Why is Switzerland so popular for Germans moving abroad?
Express newspaper
13/09/2025 11:37
Switzerland has once again topped the list of the most popular countries in Europe for Germans to relocate to. What makes it so attractive?
Most Germans who leave the country to move to another part of Europe end up in Switzerland.
And the latest official statistics show that the number of Germans emigrating to their Alpine neighbor is increasing, writes The Local, reports albinfo.ch.
Under the Free Movement of Persons (FMPP), citizens of EU/EFTA countries have almost unlimited access to Switzerland, as well as comprehensive rights and benefits, which include the ability to change jobs and move from one canton to another.
EU/EFTA citizens do not need a visa to enter Switzerland, but they must register and apply for a Swiss residence permit if they want to live there for more than three months.
There are stricter rules and quotas for people from countries outside the EU/EFTA area who want to move to Switzerland.
Switzerland is also one of nine countries that border Germany, so Germans don’t have to go far (although they will have to pay in Swiss francs instead of euros when they arrive).
The table below shows the number of Germans (in thousands) residing in other European countries in 2024.
Linguistic similarities
Another reason why many Germans choose to move to Switzerland is because of the reduced language barrier. German is one of the four national languages spoken there. Around 62.6 percent of the inhabitants of Switzerland speak Swiss German in various cantons, such as Zurich, Zug and Basel.
Four cantons – Bern, Fribourg, Valais and Graubünden – as well as the city of Biel/Bienne (in the canton of Bern) are bilingual, with French and German being the main languages used.
However, one thing to be aware of is that those coming from Germany may have difficulty understanding the Swiss German dialects, which are known for their difficulty. The good thing is that most people are happy to switch to Hochdeutsch (High German) if necessary.
Higher salaries
Germans may choose Switzerland because of its higher wages. In 2023, the average gross monthly salary (before taxes) in Switzerland was CHF 6,788, according to financial firm Rister, which is equivalent to about 7,200 euros.
According to the Stepstone career portal report for 2024, the average gross salary in Germany is around 3,645 euros per month.
Taxes in Switzerland also tend to be lower than in many other European countries (including Germany), making it a magnet for the world’s wealthiest people.
However, the cost of living is high, with major Swiss cities such as Geneva, Zurich and Basel regularly ranking among the most expensive in the world.
Amazing nature
Switzerland’s alpine mountains and lakes are unparalleled, attracting visitors from all over the world.
Since Germans are generally keen to explore nature, this part of Switzerland is undoubtedly a big draw. But it’s not just about yodeling and cute alpine huts. The reality of living in Swiss cities is similar to most urban developments.
However, one benefit of living in lovely Switzerland is that you’ll never be too far from nature.
What other countries are most popular with Germans?
Austria is the second most popular destination for Germans moving abroad, according to statistics.
At the beginning of 2024, 232,729 German citizens lived in the Alpine nation. That’s an increase of 3.4 percent, or just over 7,700 people, compared to the previous year — a stronger increase than in Switzerland.
Over the past decade, the German population in Austria has grown by 41.2 percent, or almost 68,000 people. “What the two countries have in common is that geographical proximity and the lack of language barriers make it easier for Germans to move,” the Federal Statistical Office said.
Spain ranks third among European destinations, making it the most popular option outside the German-speaking world. At the beginning of 2024, around 128,000 Germans lived there, an increase of 1.8 percent (just under 2,300 people) from the previous year.
After years of decline between 2014 and 2021, the number of Germans in Spain has increased again since 2022. However, at the beginning of 2024 there were 9.8 percent fewer Germans – almost 13,900 fewer – than a decade earlier./DW/