GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – If the Swiss Abroad could all vote easily, they would outnumber voters in canton Valais, Bern said Thursday, presenting the latest figures on what’s known as the “Fifth Switzerland” (the other four: language regions for French, German, Italian and Romansh).

The number of eligible voters living abroad was 155,523 persons last year: 27.26 percent of the total of Swiss abroad. They are eligible to vote but the slow paper ballot by mail system keeps many from voting, the organization Swiss Abroad has said in the past. Only a small number are currently able to vote electronically.

Number of Swiss living elsewhere rose last year

The precise number of Switzerland living outside the country in 2013 was 732,183, putting the group on a par for size with canton Vaud.

The free movement of labour rules in Europe are probably to account for the 2.3 percent upswing in Swiss living abroad, Bern suggests. France has by far the largest number, with three-quarters of the group living in Europe and the bulk in the four neighbouring countries:

• France 191,362
• Germany 82,626
• Italy 50,716
• Austria 15,208

Outside Europe, the US has the largest number, 77,520 persons, followed by Canada 39,253, Australia 24,007 and Israel 16,913.