Poverty in Switzerland rising, official figures show
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
Multinational companies
Azeri fossil-fuel cash cow brings controversy to Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
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.