At the end of 2025, Switzerland had 9,127,125 inhabitants, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on the permanent resident population as of 31 December. Over the year the population grew by 76,096 people, an increase of 0.8%. These figures are the basis for planning housing, schools, transport and healthcare.
Foreign residents are an important part of this picture. At the end of 2025, 2,528,117 people did not hold Swiss citizenship, which is 27.7% of the permanent resident population (2024: 27.4%). Their number rose by 48,229 within a year, while the number of Swiss citizens rose by 27,867. These changes depend not only on immigration and emigration but also on births, deaths and naturalisations.
The differences between cantons are large. Zurich is the most populous canton with 1,632,918 residents, ahead of Bern (1,076,127) and Vaud (863,650). At the other end are Appenzell Innerrhoden with 16,890 and Uri with 38,581 residents. Population density shows the contrast even more clearly: the Swiss average is 221 people per square kilometre, compared with 5,522 in Basel-Stadt, 1,902 in Geneva and 945 in Zurich. Graubünden has only 29 and Uri 36 people per square kilometre.
Growth also varies. In 2025 the population grew fastest in Schaffhausen (+1.6%), followed by Basel-Stadt (+1.4%) and Valais (+1.3%). In Ticino and Glarus the increase was only 0.2%, and in Neuchâtel and Jura 0.5% each.
The population is ageing. At the end of 2025, 19.8% of residents were 65 or older, compared with 19.5% a year earlier. People aged 80 and over make up 6.0%, those under 18 make up 17.7%. The share of people aged 65 and over is particularly high in Ticino (24.3%) and particularly low in Geneva (16.7%).
The highest shares of foreign nationals are found in Geneva (41.9%), Basel-Stadt (39.2%) and Vaud (34.3%). The lowest are in Appenzell Innerrhoden (13.0%) and Uri (15.8%).
For municipalities, businesses and individuals, this data has practical uses: it shows how differently the cantons are developing. If you are planning a move or looking for a business location, the table above lets you compare the population, the share of foreign nationals and the population growth of every canton directly.
The figures refer to the permanent resident population as of 31 December 2025 according to the FSO's Population and Households Statistics (STATPOP); comparisons are with the end of 2024. Detailed figures for each canton are available on the canton pages of schweizdaten.com.
Last updated: 2025 | Sources: BFS, ESTV, BAG