Population and Demographics of Switzerland
An aging population · 20.02% aged 65 or older in 2024
Switzerland's 2024 population structure places 65.03% of residents in the broad working-age group, while fertility is estimated at 1.4 children per woman. The 2000-to-2024 series records a 24.2% increase, which is more informative than a single annual rate alone. The medium projection reaches 9.34 million in 2050, placing the mid-century total 4.7% above 2024.
Population Over Time in Switzerland
A longer view puts Switzerland at 7.184M in 2000 and 8.922M in 2024. That works out to a 24.2% gain. For 2050, the medium projection is 9.343M. That is a difference of about 0.42 million people from the 2024 estimate. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
Switzerland's demographic structure is older when the 2024 population is divided into the three broad age groups. The 65+ share is 20.02%, clearly above the 14.95% under-15 share, while 65.03% fall in the 15 to 64 band. Older adults outnumber children in these broad age bands.
Population by broad age group
The 2024 World Bank sex-share indicator gives Switzerland a female share of 50.3% and a male share of 49.7%. The split is close to even.
Female and male population share
Females made up 50.3% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 49.7% males.
What Is Shaping Population Change
Switzerland's 2024 demographic snapshot includes +0.58% annual change plus fertility of 1.4, and 65.03% of residents fall in the broad 15-to-64 age group.
Population change before the projection period is +24.2% for Switzerland between 2000 and 2024, and the medium outlook then points +4.7% from 2024 to 2050; explaining that movement requires component data beyond these headline indicators.
2024 estimate for Switzerland. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Switzerland vs. World
In the harmonized 2024 comparison, Switzerland's annual population change is lower than the world rate, fertility is below the global level, and its population is older than the world median-age profile.
| Indicator | Switzerland | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +0.58% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.4 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 43 | 30.6 | 2024 |
No national-only figure is inserted into this world comparison. The country and global values share the same 2024 table and source context.
Key Takeaways
The 2024 total is 8,921,981 people. Annual change in the same harmonized table is +0.58%.
The 2024 age structure is 14.95% under 15, 65.03% aged 15 to 64 and 20.02% aged 65 or older.
The World Bank 2024 sex-share series is 50.3% female and 49.7% male.
On the medium path, 2050 reaches 9.343M, a +4.7% shift from the 2024 level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Switzerland?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Switzerland is 8,921,981 people.
Is the population of Switzerland growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Switzerland's population is growing, with annual change of +0.58%.
What percentage of the population of Switzerland is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 20.02% of Switzerland's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Switzerland in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Switzerland's 2050 population at 9,342,586.
What is the fertility rate in Switzerland?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Switzerland is 1.4 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.