Population growth in Switzerland slowed slightly in 2025; Swiss service providers are not legally bound to accept cash: and more news in our roundup this Friday.
Population growth in Switzerland slowed slightly in 2025
As of December 31st, 2025, Switzerland’s permanent resident population stood at 9,127,100 – an increase of 0.8 percent compared to 2024.
This is what emerges from data published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on Thursday.
Though population growth continued overall, it slowed down due to a year marked by lower immigration and higher emigration.
Foreign nationals totalled 2,528,100 people, accounting for 28 percent of permanent population.
Another interesting fact reported by the FSO: The number of foreign residents increased most in canton Uri – by 4,3 percent.
Swiss service providers are not legally bound to accept cash
The National Council’s Economic Affairs Committee narrowly rejected a proposal to mandate the acceptance of cash by public service providers like public transport companies, for instance.
Even though some people, including the elderly and foreign tourists, may rely on cash for such transactions, the Committee argued that public service providers must have the freedom to decide by themselves whether or not to accept physical money.
This move coincides with public transport companies digitalising the purchase of tickets, making it impossible for people without a mobile phone to pay their fares, as ticket counters are mostly gone, and ticket machines are also disappearing.
Good news: Switzerland has enough money in its budget
If you can’t sleep at night worrying that Switzerland might go broke, you needn’t worry.
Even though deficit of 700 million francs had been projected for 2026, there will actually be more money in state coffers at the end of the year than originally thought: the government is forecasting a surplus of 800 million francs.
This turnaround is primarily due to a sharp rise in corporate tax revenue: an additional 1.9 billion francs, stemming mainly from a few large companies based in Zurich, Basel, and Lucerne.
Donald Trump is threatening Switzerland – again
It’s no secret that the US president is not a fan of Switzerland: last year, he criticised the then Swiss president Karin Ketter-Sutter, and in April, he boasted of imposing high tariffs on the country just to punish it.
In yet another episode of Switzerland-bashing this week, Trump bragged that “I can cut off business with them, and they will no longer be able to function… then Switzerland would no longer be an elite country.”
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
