Switzerland’s population increased by 1.2% in 2013

This week the Federal Statistical Office reported that Switzerland’s population grew by 97,600 to 8,136,700, an increase of 1.2% on 2012. This is equivalent to a conurbation the size of Vevey and Montreux. While natural growth accounted for 17,200, immigration brought 80,400 people into the country. The report stated that the average age of immigrants is 37, while the Swiss average age is 43. The Swiss population is aging with one in five women and one in six men being over 64. This is further evidenced by the number of people aged 100 or more which increased by 6.6%. Indeed the number of centenarians living in the country has doubled since 2000 to 1,500.