Population growth and famine were two important factors which forced hundreds of thousands of Swiss to emigrate during the 19th century. In particular there were waves of emigration in 1816-7, 1845-55 and 1880-85.

Most emigrants went to North America, but Swiss colonies were established all over the world.

Groups of people from the same canton tended to travel together. Some cantons got rid of "undesirables" by sending them abroad. Many towns, particularly in the Americas, are named after the cantons from which their founders came.

Not all Swiss who lived abroad did so to escape poverty at home. Many went to impart their skills to other countries, sometimes invited by the local government, sometimes of their own accord.

Swiss emigrants who served as experts and advisers to foreign governments include:

• Werner Munzinger (1832-75), linguist and traveller (and son of Switzerland's third president), who was appointed governor-general of the eastern Sudan by the Egyptian ruler Khedive Ismail.
• Alfred Ilg (1854-1916), invited by Emperor Menelik II of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) to help modernise the country. Among his main achievements were the creation of a Post, Telegraph and Telephone service and the construction of the 783 km Djibuti-Addis Ababa railway line.
• Heinrich Rebsamen (1857-1904) who reformed the Mexican school system, improving teacher training and introducing new teaching materials and methods.
• Mosé Bertoni (1857-1929), who, after conducting research into suitable crops for Paraguay, was asked by President Egusquiza of Paraguay to found an agricultural school in Asunción.