Swiss diaspora

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The Swiss diaspora (German Auslandschweizer, also Fünfte Schweiz "fifth Switzerland", alluding to the fourfold linguistic division within Switzerland), Swiss people living abroad, accounts for some 9% of Swiss citizens.

In 2006 (on 31 December), 645,010 Swiss citizens were registered as residing abroad. 71% of these had dual citizenships. Of these, 389,732 (60%) resided in the European Union:

  • France (171,732)
  • Germany (72,384)
  • Italy (47,012)
  • UK (27,326)
  • Spain (22,680)
  • Austria (13,380)
  • Russia (estimated at 10,000)

Swiss communities outside the EU:

  • USA (71'984)
  • Canada (36,374)
  • Australia (21,291)
  • Argentinia (15,061)
  • Brazil (13,956)
  • Israel (12,011)
  • South Africa (8,821)
  • other Swiss communities are found in Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Western Africa (i.e. Liberia and Ghana), China and Japan.

About 498,395 of Swiss residing abroad were adults, 146,615 were minors aged below 18 years. Of the adult population, 58.2% were female, 41.8% were male.

The distribution by continent is: 402,000 in Europe (390,000 in the European Union; 3,600 in Liechtenstein), 164,000 in the Americas (North America 112,000; South America 48,000), 30,000 in Asia, 27,000 in Oceania (Australia 21,000; New Zealand 6,000) and 18,000 in Africa.

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