Immigrants from EU and EFTA states down to 6,477 in 2nd quarter of 2017

According to statistics provided by the Swiss Federal Office for Migration (SEM), the number of immigrants from the European Union and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states was down to 6,477 in the second quarter of this year, the fewest since 2005.
 
Statistics relating to the first quarter of 2017 showed that 12% fewer people had immigrated to Switzerland when compared with the same period of the previous year.

As mentioned, there were particularly fewer immigrants from the EU and EFTA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (Switzerland is also a member)) arriving in the country over the first six months of this year, the numbers down by one fifth in fact.
 
In all, there are currently 44,034 immigrants from the EU and EFTA states, 7.6% fewer than in the same period of last year, living in the country, with 27,222 of them, an increase of 1.8%, moving away over the same period.
 
In all, in the first six months of this year, 63,830 people immigrated to Switzerland, down by 6% on the number over the first six months of last year. As to the number leaving Switzerland between January and July this year, this amounted to 35,411, down by 2.3%. Hence, compared with the first six months of last year, net immigration at 25,526 was down by 11.9%.
 
Further statistics showed that, as of the end of June, there were 2,042,132 foreigners living in Switzerland, half of them coming from the EU. Most were Italians (at 15.6%), followed by Germans (at 14.9%), Portuguese (at 13.2%) and French (at 6.3%).