Poverty in Switzerland rising, official figures show
Around 12% of people in Switzerland said they had trouble making ends meet.
Christof Schuerpf
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, according to a report published on Thursday.
The Federal Statistics Office, which released the figures, said poverty affected 735,000 people in the year before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country of 8.5 million. Among those in this category, 155,000 were in gainful employment, a statistic that the workers’ umbrella organisation Travail Suisse called “shocking”. The poverty rate among the working population was 4.2%.
The report also revealed that one in eight people (12%) said they had trouble making ends meet. One in five (nearly 21%) would not be able to manage an unexpected expense of CHF2,500 ($2,786) within the month.
As in previous years, those most affected by poverty were foreigners, single-parent households, people with no post-compulsory education and those who were out of work.
Overall, the standard of living remained high in Switzerland, which is also known for its high cost of living. The median income was stable at roughly CHF50,000, according to the statistical office.
The report does not take account of effects of the pandemic, which began in Switzerland in early 2020. Travail Suisse believed that the coronavirus will worsen the problem of poverty. Restrictions, including lockdowns, imposed by the government to contain the disease have affected various economic sectors.
The poverty line is calculated based on standards set by the Swiss Conference for Social Assistance and was CHF2,279 per month for a single person and CHF3,976 for a household comprising two adults and two children.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Abroad
Heimatort, sweet Heimatort: the unique Swiss concept of home
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?
Should there be a limit to the passing on of Swiss citizenship? Or is the current practice too strict and it should still be possible to register after the age of 25?
Over a quarter of Swiss Catholics consider leaving the church
This content was published on
In Switzerland 27% of Catholics have thought about leaving the church, according to a survey by the Sotomo research centre.
This content was published on
Following the Credit Suisse debacle, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) is adapting its organisation.
This content was published on
The Swiss Armed Forces are training their fighter jets in Bern to fly from a civilian base. The exercise at Bern Airport will last until Wednesday.
Plans materialise for new particle accelerator in Geneva
This content was published on
Preparations for a huge new particle accelerator in Geneva have reached a milestone. After several years of work, a feasibility study for the project has now been finalised.
This content was published on
The value of frozen Russian assets in Switzerland currently stands at CHF7.4 billion ($8.4 billion), the Swiss government announced on Tuesday.
This content was published on
The number of business start-ups in Switzerland accelerated in the first three months of the year, with entrepreneurs being particularly dynamic in Central Switzerland, Basel and Geneva.
Most Swiss authorities want to ban Nazi symbols in public
This content was published on
A majority of Swiss political parties, cantons and associations want to ban the use and distribution of Nazi symbols in public.
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
Who’s at risk of poverty in Switzerland?
This content was published on
Over a million Swiss residents were struggling financially before coronavirus. The pandemic threatens to push many of them into precarious situations.
‘Switzerland is going to face an unimaginable level of poverty’
This content was published on
The queues for food in Geneva show that while the health crisis seems to be subsiding, the economic crisis has only just begun.
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.