Poverty in Switzerland refers to people who are living in relative poverty in Switzerland. In 2018, 7.9% of the population or some 660,000 people in Switzerland were affected by income poverty. Switzerland has also a significant number of working poor, estimated at 145,000 in 2015.

Historically, Switzerland has been a poor country, especially the Alpine regions. From the 17th century, incipient industrialisation brought wealth to the cities, particularly to Zürich, but rural areas remained destitute well into the 19th century, causing the peasant war in 1653, and later forcing families to emigrate both to Russia and the Americas (including to Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Guatemala, the United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela).

In the 20th century, the economy of modern Switzerland came to establish itself among the world's most prosperous and stable, and in terms of human development index (at 0.962) Switzerland ranks first worldwide. As of 2019, Switzerland had the highest average wealth per adult, at $564,653.

According to the 2026-figures from the Federal Statistical Office, 8.4% of the population lives on less than the subsistence level, compared to 6.7% in 2014, which is slightly lower than the record rate of 8.7% reached in 2019 and 2021.

General statistics on income and wealth In 2013 the mean household income in Switzerland was CHF 120,624 (c. USD 134,000 nominal, US$101,000 PPP), the mean household income after social security, taxes and mandatory health insurance was CHF 85,560 (c. USD 95,000 nominal, US$72,000 PPP)."Haushaltseinkommen und -ausgaben 2013" Federal Statistical Office (Switzerland); exchange rate 0.90 in December 2013 (xe.com), PPP factor 1.322 as of 2013 (down from 1.851 in 2000) according to oecd.org The OECD lists Swiss household gross adjusted disposable income per capita US$32,594 PPP for 2011."National Accounts at a Glance 2014", OECD Publishing (2014), p. 66.

As of 2016, Switzerland had the highest average wealth per adult, at $561,900. The top 1% richest persons own 35% of all the wealth in Switzerland, and this disparity has been increasing in recent years according to official statistics.

This development was tied to the exchange rate between the US Dollar and the Swiss franc, which caused capital in Swiss francs to more than double its value in dollar terms during the 2000s and especially in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, without any direct increase in value in terms of domestic purchasing power.Simon Bowers (19 October 2011), Franc's rise puts Swiss top of rich list "Swiss fortunes in 2011 have more than doubled since 2000 in dollar terms", The Guardian. CHF 500,000 in late 2007 corresponded to USD 403,000 (USD 252,000 PPP), in late 2011 to USD 540,000 (USD 380,000 PPP) and in 2015 to USD 510,000 (USD 400,000 PPP). Exchange rates: xe.com, PPP conversion: 1.601 (2007), 1.433 (2011), 1.275 (2015) oecd.org.

Switzerland has the comparatively high Gini coefficient of 0.8, similar to the US and Denmark, indicating unequal distribution.comparable to the United States, which also has a Gini coefficient close to 0.8, and a median wealth five times lower than average wealth. Switzerland's neighboring countries have Gini coefficients ranging between 0.6 and 0.73. See list of countries by distribution of wealth. The high average wealth is explained by a comparatively high number of individuals who are extremely wealthy; the median (50th percentile) wealth of a Swiss adult is five times lower than the average, at US$100,900 (US$70,000 PPP as of 2011).Tages Anzeiger, Das reichste Land der Welt (20 October 2011) reports 3,820 individuals with a wealth of USD 50 million or more, out of a total population of just above 8 million.

Poverty

Switzerland has a significant number of working poor, estimated at 145,000 in 2015. This number is out of a total of approximately 570,000 people (or about 7% of the total population) living in poverty. This number shows a slight increase from 2014 when it was 6.6%. In the same year, 8.9% of the population was making less than 50% of the median equalised income (about , ), with 4.5% making less than 40% (, ).

There exists several groups who are at higher risk of poverty. They include those in a household where no one was gainfully employed (18.2% at risk of poverty), single adults living alone (12.5%), single parent households with children (12.5%) and those without any optional schooling (10.9%). Resident foreigners had a higher rate than Swiss citizens, with those from outside Europe having a poverty risk nearly twice that of citizens.

Compared to neighboring countries As of 2016, Switzerland has a lower rate of people making 50% of the median equalised income (8.9%) than the European Union (10.9%), United Kingdom (9.9%) and Germany (9.7%), but a higher rate than countries such as Finland (4.9%), France (6.8%) and Austria (8.1%).EuroStat retrieved 3 October 2017. [Both links found broken: 2020-05-14] The following chart provides information on the percentage and total numbers of the total population at risk for poverty (making less than 50% of the median equivalised income), the employed who are at risk for poverty and the 50% level for each country in equivalent purchasing power.

+ 50% of median equivalised income numbers for selected European countries (2016 or 2015).Eurostat EU-SILC survey (ilc_li01, ilc_li02 & ilc_iw01) retrieved 16 November 2017 Nation Percentage People(in thousands) Employed % (18–24) Employed % (18–64) Threshold amountSingle Person(Purchasing Power) Serbia 19.3 1,355 12.5 12.3 2,628 Romania 19.2 3,804 31.2 18.6 2,397 Bulgaria 16.5 1,181 13.5 11.6 3,372 Lithuania 15.9 459 9.1 8.7 4,639 Spain 15.5 7,114 18.3 13.1 7,587 Greece 15.3 1,629 19 14 4,414 Latvia 14.4 280 8.5 8.5 4,599 Italy 14 8,500 13.3 11.4 8,267 Croatia 13.5 558 8.5 5.5 4,414 Estonia 13.1 170 7.4 9.9 5,930 Portugal 13 1,341 12 10.8 5,357 Poland 11.1 4,163 10.9 10.9 5,425 European Union (28 countries) 10.9 54,699 12.1 9.6 N/A Euro area (19 countries) 10.8 35,984 12.7 9.5 N/A Luxembourg 10.3 59 13.1 12 14,051 United Kingdom 9.9 6,391 8.4 8.6 8,760 Germany 9.7 7,931 14 9.5 10,605 Sweden 9.4 929 16 6.8 10,353 Switzerland 8.9 728 8.7 7.3 13,544 Belgium 8.6 970 4.6 4.7 10,410 Cyprus 8.3 70 10.2 8.4 7,993 Slovenia 8.2 166 7 6.1 7,750 Austria 8.1 700 12.4 8.3 11,262 Slovakia 8.1 426 2.7 6.5 5,254 Hungary 7.8 752 8.6 9.7 4,194 Malta 7.7 33 3.6 5.7 8,462 Norway 6.9 357 23.3 5.9 14,308 Denmark 6.8 387 21.3 5.3 10,560 France 6.8 4,269 12.8 8 10,375 Netherlands 6.6 1,104 7.1 5.6 10,497 Czech Republic 5.3 543 3.1 3.8 6,257 Finland 4.9 263 4.8 3.1 9,883 Ireland 8.8 411 5.8 4.8 8,852 Iceland 5.5 17 10.6 7 10,039 FYR Macedonia 15.5 321 7.7 8.8 2,278 Turkey 15.5 11,868 14.3 13.7 2,831

By age Those of retirement age (older than 65) are almost twice as likely to be living below the poverty line than the rest of the population, especially if they lived alone (22.8%, see chart below). However, these statistics don't take into account assets which a person had saved or purchased while working. The number of retirement age people who could afford an unexpected expense was almost half of the national average. In fact, only 1.9% of retirees were unable to pay their bills on time, compared to 9.3% of 18 to 64 year olds.

+ Poverty indicators by age (2015) Poverty indicators Survey – % who agreed with the statement Categories % entire population in danger of poverty(50% median) % workers in danger of poverty(50% median) % entire population below poverty line % workers below poverty line Must use their reserves to make ends meet Are going deeper in debt Hard or very hard to make ends meet Can't afford an unexpected 2,500 SFr expense Can't afford a one-week vacation per year Can't afford two meals per day Can't afford to heat their home 0–17 8.7 – 5.1 – 2.3 3.6 15.1 28.7 10.3 1.5 0.9 18–64 6.6 4.3 5.8 3.9 1.2 2.8 11.4 22.3 8.3 1.4 0.6 18–24 9.1 6.2 7.5 4.3 3.3 3.5 11.6 25.6 9.3 2.1 0.5 25–49 6.5 4.5 5.2 3.7 1.4 2.9 11.7 23.5 7.8 1.3 0.7 50–64 5.6 3.3 6.2 4.0 1.9 2.5 10.6 18.9 8.9 1.4 0.5 65 and above 10.4 5.3 13.9 5.0 2.3 1.0 6.7 11.7 7.7 1.0 0.3 Total Population 7.6 4.3 7.0 3.9 1.2 2.7 11.2 21.7 8.6 1.4 0.6

By sex, language and national origin + Poverty indicators by sex, language and national origin Poverty indicators Survey – % who agreed with the statement Categories % entire population in danger of poverty(50% median) % workers in danger of poverty(50% median) % entire population below poverty line % workers below poverty line Must use their reserves to make ends meet Are going deeper in debt Hard or very hard to make ends meet Can't afford an unexpected 2,500 SFr expense Can't afford a one-week vacation per year Can't afford two meals per day Can't afford to heat their home Female 8.2 4.6 8.1 4.5 1.3 2.4 11.5 22.1 9.3 1.6 0.6 Male 7.0 4.1 6.0 3.4 1.3 2.9 11.0 21.2 7.8 1.2 0.7 German/Romansh speaking 6.5 3.7 6.3 3.5 1.3 2.4 8.5 17.4 7.6 1.4 0.5 French speaking 8.5 4.2 7.5 3.2 2.6 3.6 17.7 32.3 10.6 1.2 0.9 Italian speaking 20.2 16.9 16.4 15.8 7.2 2.4 19.1 30.3 12.7 2.6 0.5 Swiss Citizen 6.1 2.9 6.4 3.1 1.3 1.8 8.1 15.7 7.6 1.0 0.4 Total Resident Foreigner 12.3 8.3 9.0 6.3 2.4 5.5 21.0 40.0 11.7 2.4 1.3 Origin: North & West Europe 5.6 3.2 5.4 3.0 3.1 1.2 6.5 16.9 5.7 1.3 0.7 Origin: Southern Europe 14.9 10.8 8.9 6.8 4.5 3.7 24.7 46.2 13.8 1.8 2.0 Origin:Outside Europe 15.2 10.8 11.7 9.1 4.3 10.3 28.8 52.3 14.4 3.7 1.3 Total Population 7.6 4.3 7.0 3.9 1.2 2.7 11.2 21.7 8.6 1.4 0.6

By education level + Poverty indicators by education level Poverty indicators Survey – % who agreed with the statement Categories % entire population in danger of poverty(50% median) % workers in danger of poverty(50% median) % entire population below poverty line % workers below poverty line Must use their reserves to make ends meet Are going deeper in debt Hard or very hard to make ends meet Can't afford an unexpected 2,500 SFr expense Can't afford a one-week vacation per year Can't afford two meals per day Can't afford to heat their home Mandatory school only 13.1 10.4 10.9 7.0 2.6 4.7 20.1 38.5 14.1 2.2 1.1 Upper Secondary 7.0 4.6 7.5 4.3 1.4 2.5 9.7 20.2 8.7 1.6 0.5 University/College 4.7 2.1 5.4 2.4 1.4 1.1 5.9 9.3 3.9 0.5 0.4

By family type + Poverty indicators by family type Poverty indicators Survey – % who agreed with the statement Categories % entire population in danger of poverty(50% median) % workers in danger of poverty(50% median) % entire population below poverty line % workers below poverty line Must use their reserves to make ends meet Are going deeper in debt Hard or very hard to make ends meet Can't afford an unexpected 2,500 SFr expense Can't afford a one-week vacation per year Can't afford two meals per day Can't afford to heat their home Single under 65 10.1 6.5 12.5 8.3 2.2 4.0 14.8 27.1 11.4 3.2 0.7 Single over 65 14.3 – 22.8 – 3.4 1.0 8.9 16.6 9.8 1.9 0.4 Couple, no children, under 65 4.3 2.5 3.6 1.6 2.3 1.1 6.0 12.2 3.5 0.2 0.3 Couple, no children, over 65 8.3 3.2 10.0 4.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.3 6.0 0.4 0.4 Single parent with 1 child 6.0 3.7 11.0 2.0 7.2 3.4 23.2 44.2 17.0 3.2 0.0 Single parent with 2 or more children 17.7 5.8 10.7 4.3 7.5 11.0 29.2 47.4 23.0 6.5 1.6 Couple with 1 child 6.0 4.7 4.2 2.9 3.4 3.9 12.9 23.5 8.6 0.7 0.9 Couple with 2 children 5.1 0.0 3.6 0.0 3.2 2.2 10.5 22.3 7.7 1.2 0.3 Couple with 3 or more children 8.0 0.0 3.5 0.0 5.1 1.4 12.1 28.0 10.2 1.3 1.8 Single parent with an adult child 4.9 0.0 4.8 0.0 5.8 2.0 9.8 21.2 13.8 0.0 0.4

Regional statistics