Life & Aging

We examine trends shaping Swiss society’s lifestyle and aging, comparing them globally and offering insights on shared questions and issues.

Our editor’s picks

After the first ‘Sarco pod’ death, will Switzerland introduce stricter rules for assisted suicide?

This content was published on Feb 6, 2025 The first death to come about using the Sarco capsule has reignited debate on whether assisted dying should be more tightly regulated in Switzerland.

"It is impossible to fully go back, neither physically nor as a person," says Chris/Nadia Brönimann.

Switzerland’s most renowned trans person no longer wants to be a woman

This content was published on Jan 12, 2025 Chris Brönimann became Nadia just before the turn of the millennium. Now Switzerland’s most famous transgender figure is publicly grappling with regret over that choice.

Growing old in Switzerland

The living conditions and infrastructure for older people in Switzerland are good, including the social and pension system. However, the latter is coming under increasing pressure: while life expectancy has risen significantly in recent decades, there have only been minor changes in the retirement age.

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The filmmaker poses with the orchestra of the National Infantry Academy during the shooting of "Time to the Target", Mansky's latest film.

Zurich honours Vitaly Mansky: documenting power, memory and the Russian Empire

This content was published on Nov 5, 2025 Zurich is showcasing a comprehensive retrospective of the work of Russian-Ukrainian filmmaker Vitaly Mansky.

Reformed church commissions study on internal abuse

Swiss Protestant Reformed Church commissions study on sexual abuse

This content was published on Nov 3, 2025 The Protestant Reformed Church of Switzerland is commissioning a scientific study to investigate sexual and spiritual abuse in the church.

The sun rises behind a chapel early morning in Ritzingen near Goms, Switzerland

How an Englishman lived as a woman in a Swiss cave

This content was published on Nov 2, 2025 Almost 100 years ago, an English intellectual settled in a remote Swiss mountain village – and transformed himself into a woman.

Survey reignites debate on nuclear power in Switzerland

This content was published on Nov 1, 2025 A recent survey of Swiss voter views on new nuclear power plants has reignited a decades-old debate.

Cash is slowly losing acceptance in the retail trade

Fewer retailers accept cash in Switzerland

This content was published on Oct 30, 2025 Fewer Swiss retailers now accept cash, though most still support multiple payment methods.

Where is it best to live if world chaos breaks out? In Switzerland

Where should you live if world chaos breaks out? Switzerland

This content was published on Oct 30, 2025 Switzerland tops the Global Investment Risk and Resilience Index for safest havens in world chaos.

Topic focus: Assisted suicide in Switzerland

Why assisted suicide is ‘normal’ in Switzerland

In Switzerland, assisted suicide is considered a legitimate way to end your life.

Yoshi travels from Japan to Switzerland to die

This content was published on Sep 13, 2021 A Japanese man came all the way to Switzerland to die. SWI swissinfo.ch accompanied him on the final part of his journey. This is his story.

To what extent do you think assisted suicide should be a legally available option to those who want to end their lives?

Switzerland legalised assisted suicide in the 1940s. More than 1,000 seriously ill or disabled people end their lives with the help of suicide assistants in Switzerland each year.

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Dec 2, 2021

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A Swiss hospice where people can die with dignity

This content was published on Dec 12, 2023 Many people want to spend their last days at home. “La Maison de Tara” in Geneva offers an alternative to hospitalisation.

Sarco, the 3D-printed suicide pod, was presented in Switzerland for the first time on July 17 in Zurich.

Why liberal Switzerland is opposed to the Sarco suicide capsule

This content was published on Jul 27, 2024 The media hype is huge. Swiss outlets have been reporting on the Sarco suicide capsule for almost all of July. However, cantonal authorities are putting up resistance.

A nurse holding the hand of an elderly woman in a nursing home.

Assisted suicide: death with dignity or ethical dilemma?

This content was published on Jul 29, 2024 Assisted suicide is considered a controversial and personal topic. Does it mean death with dignity, or does it inevitably lead to an ethical dilemma?

Actor Tilda Swinton in a scene from The Room Next Door.

How film and literature have influenced the acceptance of assisted suicide

This content was published on Jan 6, 2025 Powerful stories of assisted dying are etched in our collective memory. Now, a research project from Switzerland is gathering artistic works on the subject.

After the first ‘Sarco pod’ death, will Switzerland introduce stricter rules for assisted suicide?

This content was published on Feb 6, 2025 The first death to come about using the Sarco capsule has reignited debate on whether assisted dying should be more tightly regulated in Switzerland.

More content on Life & Aging

Pegasos association rekindles controversy over assisted suicide in Switzerland

This content was published on Oct 29, 2025 British families have accused the Swiss association Pegasos of helping their loved ones to die without genuine medical justification. What is behind this accusation?

Slight fall in the number of overweight children and teenagers

Study reveals slight drop in number of overweight children in Switzerland

This content was published on Oct 27, 2025 The number of overweight primary school children in Switzerland has fallen slightly over the past 15 years, according to figures released on Monday.

House offers still on the rise, but at a slower pace

Swiss housing market is ‘stabilising’, says report

This content was published on Oct 27, 2025 The number of online offers for single-family homes continued to increase between July 2024 and June 2025. But after the sharp rise in supply in recent years, the market seems to be stabilising at a higher level of supply.

Renters who land a publicly owned flat in Zurich hit the jackpot

This content was published on Oct 26, 2025 Thousands of residents benefit from Zurich’s low-cost municipal housing. But not all tenants actually meet the city’s eligibility criteria.

For a long-time mushrooms were seen as eerie and often associated with witchcraft. Illustration by Franz Wacik.

Mushroom mania

This content was published on Oct 19, 2025 Foraging for mushrooms has become a popular pastime throughout Switzerland. Yet these fascinating organisms were once seen as harmful. How has this fundamental change in their image come about?

Recognising Emma Jung’s exploration of the unconscious

This content was published on Oct 12, 2025 As early as 1911, the psychoanalyst and artist Emma Jung feared that she would be overhshadowed by her famous husband. Over a century later, she is being recognised.

How Switzerland became liberal on abortion – without noticing

This content was published on Oct 11, 2025 From 2027 Swiss health insurers will cover the full cost of abortions. The change passed through parliament almost unnoticed.

Fewer primary school teachers will be needed

Switzerland expects lower demand for primary-school teachers

This content was published on Oct 9, 2025 The number of primary school pupils is expected to fall sharply from 2027 onwards, which could lead to a drop in the need for new teachers.

41 per cent of people in Switzerland have a migration background

Small increase in proportion of Swiss residents with migrant background

This content was published on Oct 9, 2025 Some 41% of the permanent resident population in Switzerland aged 15 and over had a migration background in 2024.

Housing: no "strong" effect linked to international Geneva

Geneva housing crisis to persist despite international job cuts

This content was published on Oct 8, 2025 Geneva’s housing crisis persists despite international funding cuts.

Competition for new banknotes enters next round

Finalists chosen in design competition for new Swiss banknotes

This content was published on Oct 8, 2025 Swiss National Bank selects finalists for new banknote design.

"A girl like me, but 80 years ago": French actress Lila Gueneau in a scene of "Silent Rebellion".

Swiss silence, wartime shame, and one girl’s fight against patriarchy

This content was published on Oct 5, 2025 “Silent Rebellion”, the debut film by Marie-Elsa Sgualdo which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, confronts the ghosts of Swiss complicity and conformity during the Second World War.

Life & Aging

Our editor’s picks

More

After the first ‘Sarco pod’ death, will Switzerland introduce stricter rules for assisted suicide?

More

Switzerland’s most renowned trans person no longer wants to be a woman

More

Growing old in Switzerland

Community corner: latest debates and surveys on Life & Aging

Latest content of Life & Aging

More

Zurich honours Vitaly Mansky: documenting power, memory and the Russian Empire

More

Swiss Protestant Reformed Church commissions study on sexual abuse

More

How an Englishman lived as a woman in a Swiss cave

More

Survey reignites debate on nuclear power in Switzerland

More

Fewer retailers accept cash in Switzerland

More

Where should you live if world chaos breaks out? Switzerland

Topic focus: Assisted suicide in Switzerland

More

Why assisted suicide is ‘normal’ in Switzerland

More

Yoshi travels from Japan to Switzerland to die

More

To what extent do you think assisted suicide should be a legally available option to those who want to end their lives?

More

A Swiss hospice where people can die with dignity

More

Why liberal Switzerland is opposed to the Sarco suicide capsule

More

Assisted suicide: death with dignity or ethical dilemma?

More

How film and literature have influenced the acceptance of assisted suicide

More

After the first ‘Sarco pod’ death, will Switzerland introduce stricter rules for assisted suicide?

More content on Life & Aging

More

Pegasos association rekindles controversy over assisted suicide in Switzerland

More

Study reveals slight drop in number of overweight children in Switzerland

More

Swiss housing market is ‘stabilising’, says report

More

Renters who land a publicly owned flat in Zurich hit the jackpot

More

Mushroom mania

More

Recognising Emma Jung’s exploration of the unconscious

More

How Switzerland became liberal on abortion – without noticing

More

Switzerland expects lower demand for primary-school teachers

More

Small increase in proportion of Swiss residents with migrant background

More

Geneva housing crisis to persist despite international job cuts

More

Finalists chosen in design competition for new Swiss banknotes

More

Swiss silence, wartime shame, and one girl’s fight against patriarchy

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