In response to the question about the location of their close friends, 36% of the Migration-Mobility Survey participants said that most of their very good friends lived abroad. Additionally, 38% mentioned that they had an equal number of friends living in Switzerland and abroad, while 27 % reported that their friends mainly or exclusively lived in Switzerland.
Among the respondents, the Spanish (46%) are more likely to have friends primarily or solely based abroad. African migrants (41%) have the highest proportion of their closest friends living mainly or solely in Switzerland, while Italians (50%) show the highest proportion of friends distributed equally between Switzerland and abroad.
There are slight variations in the locations of close friends among the migrants based on their educational level. Migrants with secondary qualifications have a higher proportion of friends located primarily or solely in Switzerland. Furthermore, the duration of migrants stay in Switzerland is naturally reflected in the location of their friends. Migrants who first arrived in Switzerland in 2011 or earlier are more likely to indicate that their friends live in Switzerland.
How often do migrants visit their country of origin?
How strong is the attachment to Switzerland and the country of origin?
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Source: Migration-Mobility Survey 2022, nccr – on the move
Note on methodology: These figures are taken from the Migration-Mobility Survey, conducted in fall 2022 on a population of persons born abroad and with foreign citizenship who have moved to Switzerland in the last 16 years. To be included in the sample population, respondents had to be between 24 and 64 years of age at the time of the survey, and at least 18 years of age on their arrival in Switzerland. 7,206 people replied to the full questionnaire, either online or by telephone.
The question asked: Where do your very good friends live?
– All your good friends live in Switzerland.
– Most of your good friends live in Switzerland.
– Approximately the same numbers of friends live in Switzerland and abroad.
– Most of your good friends live abroad.
– All your good friends live abroad.
Note: The “country of origin” was as declared by the respondents. In most cases, it was the same as their country of nationality or one of their countries of nationality.
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, 2023.
For more information about the data sets used, please click here.
Last update: 3 July 2023