Switzerland

Facts and Figures

IOM Member State*

Capital: Bern
Population (2011): 7.7 million
Total Area: 41,284 sq km
Major Language: German, French, Italian, Romansch
Currency: Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF)
GDP per Capita PPP (2010): USD 46,581
HDI Rank (2011): 11 of 187
Remittances (2011 estimate): USD 2,784 million
Net Migration Rate (2010-2015): 2.6 migrants /1,000 population
Immigrants (2010): 23.2%
Women Immigrants as a Percentage of Immigrants (2010): 49.7%
Population under 15 (2011): 15.1%
Adult HIV Prevalence (2009): 0.4%

Latest News

Overview

Migration Activities

Switzerland is among the countries in Europe with the highest percentage quota of foreigners in comparison with its permanent population: 21.9 per cent of the overall population are foreigners. With regard to immigration for purposes of asylum, the Swiss quota (in percentage to the permanent population) has been the highest among the countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the past few years..

As in many European countries of destination, the public debate on migration remains high on Switzerland’s political agenda. Current main issues are:

  • The increase in and absorption of asylum seekers;
  • Foreigners with criminal records and their right to stay in Switzerland
  • The cooperation with the EU, namely the implementation of Schengen / Dublin and bilateral / multilateral cooperation agreements;
  • The shift in paradigm from purely “restrictive” migration measures to more cooperative and partnership-based agreements with countries of origin.

IOM is one of the main partners of the Swiss Government – mainly the Federal Office for Migration – on migration issues. IOM Bern was established in 1994. Its mandate is defined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IOM Headquarters and the Federal Department of Justice and Police. IOM Bern’s main task is to "support the Federal Office of Migration in all matters relating to Assisted Voluntary Return and specific migration projects in countries of origin".

Regulating Migration

IOM Bern is a partner of the Swiss Federal and Cantonal authorities in the following migration fields:

  • Individual return and reintegration assistance and country-specific programmes (Nigeria, Georgia, Guinea, Iraq, Western Balkans)
  • Counter Trafficking
  • Structural aid projects in the countries of origin/transit
  • Prevention of irregular migration in the countries of origin/transit

Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration

  • Individual Return and Reintegration Assistance: preparation of return, organization of return movement, comprehensive reintegration in the country of origin via small business, vocational training, housing and medical assistance
  • Country-specific return and reintegration projects for certain countries (including the above-listed services, plus extensive monitoring and close follow up of the returnees, referral, trainings and the projects are part of the migration dialogue between Switzerland and the country of origin)
  • Return Counseling and Return Assistance from the five open reception centers and the airports in Geneva and Zürich

Counter- Trafficking

  • Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration, awareness-raising, training, as well as compilation of fact-sheets on countries of origin and organizing of round-tables for Swiss partners

Migration Management and Capacity Building

  • Training and capacity building on migration management for return counselors, governmental counterparts and NGOs

Migration Policy and Research

  • Overall policy support on new forms of cooperation with the EU and in countries of transit or origin (e.g., "Migration partnership" with the Western Balkans and Nigeria, "Prevention of Irregular Migration" in transit countries in the Maghreb, the Horn of Africa and in Yemen) and/or active participation in projects submitted under EU budget lines
  • Research (publications, newsletter, website, reports and short papers). Latest publication is "Migration and Substance Abuse".



Last updated:
Main text: November 2010
Facts and figures: April 2012