Cross-border commuters in Switzerland: the official figures 2026-Q2
At the end of 2026-Q2, 414'262 foreign cross-border commuters (G permit) worked in Switzerland, 35.6% of them women. Geneva employs the most with 118'067, followed by Ticino (79'121) and Vaud (46'496). 58.4% live in France, 22.1% in Italy, 16.3% in Germany. Measured against all jobs in 2024: 7.2% nationwide, 31.5% in Ticino.
Tap a canton.
Cantons of work (2026-Q2)
Cross-border commuters by canton of work, share of all cross-border commuters in Switzerland, residence-country mix and (for 2024) share of all jobs in the canton (STATENT). Sorted by count.
| # | Canton | Commuters | Share CH | France | Germany | Italy | Share of jobs 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geneva | 118'067 | 28.5% | 99.5% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 28.4% |
| 2 | Ticino | 79'121 | 19.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 99.6% | 31.5% |
| 3 | Vaud | 46'496 | 11.2% | 99.5% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 9.0% |
| 4 | Basel-Stadt | 35'749 | 8.6% | 53.5% | 45.2% | 0.2% | 17.8% |
| 5 | Basel-Landschaft | 26'694 | 6.4% | 58.4% | 40.3% | 0.1% | 15.9% |
| 6 | Neuchâtel | 16'243 | 3.9% | 99.8% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 14.6% |
| 7 | Aargau | 15'950 | 3.9% | 17.0% | 79.5% | 0.7% | 4.3% |
| 8 | Jura | 12'279 | 3.0% | 99.9% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 25.4% |
| 9 | Zurich | 12'248 | 3.0% | 11.9% | 79.1% | 2.0% | 1.1% |
| 10 | St. Gallen | 10'387 | 2.5% | 0.8% | 22.1% | 0.4% | 3.2% |
| 11 | Grisons | 9'293 | 2.2% | 0.3% | 2.6% | 90.6% | 6.9% |
| 12 | Thurgau | 6'802 | 1.6% | 1.1% | 88.3% | 0.4% | 4.5% |
| 13 | Valais | 5'926 | 1.4% | 47.6% | 0.8% | 50.0% | 2.8% |
| 14 | Schaffhausen | 5'743 | 1.4% | 0.6% | 98.6% | 0.2% | 11.6% |
| 15 | Bern | 4'802 | 1.2% | 76.2% | 17.1% | 3.2% | 0.7% |
| 16 | Solothurn | 2'561 | 0.6% | 57.0% | 37.4% | 1.7% | 1.6% |
| 17 | Fribourg | 2'140 | 0.5% | 86.7% | 4.1% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| 18 | Zug | 1'594 | 0.4% | 34.7% | 45.9% | 10.0% | 1.1% |
| 19 | Lucerne | 751 | 0.2% | 26.9% | 57.1% | 8.5% | 0.3% |
| 20 | Schwyz | 517 | 0.1% | 15.5% | 50.1% | 12.2% | 0.6% |
| 21 | Appenzell Outer Rhodes | 446 | 0.1% | 1.6% | 31.7% | 1.1% | 1.6% |
| 22 | Nidwalden | 143 | 0.0% | 23.9% | 37.0% | 21.2% | 0.5% |
| 23 | Obwalden | 111 | 0.0% | 13.1% | 67.4% | 9.1% | 0.5% |
| 24 | Appenzell Inner Rhodes | 92 | 0.0% | 2.1% | 35.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| 25 | Glarus | 64 | 0.0% | 11.3% | 44.2% | 8.0% | 0.3% |
| 26 | Uri | 46 | 0.0% | 3.9% | 45.2% | 46.5% | 0.2% |
Sectors (Switzerland, 2026-Q2)
By economic section (NOGA), labels as in the BFS cube.
| Economic section | Commuters | Share |
|---|---|---|
| MANUFACTURING | 87'244 | 21.1% |
| WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE; REPAIR OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES | 52'893 | 12.8% |
| PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES | 48'248 | 11.6% |
| HUMAN HEALTH AND SOCIAL WORK ACTIVITIES | 45'245 | 10.9% |
| ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICE ACTIVITIES | 44'227 | 10.7% |
| CONSTRUCTION | 32'128 | 7.8% |
| TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE | 21'913 | 5.3% |
| ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICE ACTIVITIES | 19'283 | 4.7% |
| INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION | 11'639 | 2.8% |
| OTHER SERVICE ACTIVITIES | 11'255 | 2.7% |
| EDUCATION | 10'591 | 2.6% |
| FINANCIAL AND INSURANCE ACTIVITIES | 7'398 | 1.8% |
| ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION | 4'962 | 1.2% |
| ACTIVITIES OF HOUSEHOLDS AS EMPLOYERS; UNDIFFERENTIATED GOODS- AND SERVICES-PRODUCING ACTIVITIES OF HOUSEHOLDS FOR OWN USE | 4'756 | 1.1% |
| PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND DEFENCE; COMPULSORY SOCIAL SECURITY | 4'232 | 1.0% |
| AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHING | 3'104 | 0.7% |
| REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIES | 2'259 | 0.5% |
| ELECTRICITY, GAS, STEAM AND AIR-CONDITIONING SUPPLY | 1'884 | 0.5% |
| WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE, WASTE MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES | 455 | 0.1% |
| MINING AND QUARRYING | 422 | 0.1% |
| ACTIVITIES OF EXTRATERRITORIAL ORGANISATIONS AND BODIES | 126 | 0.0% |
Age and sex (Switzerland, 2026-Q2)
| Age class | Commuters | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 15-19 years | 1'841 | 0.4% |
| 20-24 years | 19'112 | 4.6% |
| 25-29 years | 45'499 | 11.0% |
| 30-34 years | 55'710 | 13.4% |
| 35-39 years | 60'552 | 14.6% |
| 40-44 years | 59'153 | 14.3% |
| 45-49 years | 53'647 | 12.9% |
| 50-54 years | 47'580 | 11.5% |
| 55-59 years | 41'188 | 9.9% |
| 60-64 years | 24'908 | 6.0% |
| 65 years or more | 5'073 | 1.2% |
| Men / Women | 266'866 / 147'396 | 64.4% / 35.6% |
Trend since 1996
Main communes of work (2026-Q2)
The 30 communes with the most cross-border commuters (place of work). All communes in the CSV.
| Commune | Canton | Commuters | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genf | GE | 34'306 | 15'967 |
| Basel | BS | 33'673 | 13'723 |
| Lugano | TI | 13'668 | 5'419 |
| Meyrin | GE | 10'541 | 3'689 |
| Carouge (GE) | GE | 10'033 | 3'392 |
| Mendrisio | TI | 9'312 | 5'410 |
| Plan-les-Ouates | GE | 5'747 | 1'921 |
| Lausanne | VD | 5'623 | 2'252 |
| Vernier | GE | 5'178 | 1'327 |
| Chiasso | TI | 5'027 | 1'683 |
| La Chaux-de-Fonds | NE | 4'835 | 1'844 |
| Stabio | TI | 4'226 | 1'733 |
| Lancy | GE | 3'853 | 1'152 |
| Zürich | ZH | 3'667 | 942 |
| Pratteln | BL | 3'469 | 751 |
| Le Chenit | VD | 3'269 | 1'481 |
| Le Locle | NE | 3'070 | 1'252 |
| Allschwil | BL | 2'946 | 1'178 |
| Bioggio | TI | 2'846 | 919 |
| Nyon | VD | 2'809 | 1'105 |
| Schaffhausen | SH | 2'652 | 1'038 |
| Satigny | GE | 2'509 | 455 |
| Locarno | TI | 2'357 | 974 |
| Reinach (BL) | BL | 2'334 | 574 |
| Balerna | TI | 2'292 | 809 |
| Manno | TI | 2'259 | 790 |
| Le Grand-Saconnex | GE | 2'232 | 789 |
| Muttenz | BL | 2'069 | 507 |
| Bellinzona | TI | 2'029 | 473 |
| Münchenstein | BL | 1'927 | 575 |
Both directions: 3-year averages (BFS)
By nationality, in thousands: including Swiss nationals living abroad and working in Switzerland, and residents of Switzerland working abroad.
| Group | 2002-2004 | 2005-2007 | 2008-2010 | 2011-2013 | 2014-2016 | 2017-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inbound (living abroad, working in Switzerland): Swiss nationals | n/a | 9.6 | 8.5 | 14.6 | 13.7 | 16.2 |
| Inbound: foreign nationals | 167.7 | 189.1 | 222.8 | 264.2 | 300 | 324.4 |
| Outbound (living in Switzerland, working abroad): Swiss nationals | 5.8 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 10.4 | 12.3 | 13.4 |
| Outbound: foreign nationals | 4.8 | 6.7 | 10.7 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 15.5 |
Frequently asked questions
How many cross-border commuters work in Switzerland?
414'262 foreign cross-border commuters at the end of 2026-Q2 (BFS GGS). Ten years ago: 309'952; in 1996: 146'704.
Which canton has the most cross-border commuters?
Geneva with 118'067 (28.5% of all cross-border commuters), then Ticino (79'121) and Vaud (46'496).
Where do cross-border commuters come from?
Country of residence 2026-Q2: 58.4% France, 22.1% Italy, 16.3% Germany, 2.2% Austria. Geneva and Vaud recruit almost only from France, Ticino from Italy, Basel from Germany and France.
What share of jobs do cross-border commuters hold?
2024: 7.2% of all jobs in Switzerland; highest in Ticino (31.5%), Geneva (28.4%) and Jura (25.4%). Share = Q4 commuters divided by STATENT jobs of the same year.
In which sectors do cross-border commuters work?
Largest sections 2026-Q2: MANUFACTURING (87'244), WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE; REPAIR OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES (52'893), PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES (48'248).
GGS = BFS weighted estimate from ZEMIS and the AHV register, end of quarter; decimal values as published, rounded here. Foreign cross-border commuters with a G permit only (the 3-year table adds Swiss cross-border commuters). Job shares relate to STATENT jobs on 31 December of the same year.
Sources: BFS GGS, stats.swiss CH1.GGS (DF_GGS_1…6) · BFS Grenzgängerstatistik · Retrieved 2026-09-06 · Archive release SLI-2026-10-03.32 · Cantons as CSV. Raw payloads (verbatim, gzip) archived under data/raw/frontaliers/.
Go deeper
Cross-border commuter share of jobs, canton ranking · Taxes by canton
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