The number of foreigners who leave Switzerland after having lived here for a period of time is also quite high in comparison with other European nations, according to Eurostat migration statistics.
Between 2013 and 2022, for instance, an average of 155,000 people immigrated to Switzerland each year. During the same period, about 90,000 foreign nationals left the country.
When The Local Switzerland covered the subject recently the article provoked scores of comments on social media from readers offering their own views on why people leave.
If one theme dominated most comments it was money.
“Switzerland has become unaffordable for a lot of people,” said one commenter, echoing the views of many.
Readers also pointed out that many Swiss nationals were also leaving the country to live abroad for the same reasons.
If foreign residents have well paid jobs then Switzerland is a great place to live but if you lose a job, a contract ends or you retire then life in the country can be too expensive, forcing many to leave.
Out of 20 states in the Eurostat database, Switzerland was ranked in 6th place, with 54 departures for every 100 arrivals (emigration vs. immigration rate). It is well above the EU average, with the rate of 34 / 100.
A look at the long-term data provided by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) showed that the departure rate of immigrants is highest in the first few years after their arrival.
In fact, most departures occurred in the first two years of their residency.
'Most never intended to stay'
According to researchers in Switzerland, a change in the employment status is one of the reasons for early departures.
"People tend to forget that people who immigrate don't necessarily settle down," said sociologist Liliana Azevedo from the Swiss Research Center for Migration at the University of Neuchâtel.
"Work is what binds people to Switzerland. Unemployment, insecure or unskilled jobs, are all obstacles to remaining in the country for more than a few years," she said.
Many readers pointed out that “most foreign residents had no intention of staying in Switzerland forever”.
Some also suggested the high wages actually kept foreigners in the country longer than they were expecting to stay.
“Switzerland is like a golden age. Work is what binds people to Switzerland and we feel trapped after seeing how much money you can earn compared with our home countries,” said the commenter.
Pension not enough to stay in Switzerland
But another point when people decided to leave the country was when their career's had ended.
"As a foreign person who has worked in Switzerland since 2007 and is now facing retirement, I will not have a large enough pension to remain in Switzerland,” said David Heard.
“I will move to a lower cost country where my Swiss pension will cover my cost of living and where I can afford to buy a house without a mortgage.
“It is a much larger risk to try and stay in Switzerland on a pension due to the fact that the bank can foreclose on my mortgage if I don’t have a high enough income and the cost of living is so high.
“Health insurance alone is hugely expensive and would take up a huge percentage of my monthly pension,” said David.
Others echoed his view.
“Retirement in Switzerland is not affordable unless you have worked here for more than 20 years,” said one commenter.
“I’ll leave when I retire because it’s too expensive if you’re only receiving a pension,” said another.
Switzerland is hard work as a foreigner
Many other readers focussed on the difficulties foreigners have in settling and integrating in Switzerland as one of the chief reasons for why they end up leaving.
“Switzerland seems welcoming, but it is hard work, as a foreigner,” said Deborah Jutzeler.
“There are underlying resentments and the knowledge that our infrastructure is under a lot of strain, social systems, schools, traffic infrastructure, accommodation.
“Swiss, on the whole, are fairly introverted, and private. I love living here, I love my children, who are Swiss, but I remember the stress of getting integrated,” she said.
Others pointed to more obvious reasons for why foreigners leave such as to return to their home country such as to be with an aging family, career opportunities or for their children’s education.
Some of those who did leave Switzerland had words of caution for those who might be planning to leave.
“I worked there for 30 years before coming back to the UK for family reasons when I retired,” said Avril Collier.
“ I really wish I still lived there. Fortunately my son is there so I can go when I like. Yes it's expensive but everything works (Geneva) if you follow the systems and rules. Especially the health system. I'd go back in a heartbeat if I could.”
This article was first published in May 2025
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