Population of Switzerland

As of June 2026, the population of Switzerland is 9 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 51 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 0.58%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 41.3 years in 2016 to 43.1 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 84.8 years and population density is 223.9 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Switzerland peaked in 1961, reaching around 2.73% annually, but has since declined to approximately 0.57% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 148.36 thousand in 1961 to nearly 50.71 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Switzerland, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 81.5 years in 2006 to 84.8 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 3 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Switzerland

The cities of Switzerland are mostly small, but 6 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Zürich, Zurich, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 415.4 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Genève, Geneva with 201.7 thousand and Basel, Basel-City with 177.6 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Switzerland: