Moving to Switzerland from Somalia

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Somalia to Switzerland? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Somalia to Switzerland, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bern averages 55°F vs 86°F in Mogadishu, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Somalia to Switzerland.

Moved in 2023
475 ↓ 4% vs 2022

people moved from Somalia to Switzerland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Switzerland?

Top countries of origin for Switzerland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Switzerland compared to Somalia.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SO
20.2
CH
2.4

Switzerland performs significantly better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SO
$52
CH
$10,602
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SO
0.2
CH
44.4

Somalia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SO
64.0
CH
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SO
0.0t
CH
3.7t

Somalia generally does better on environment, though Switzerland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SO
0.7
CH
47.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SO
24.5%
CH
6.5%

Switzerland performs significantly better than Somalia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SO
19.0%
CH
4.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SO
$1,500
CH
$82,900

Switzerland performs significantly better than Somalia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SO
55.7 yrs
CH
83.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SO
86.5
CH
3.6

Switzerland performs significantly better than Somalia across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Mogadishu Rain: 18.7 in/yr (474 mm)
86° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bern Rain: 42.8 in/yr (1086 mm)
55° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Mogadishu Bern
Jan–Mar 86°/74°F (30°/24°C) 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/73°F (29°/23°C) 70°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) 46°/36°F (8°/2°C)
View all months
Month Mogadishu Bern
Jan 86°/73°F (30.1°/23.0°C) 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C)
Feb 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C)
Mar 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.7°C) 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C)
Apr 90°/78°F (32.0°/25.5°C) 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C)
May 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.7°C) 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.6°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C)
Jul 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C)
Sep 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.2°C) 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C)
Oct 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.2°C) 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C)
Nov 87°/75°F (30.5°/24.1°C) 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C)
Dec 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C)

Data: MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Somalia and Switzerland. To live, work, or study long-term in Switzerland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Switzerland's immigration authority.

Somalia passport

Somalia passport holder visiting Switzerland

Visa Required
Somalia passport holders need a visa to enter Switzerland.
Switzerland passport

Switzerland passport holder visiting Somalia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Switzerland passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Somalia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Switzerland?

Connectivity is usually fine (Switzerland: 47.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Switzerland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Switzerland safe for expats?

Switzerland performs significantly better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Somalia?

Somalia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 44.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Switzerland, compared to 0.2 in Somalia. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Somalia: 27).

What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to Somalia?

The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 86°F in Mogadishu. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Mogadishu gets 18.7 in.

What language do they speak in Switzerland?

The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Somalia, the official languages are Arabic and Somali.

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At a Glance

SO CH
Population 12,386,248 8,508,698
Currency Somali Shilling (SOS) Swiss Franc (CHF)
Languages Arabic, Somali French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +252 +41
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112