The Population of Zurich

Population Growth and Structure

In 1998, Zurich had a population of 359,073 inhabitants, with 186,044 women (51.8%) and 173,029 men (48.2%). Including the independent communities surrounding Zurich, the greater Zurich area had approximately 1 million inhabitants.

Nationality Distribution

Zurich is a cosmopolitan city with a diverse population. In 1998, 71.2% of Zurich's residents were Swiss nationals, while 28.8% were foreigners. The main foreign communities included:

• Former Yugoslav Republics: 24.8%
• Italy: 17.2%
• Spain and Portugal: 12.8%
• Germany: 12.8%
• Turkey: 5.7%
• Other European countries: 9.1%
• Non-European countries: 17.5%

Languages Spoken

According to the 1990 census, the mother tongues spoken in Zurich were:

• German: 77.1%
• Italian: 6.8%
• French: 2.2%
• Rhaeto-Romance: 0.3%
• Slavic languages: 3.2%
• Spanish: 2.9%
• English: 1.3%
• Other languages: 6.8%

Age Distribution

The age distribution of Zurich's population was as follows:

• Under 20 years: 16.2%
• 20-39 years: 35.4%
• 40-64 years: 29.8%
• Over 64 years: 18.6%

Social Structure

Zurich had 189,296 households in 1998:

• Single-person households: 50.3% (95,249 households)
• Two-person households without children: 23.5% (44,420 households)
• Households with children or more than two adults: 26.2% (49,627 households)

Population Growth Over Time