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Although immigration to Switzerland decreased slightly in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the same period of the previous year. But as emigration declined simultaneously, the immigration balance increased by 3.5%.
Immigration in the population of foreign permanent residents decreased by 0.2% in the first quarter, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) announced Thursday. EU and EFTA citizens were even more affected by the 0.8% drop.
The increase in immigration is due to the significantly lower number of emigrants. These decreased by 4.1%. Figures have decreased both among EU / Efta nationals and among third country foreigners.
As a result, net migration increased by 3.5% to 13,652 persons compared to the same period of the previous year. Of these, 8,481 came from EU / EFTA countries, an increase of 4.6%. From third countries, 1.8% more people immigrated. Compared with the first quarter of 2017, net migration decreased by 6.7%.
More than 9,500 for family reunification
A total of 33,580 people from EU and EFTA countries immigrated to Switzerland to take up employment. Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, this is a decrease of 1.5%.
With regard to family reunion, 9511 people immigrated, or 6.6% less than in the first quarter of 2018. 20.6% of them were family members of Swiss citizens.
At the end of March, 2,909,659 foreigners lived in Switzerland. 1,429,482 of them were EU or EFTA nationals and 661,187 of them. (SDA)
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