1.0Market Snapshot
- 2,162
- Translation and interpreting units in Switzerland in 2024 (BFS STATENT, NOGA 74.30), down from 2,455 in 2020. Most are self-employed translators: the average unit has 1.3 employees.
- 2,866
- Employees of translation and interpreting firms in 2024 (BFS STATENT, NOGA 74.30), 1,644 full-time equivalents; 72% are women. In-house translators at companies and the federal administration are counted in their employers' industries.
- −12.5%
- Change in employees of translation and interpreting firms from 2020 (3,276) to 2024 (2,866), BFS STATENT. The number of units fell 11.9% over the same period, as machine translation took over routine work.
According to Val Index analysis of Swiss commercial-register and federal data (2026), Switzerland counts 2,162 translation & localization companies — Translation and interpreting units in Switzerland in 2024 (BFS STATENT, NOGA 74.30), down from 2,455 in 2020. Most are self-employed translators: the average unit has 1.3 employees..
2.0Industry Overview
Translation and interpreting is a small, fragmented and shrinking industry in Switzerland. In 2024 BFS counted 2,162 translation and interpreting units with 2,866 employees (STATENT, NOGA 74.30), an average of 1.3 people per unit: most are self-employed translators. Both numbers have fallen about 12% since 2020. Many language professionals work elsewhere — in the language services of the federal administration, of banks, insurers and pharma companies — and are counted in those industries. The professional associations are small too: ASTTI has about 400 members and DÜV about 250 (ZHAW, 2024).
3.0Industry Health Check (SWOT)
- Four national languages and federal multilingual rules sustain demand
- Very small units: 1.3 employees on average
- AI-based workflows with human review
- Machine translation replacing routine work→ §4.0
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Translation & Localization business valuation in Switzerland
- Statutory Multiple (EBITDA)
- 2.5 - 4.0×
- Deal Multiple (EBITDA)
- 3.5 - 5.5×
- Market Trend
- Stable
Indicative ranges based on market research. Actual multiples vary by company size, growth, and market conditions.
8.0Regional Clusters
Western Switzerland
797 translation and interpreting units with 1,070 employees in 2024 (BFS STATENT, NOGA 74.30), 37% of the national total; Geneva's international organisations need interpreters and translators. TransPerfect's Swiss company is in Geneva.
Zurich
469 units with 598 employees; Supertext is based in Zurich.
Bern and Solothurn
244 units with 361 employees, close to the federal administration in Bern.
Ticino
206 units with 228 employees.
Northwestern Switzerland
196 units with 240 employees; Lionbridge Switzerland is registered in Basel.
Eastern Switzerland
137 units with 184 employees; the STAR group is headquartered in Ramsen (SH).
Central Switzerland
107 units with 179 employees, the highest per unit (1.7); the Apostroph Group is headquartered in Lucerne.
Sources
9.0Frequently Asked Questions
▶How much is a translation agency worth in Switzerland?
ValIndex's multiples table puts Swiss translation and localisation at 3.5–5.5× EBITDA in transactions and 2.5–4.0× EBITDA on statutory valuations. Agencies with specialised domains, certified translation and long institutional contracts sit at the upper end; generic agencies and one-person firms dependent on the owner sit lower.
▶What drives the value of a Swiss translation or localisation company?
Buyers price: (1) specialisation in legal, financial, pharmaceutical or technical texts; (2) long contracts with banks, insurers, pharma companies or public bodies; (3) AI-based workflows and productivity; (4) Swiss data hosting and security certifications; (5) independence from the owner; (6) the network of qualified freelancers.
▶How big is the Swiss translation industry?
Small. BFS counted 2,162 translation and interpreting units with 2,866 employees in 2024 (NOGA 74.30), an average of 1.3 per unit; both figures have fallen about 12% since 2020. Many language professionals work in-house at the federal administration, banks and pharma companies and are counted in those industries. No official market size is published.
▶Who are the main translation companies in Switzerland?
The larger providers include Supertext (Zurich, merged with TextShuttle in 2024), the Apostroph Group (Lucerne, owned by TransPerfect since February 2025), TransPerfect (Geneva), Lionbridge Switzerland (Basel, formerly CLS Communication) and the STAR group (Ramsen). Most of the market consists of self-employed translators.
▶What are the key trends in Swiss translation and localisation?
Five trends: (1) units and employees fell about 12% from 2020 to 2024; (2) the federal administration translates over a million pages a month with DeepL Pro; (3) Swiss agencies such as Supertext build their own AI translators; (4) global groups buy Swiss agencies, as TransPerfect did with Apostroph; (5) even AI providers cut jobs, as DeepL did in May 2026.
▶What are the main risks when buying a Swiss translation agency?
The main risks are: (1) machine translation replacing routine work and lowering prices; (2) clients moving translation in-house with AI tools; (3) dependence on the owner and a few clients; (4) loss of key freelancers; (5) data-protection obligations for confidential texts. Due diligence should check client concentration, contract terms, the share of generic versus specialised work and the technology in use.
▶How is AI changing translation in Switzerland?
Machine translation now handles routine work: the federal administration translates more than a million standard pages a month with DeepL Pro, while texts for the public are still translated by professionals. Most translators now also post-edit machine output (ZHAW). Agencies such as Supertext combine their own AI with expert review, and the number of translation businesses fell about 12% between 2020 and 2024.
▶Where are Swiss translation businesses located?
Using BFS figures for 2024: Western Switzerland has the most units (797, with 1,070 employees), served by Geneva's international organisations, followed by Zurich (469; 598) and Bern and Solothurn (244; 361). Ticino has 206 units, Northwestern Switzerland 196, Eastern Switzerland 137 and Central Switzerland 107.