Poverty in Switzerland

In Haiti, poverty means not having a roof over your head. In Switzerland, on the other hand, you are poor if you do not have enough income to live on, if you cannot afford health insurance or adequate accommodation, or if a trip to the dentist is unaffordable. Poverty is often hidden in Switzerland, but the consequences are serious: social contacts are lost, connection with society becomes increasingly difficult and there is a lack of prospects.

A life of poverty

In 2022, 702,000 people in Switzerland were affected by poverty. Of these, single parents and people with low levels of education unable to find new work after losing their jobs were disproportionately affected. There are also 99,000 children who are affected by poverty.

If you include all the people who are living just above the poverty line, the number is nearly twice as high: 1.34 million people are classed as being at risk of poverty. They have a much lower income than the average citizen – less than 60 percent of the average income. This group is disproportionately made up of families with three or more children. Poverty in Switzerland is therefore not a marginal phenomenon. Despite being in employment, 298,000 men and women are at risk of poverty – they are referred to as the working poor.

A single person affected by poverty has a maximum of CHF 2,284 available per month, while a family of four with two parents and two children has CHF 4,010. This sum has to cover living and healthcare costs, food, clothing, communication, electricity, heating costs, ongoing household expenses, personal hygiene and travel costs. There is rarely much left over for education, media, membership fees or hobbies. 

Further information

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• Social policy

Header image: Family poverty is also an issue in Switzerland. © Conradin Frei