Share of students from abroad in Switzerland
Switzerland: Share of students from abroad was 20.1 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of students from abroad in Switzerland, 1999–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of students from abroad in Switzerland is 20.1, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of students from abroad in Switzerland peaked at 20.1 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 14.12, in 2008.
That places Switzerland 19th out of 134 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Share of students from abroad in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 16.15 | — |
| 2000 | 16.58 | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 16.99 | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 17.23 | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 17.66 | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 18.22 | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 18.42 | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 17.89 | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 17.98 | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 14.12 | -21.4% |
| 2009 | 14.92 | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 15.36 | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 16.22 | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 16.5 | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 16.85 | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 17.1 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 17.18 | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 17.59 | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 17.75 | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 17.7 | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 17.8 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 18.14 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 18.43 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 19.13 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 19.72 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 20.1 | +1.9% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 20.1 is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.58, 1.9× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 20.1 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 9.89, 2.0× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.15 | 16.15 | 16.15 | 1 |
| 2000s | 17 | 14.12 | 18.42 | 10 |
| 2010s | 17 | 15.36 | 17.8 | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.1 | 18.14 | 20.1 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More education data for Switzerland
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.87 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.86 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 68,266 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 5,583 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 94,990 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 89,549 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 636,381 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 556,945 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of students from abroad in Switzerland?
- Share of students from abroad in Switzerland was 20.1 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of students from abroad recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 20.1 in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of students from abroad recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.12 in 2008.
- How does Switzerland rank for share of students from abroad?
- Switzerland ranks 19th out of 134 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of students from abroad rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of students from abroad. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).