Changes to immigration
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Switzerland made several changes in its approach to immigration in 2009, putting an emphasis on better integration of foreigners, including language requirements for citizenship. Now a new report published by the federal government highlights the role foreigners and immigrants play in Swiss society. It includes figures for the end of 2009.
In an unrelated study, a professor at the University of Lausanne and her team of researchers developed a programme that teaches multiple lifestyle changes to predominantly migrant preschoolers and their parents in Switzerland, part of broader efforts to improve integration.
The programme, funded in part by Health Promotion Switzerland and the Swiss National Science Foundation, is called “Ballabeina”, which means seesaw in Rhaeto-Romanic, a Latin language spoken in parts of Ticino and Graubuenden. Professor Jardena Pudery says, “The name stands for a life in motion but also in balance.” The programme helps the children reduce body fat and improve fitness.
Two million people out of a Swiss population of just over seven million have immigrated to Switzerland or are direct descendents of immigrants since the second world war. One in four people in the country’s working population holds a foreign passport.
Foreign nationals account for 21 percent of the total population, one of the highest rates in Europe. And immigrants contribute more to demographic growth in Switzerland than in countries traditionally known as immigrant nations, such as the US, Canada and Australia.
One in 10 Swiss citizens resides abroad.
Figures for the end of 2009 show:
Chances are: 20.8% are foreigners
Neuchatel, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Switzerland’s resident foreign population continued to grow in 2008, but the makeup of it shifted, a reflection of stronger ties with the European Union (EU). The total foreign population was 1.64 million on 31 December 2008, of which 1.03m came from the EU and Efta (European Free Trade Association). The increase from EU and Efta countries was 6.8% while only 0.4% from other countries.
