population
Sources
Last checked: September 2026
Question 278 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.