In 2021, 5% of the population had do without “important goods, services and social activities” due to lack of cash, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) says.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/dos
Italiano
it
Una persona su 20 in Svizzera è “deprivata materialmente e socialmente”.
The figure of 5%, classified as “materially and socially deprived”, is however considerably lower than elsewhere in Europe, where the average is 11.9%, the FSO said on Tuesday.
Other forms of hardship were also recorded: for example, in 2021, 7.9% of the population had to forego certain hobbies, 3.5% had to neglect buying new clothes from time to time, and 3% couldn’t eat out or drink with friends at least once a month.
And almost one-fifth of the population said they would be unable to pay an unexpected bill of CHF2,500 ($2,798) within a month; CHF2,500 corresponds to – for many people – the maximum amount to be paid towards health costs from your own pocket before mandatory insurance kicks in.
Poverty line
Overall, the poverty rate in Switzerland increased in 2021 to reach 8.7% of the population, compared with 8.5% the previous year. This means around 745,000 people were living on an income below the poverty line – defined as an average of CHF2,289 ($2,546) per month for a single person and CHF3,989 per month for two adults and two children.
Foreigners, those living alone, single parents, or those without any post-school education or employment are most affected. Some 157,000 people lived below the poverty line even though they were working.
The Caritas charity organisation warned on Tuesday that poverty had “significantly and continuously” increased since 2014, and that demand for food and everyday products in their charity stores was rising.
The group called on government and cantonal authorities to do more to tackle inflation and its impact on lower-income groups.
Popular Stories
More
Culture
Wealth is not all: how gentrification in Zurich has led to housing shortage
Should Switzerland take measures to support its struggling industries?
Industrial policies are back in fashion, not only in the United States but also in the EU. Should Switzerland, where various industries are struggling, draw inspiration from such policies?
Switzerland increasingly a target for people smuggling and trafficking
This content was published on
Switzerland is increasingly being targeted by organized crime. This also applies to commercial people smuggling, the fastest growing criminal market in Europe.
Swiss forests better equipped against storms 25 years after Lothar
This content was published on
Twenty-five years ago, Hurricane Lothar toppled trees like dominoes in Switzerland. Forests today are better prepared to cope with such an exceptional event, say experts.
This content was published on
The Locarno Film Festival is considering moving from the beginning of August to the second half of July for its 80th edition in 2027.
Council of Europe head Alain Berset visits Georgia
This content was published on
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, is visiting Georgia, which has been rocked by a political crisis, from Wednesday.
Swiss politician who shot at Jesus faces criminal proceedings
This content was published on
The Zurich public prosecutor's office has opened criminal proceedings against politician Sanija Ameti. It is investigating whether she disrupted freedom of religion and worship.
Switzerland must be able to control immigration, says head of business federation
This content was published on
Switzerland must be able to control immigration itself if it "exceeds the tolerable limits", says Christoph Mäder, president of Economiesuisse, the Swiss Business Federation.
This content was published on
The film Reinas by Klaudia Reynicke, a Swiss-Peruvian-Spanish co-production, has missed out on an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Poverty affects nearly one in five Swiss households
This content was published on
Single parents with small children, as well as elderly migrants in Switzerland are at risk of relative poverty according to a new study.
Poverty in Switzerland rising, official figures show
This content was published on
The proportion of people living below the Swiss poverty line in 2019 grew to 8.7% of the population, the highest rate seen since 2014.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.