Annual change in population in Switzerland
Switzerland: Annual change in population was 78,384 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
78,384 people
Change on year
down 8.0%
World rank
98th
of 236 countries
All-time high
139,576 people
in 1962
All-time low
-36,044 people
in 1976
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in Switzerland, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, annual change in population in Switzerland stood at 78,384 people.
The figure is down 8.0% on the previous year and down 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in population in Switzerland peaked at 139,576 people in 1962 and was at its lowest, -36,044 people, in 1976.
Switzerland ranks 98th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in population in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 55,448 people | — |
| 1952 | 63,525 people | +14.6% |
| 1953 | 64,039 people | +0.8% |
| 1954 | 63,095 people | -1.5% |
| 1955 | 63,369 people | +0.4% |
| 1956 | 63,506 people | +0.2% |
| 1957 | 64,547 people | +1.6% |
| 1958 | 66,279 people | +2.7% |
| 1959 | 66,359 people | +0.1% |
| 1960 | 64,968 people | -2.1% |
| 1961 | 106,348 people | +63.7% |
| 1962 | 139,576 people | +31.2% |
| 1963 | 120,462 people | -13.7% |
| 1964 | 94,990 people | -21.1% |
| 1965 | 67,261 people | -29.2% |
| 1966 | 61,555 people | -8.5% |
| 1967 | 73,764 people | +19.8% |
| 1968 | 75,924 people | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 68,696 people | -9.5% |
| 1970 | 44,569 people | -35.1% |
| 1971 | 32,614 people | -26.8% |
| 1972 | 47,550 people | +45.8% |
| 1973 | 46,322 people | -2.6% |
| 1974 | 33,973 people | -26.7% |
| 1975 | -2,781 people | -108.2% |
| 1976 | -36,044 people | +1196.1% |
| 1977 | -21,191 people | -41.2% |
| 1978 | 680 people | -103.2% |
| 1979 | 12,674 people | +1763.8% |
| 1980 | 25,129 people | +98.3% |
| 1981 | 34,713 people | +38.1% |
| 1982 | 37,244 people | +7.3% |
| 1983 | 27,504 people | -26.2% |
| 1984 | 23,110 people | -16.0% |
| 1985 | 28,540 people | +23.5% |
| 1986 | 33,789 people | +18.4% |
| 1987 | 41,023 people | +21.4% |
| 1988 | 48,374 people | +17.9% |
| 1989 | 53,642 people | +10.9% |
| 1990 | 65,381 people | +21.9% |
| 1991 | 83,774 people | +28.1% |
| 1992 | 78,107 people | -6.8% |
| 1993 | 63,057 people | -19.3% |
| 1994 | 55,488 people | -12.0% |
| 1995 | 46,887 people | -15.5% |
| 1996 | 31,404 people | -33.0% |
| 1997 | 17,276 people | -45.0% |
| 1998 | 21,133 people | +22.3% |
| 1999 | 33,825 people | +60.1% |
| 2000 | 39,884 people | +17.9% |
| 2001 | 42,388 people | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 52,353 people | +23.5% |
| 2003 | 54,707 people | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 50,745 people | -7.2% |
| 2005 | 47,628 people | -6.1% |
| 2006 | 46,690 people | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 66,872 people | +43.2% |
| 2008 | 96,344 people | +44.1% |
| 2009 | 95,914 people | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 88,106 people | -8.1% |
| 2011 | 88,629 people | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 84,548 people | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 92,272 people | +9.1% |
| 2014 | 99,039 people | +7.3% |
| 2015 | 93,702 people | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 90,963 people | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 78,727 people | -13.5% |
| 2018 | 62,711 people | -20.3% |
| 2019 | 61,184 people | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 63,057 people | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 66,437 people | +5.4% |
| 2022 | 85,161 people | +28.2% |
| 2023 | 78,384 people | -8.0% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 78,384 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,163 people, 24.8× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 78,384 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15,382 people, 5.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in population in Switzerland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +1763.8% | 680 people | 12,674 people |
| 1976 | -1196.1% | -2,781 people | -36,044 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 63,352 people | 55,448 people | 66,359 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 87,354 people | 61,555 people | 139,576 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 15,837 people | -36,044 people | 47,550 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 35,307 people | 23,110 people | 53,642 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 49,633 people | 17,276 people | 83,774 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 59,352 people | 39,884 people | 96,344 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 83,988 people | 61,184 people | 99,039 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 73,260 people | 63,057 people | 85,161 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More population data for Switzerland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.0595 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2093 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 9,754 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4828 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1371 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 230.99 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 392,499 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in Switzerland?
- Annual change in population in Switzerland was 78,384 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 139,576 people in 1962.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was -36,044 people in 1976.
- How does Switzerland rank for annual change in population?
- Switzerland ranks 98th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.