Information Unveiled: Comprehensive Details Regarding the Foreign Population Residing in Geneva as of 2025
Geneva, Switzerland's most cosmopolitan region, is a veritable melting pot of different cultures, with nearly 41% of its population being non-Swiss. In 2024, Geneva counted 220,024 foreign residents out of a total population of 639,000. Yet, the actual number is even more impressive when you take into account dual nationals, who weren't included in the statistics as they're considered Swiss citizens.
Not just Geneva, but six municipalities within the canton boast figures higher than the average – Pregny-Chambésy (49.9%), City of Geneva (49.7%), Meyrin (45.9%), Vernier (45.6%), Le Grand-Saconnex (44.8%), and Versoix (43.9%).
So, where do these foreigners hail from? A majority (58%) are from the EU or EFTA (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), with 13% from other European countries, mainly Kosovo, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. Interestingly, the French and Portuguese nationals account for the majority of Geneva's foreign population, with Italians and Spaniards close behind.
Why do so many foreign nationals find Geneva an attractive destination? The United Nations and its numerous organizations, employing tens of thousands of people and most of them being foreigners, play a significant role. Despite a potential shift with the Trump administration withdrawing a number of US diplomats from Geneva, the city remains a hub for international finance, private banking, and science, particularly the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), which attracts numerous foreign specialists.
- The foreigners in Geneva, Switzerland are predominantly from nationalities within the EU or EFTA, making up 58% of the foreign population, with the remainder primarily from other European countries.
- Among the foreign nationals residing in Geneva, the French and Portuguese account for the highest percentages, followed closely by Italians and Spaniards.
- The city of Geneva is known for its high concentration of foreign residents, with six municipalities within the canton having higher foreign population percentages than the average.
- The general news, education-and-self-development, and politics sectors are particularly attractive to foreign nationals in Geneva, due in part to the United Nations and its affiliated organizations, as well as key institutions like the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).
