Citizenship acquisition is widely acknowledged as a very significant indicator of immigrant populations’ integration into host societies. Since 2009, Eurostat provides annual information regarding the share of foreign residents who acquired citizenship in each European country.

In 2018, the last year covered by the data, Switzerland ranks in a middle-to-top position among European countries. However, when the period 2009-2018 is taken as a whole, Switzerland falls back to middle or low positions compared to other European countries, with an average of 2% of the foreign residents acquiring the Swiss nationality each year.

Do migrants want to become naturalized?

How many migrants become naturalized over time?

How inclusive are Swiss and European citizenship laws?

Definition:

Citizenship: Citizenship is the status of being a citizen of a particular country and the corresponding legal bond between an individual and this state, acquired by birth or naturalization, either by declaration, choice, marriage or other means under national legislation.

Sources: EUROSTAT Acquisition of Citizenship Statistics (2009-2018)

Note on methodology: This indicator measures the share of foreign residents who acquired citizenship in each European country as a share of resident non-citizens.

Terms of use: The Migration-Mobility Indicators are made available free of charge for non-commercial use. We ask the users to acknowledge the source.

Suggested citation: nccr – on the move, Migration-Mobility Indicators. Neuchâtel: nccr – on the move, 2020.

For more information about the data sets used, please click here.

Last update: 28 July 2020