Foreign Entrepreneurs Drive Swiss Business Growth

Over 37% of new Swiss companies founded by foreigners in 2025, marking continuous increase in international entrepreneurship

37.5% of new companies in Switzerland were founded by non-Swiss nationals between January and September 2025.
A total of 40,867 new entries were recorded in the commercial register in the first nine months of 2025.
On average, 150 new companies were created every single day in Switzerland during the analyzed period.
Central Switzerland recorded the highest regional growth in startups with an 11.4% increase.

37.5%

Share of new companies founded by foreigners

+4.3%

Year-over-year increase in total startups

4,435

New companies in the craft sector

25%+

Foreign citizenship share of permanent resident population

"The analysis of the years 2020 to 2024 shows a continuous increase in the proportion of foreigners."
— Institute for Young Entrepreneurs (IFJ)

Foreign Talent Dominates the Startup Surge