Population

The permanent resident population of Switzerland is around 7.5 million. The proportion of those aged between 20 and 39 is 26.8%, with 16.4% aged 65 and over and 21.5% aged under 20. 

Life expectancy is one of the highest in the world: 79.4 for men and 84.2 for women. Residential areas remain relatively decentralized and therefore not overly crowded: more than two thirds of the population lives in the five largest cities (Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Berne, Lausanne) and their greater metropolitan areas.
There are four official national languages: German (native language for 64%), French (20%), Italian (7%) and Romansh (1%). In Northern, Eastern and Central Switzerland, the prevailing language is German, but in everyday conversations different German dialects are used. French is spoken in the West of the country, French and German in some parts of the Mittelland, Italian in the South (Ticino), and Romansh in certain parts of Canton Grisons.

21% of the population is of foreign nationality. Although in the past migration to Switzerland was primarily the preserve of those who were less socially able, since the introduction of agreements with the EU/EFTA enabling the free movement of persons, the country has increasingly been attracting foreign nationals from higher social classes, particularly highly qualified staff from Germany.