Long-term poverty in Switzerland is rare, report finds
A person is defined as poor if they do not have enough money to lead a socially integrated life.
Keystone
Poverty is a temporary experience for most Swiss, with only 1% of the population considered “permanently poor”, says the Swiss Federal Statistics Office (FSO).
This content was published on
1 minute
SDA-ATS/ln
Français
fr
La pauvreté existe en Suisse, mais dure rarement longtemps
The FSO survey, conducted over four years, analyses for the first time how long people in Switzerland are affected by poverty.
Some 615,000 of Swiss suffered from income poverty in 2016, or 7.5% of the population, according to the report. This compares with 7% the previous year.
A person is defined as poor if they do not have the financial means to acquire the goods and services necessary to lead a socially integrated life, the report said.
During the period 2013-2016, one in eight people (12.3%) was considered poor, the survey found. However, only 0.9% of the population experienced poverty over the entire four-year period.
According to the report, 1.2% of people suffered from poverty for three years, and 2.5% for two years. Looking at just one particular year, 7.7% of the population was affected – almost the same level given in the 2016 annual report.
The numerical poverty definition used in the report was derived from the guidelines of the Swiss Conference on Social AssistanceExternal link (SKOS). In 2016, the subsistence minimum income in Switzerland was set at CHF2,247 ($2,355) per month for a single person and at CHF 3,981 ($4,173) for two adults with two children.
More
More
Struggling to pay the bills in a wealthy nation
This content was published on
A Swiss social policy expert explains how nearly one-in-eight people living in Switzerland qualify as working poor, or at risk of poverty.
Thyssenkrupp Presta cuts 570 jobs in Switzerland and Liechtenstein
This content was published on
The group specialising in the production of steering systems for cars, will cut up to 570 jobs in Liechtenstein and the Swiss canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden.
Poll: 63% of Swiss want to vote again on fighter jet procurement
This content was published on
Two out of three Swiss people want to vote again on the purchase of a jet for the air force, according to a representative poll published today by the information portal Infosperber.
Switzerland halts work on futuristic underground freight transport facility
This content was published on
The federal government, the local cantons and the city of Zurich are suspending further work on the Cargo Sous Terrain project for an underground freight transport facility.
Lucerne wants to introduce a flat-rate naturalisation fee
This content was published on
The city council would like to introduce a flat fee of CHF500 per application. This would be significantly lower than the current fee, which is based on the amount of processing required.
Roche claims success against breast cancer in phase III clinical trials
This content was published on
Roche has achieved positive results from the phase III evERA study combining its experimental treatments giredestrant and everolimus against a specific form of breast cancer.
Swiss intelligence not doing enough against left-wing extremism
This content was published on
The Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) is not utilising all the resources available within the legal framework in the fight against left-wing extremist violence.
Anti-mafia crusader Roberto Saviano receives thunderous applause in Switzerland
This content was published on
Roberto Saviano appeared at the Endorfine International Festival. Lugano. Stating that after 20 years of struggle he does not intend to leave victory to the Mafia, the Neapolitan writer drew thunderous applause.
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
Half a million struck by poverty in Switzerland
This content was published on
The conference’s aim is to see how far a five-year programme against poverty is coming along. It took place in the Swiss town of Biel/Bienne, where the mayor, Erich Fehr, told those gathered that poverty in Switzerland is often hidden from the public eye. “to a certain extent it’s hidden in the shadows,” he said. Fehr…
This content was published on
Life has not been kind to Maria C.* (real name withheld). Growing up in a farmer’s village outside Zurich, she is a child of an immigrant mother who barely spoke the local language. When her Swiss father died, the three-year old was sent away to a home until she was 11 and considered unfit for…
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.