Which part of Switzerland has the most people who speak English as their main language?

Many know that about one-third of Switzerland’s population are not citizens. Recently, new information from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) has highlighted the significant presence of the international community in Switzerland. The data shows that nearly one in seven people in Canton Zug primarily uses English.

One out of every seven residents in Zug speaks English as their native language.

In Canton Zug, 14% of people over 15 years old reported English as their main language in 2022, according to authorities, marking the highest proportion of English mother-tongue speakers in Switzerland. This means that approximately one in seven residents in the canton either don’t speak, are learning, or have learned (Swiss) German as a second language. This is a big change from the year 2000 when only 2% of Zug residents spoke English as their main language.

Zug’s population stands out compared to Switzerland as a whole, where 7.1% of the population reported English as their main language in 2022. Notably, the cities of Zug and Walchwil have the highest concentration of English speakers, accounting for 20% and 27.3% of the respective populations.

Officials in Zug mentioned that jobs and workplaces in the region have been significantly affected by the arrival of more English speakers. Four out of 10 workers reported using the language while on the job, which is not surprising given Zug’s reputation as a haven for international companies due to its attractive business and personal taxes.

Which cantons in Switzerland have the highest number of English speakers?

After Zug, Basel-Stadt was found to have the second-highest proportion of English speakers at 12.5%. Geneva (11.8%), Zurich (10.8%), Vaud, Basel-Land, and Schwyz rounded out the top seven. Due to its larger population, Zurich is home to the most English mother-tongue speakers in Switzerland.

In contrast, Cantons Jura, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, and Appenzell Innerrhoden have the lowest percentage of English mother-tongue speakers. FSO data suggests that those who primarily speak English are concentrated in the regions most popular with expats, as 21 of the 26 cantons had an English-speaking population share lower than the national average.