Life & Aging

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

Switzerland’s housing shortage: how bad is it?

This content was published on Apr 29, 2025 With high immigration and not enough new houses and flats being built, Switzerland’s housing shortage is getting worse. Just how severe is the problem?

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.

Community corner: latest debates and surveys on Life & Aging

What are your experiences with housing shortages and rising property prices?

Switzerland is steering towards a housing crisis. Are there solutions?

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Apr 25, 2025

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Natural sounds help combat city noise stress

This content was published on Apr 28, 2025 Researchers have shown for the first time in Switzerland that urban greenery measurably reduces the stress levels of city dwellers.

Healthcare costs in Switzerland increased by 2.4 per cent in 2023

Swiss healthcare costs increased by 2.4% in 2023

This content was published on Apr 28, 2025 Healthcare costs in Switzerland rose by 2.4% in 2023. The Swiss healthcare system thus cost around CHF94 billion ($113 billion).

What are your experiences with housing shortages and rising property prices?

Switzerland is steering towards a housing crisis. Are there solutions?

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Apr 25, 2025

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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.

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.

Detail view of a thousand Swiss franc note

Switzerland no longer wants to foot the bill for ‘suicide tourism’

This content was published on Feb 21, 2025 In Switzerland, all deaths through assisted suicide must be followed by a medical and legal investigation. This entails considerable costs for the state.

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Men under greater status pressure in gender-equal countries

Men in Switzerland under pressure to uphold social standing

This content was published on Apr 23, 2025 A study from the University of Bern reveals that men in relatively gender-equal countries face significant pressure to maintain their high social status.

Crossing the border with 30 kilograms of cocaine in the car

Swiss police arrest two men crossing border with 30 kilos of cocaine

This content was published on Apr 23, 2025 Initial findings by the cantonal public prosecutor’s office suggest the drugs were not intended for the Swiss market.

On April 5, thousands demonstrated in Zurich against the housing crisis. It was the city's largest housing demonstration since the turn of the millennium

Zurich: how the world capital of housing shortages is tackling the problem 

This content was published on Apr 21, 2025 In Zurich, only seven out of 10,000 apartments are vacant on average – the lowest rate in Switzerland and probably in the Western world.

Drugs: the wave of violence will not spare Switzerland (police)

Switzerland won’t be spared drug violence: criminal police head

This content was published on Apr 19, 2025 It is only a matter of time before Switzerland, like other countries in Europe, experiences an escalation in drug-related violence, says the head of the Federal Criminal Police.

Great St Bernard route closed due to avalanche

Great St. Bernard pass between Switzerland and Italy closed due to avalanche

This content was published on Apr 19, 2025 An avalanche forced the closure of the Great St. Bernard pass between Switzerland and Italy on Thursday. The route remains closed to Easter traffic.

Only one in five people attend a religious service at Easter

Just one in five Swiss attend a religious service at Easter

This content was published on Apr 18, 2025 Only one in five people in Switzerland attend a religious service during the Easter period or give up meat or alcohol for at least one day of fasting. Around 25% of those polled see Easter primarily as a family holiday, according to the survey.

After the bad weather, the situation has calmed down in Switzerland

Major road disruptions continue after heavy snowfall in parts of Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 18, 2025 The snowfall has ended in the southern Swiss canton of Valais, the cantonal emergency services said on Friday. Several roads, however, remain closed.

Posters condemning Stephan Schmidheiny's role in asbestos deaths in Italy.

Swiss businessman gets prison term for asbestos deaths

This content was published on Apr 18, 2025 Stephan Schmidheiny has been sentenced to 9 years and 6 months in prison by the Turin Court of Appeal in a case against the former Eternit executive over deaths linked to asbestos exposure in Italy.

Swiss true crimes: the Wohlen double parricide

This content was published on Apr 17, 2025 A documentary film about the dramatic double murder case involving the married couple Peter and Ursula Breitschmid, instigated by their adopted son.

Life & Aging

Zurich: how the world capital of housing shortages is tackling the problem 

Alpine Environment

The Swiss Alps ski village that is luring nervous Americans

Swiss Abroad

The Böögg, Switzerland’s exploding psychic snowman

Heavy rainfall in southern Switzerland: canton Valais issues weather warning and Ticino will have a wet Easter.

Swiss Abroad

Switzerland Today

Swiss franc surge sparks bets on negative interest rates

Did you immigrate to Switzerland? What are your experiences?

What were the circumstances of your immigration to Switzerland? And what motivated your decision to stay or leave?

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Apr 1, 2025

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26 Comments

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What are your experiences with housing shortages and rising property prices?

Switzerland is steering towards a housing crisis. Are there solutions?

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Apr 25, 2025

1 Comments

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How are mental illnesses treated in your country?

In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?

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Apr 23, 2025

1 Comments

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Life & Aging

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Switzerland’s housing shortage: how bad is it?

Our editor’s picks

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

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

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Growing old in Switzerland

Community corner: latest debates and surveys on Life & Aging

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What are your experiences with housing shortages and rising property prices?

Latest content of Life & Aging

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Natural sounds help combat city noise stress

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Swiss healthcare costs increased by 2.4% in 2023

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What are your experiences with housing shortages and rising property prices?

Topic focus: Assisted suicide in Switzerland

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Why assisted suicide is ‘normal’ in Switzerland

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

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A Swiss hospice where people can die with dignity

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Why liberal Switzerland is opposed to the Sarco suicide capsule

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Assisted suicide: death with dignity or ethical dilemma?

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How film and literature have influenced the acceptance of assisted suicide

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

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Switzerland no longer wants to foot the bill for ‘suicide tourism’

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Men in Switzerland under pressure to uphold social standing

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Swiss police arrest two men crossing border with 30 kilos of cocaine

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Zurich: how the world capital of housing shortages is tackling the problem

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Switzerland won’t be spared drug violence: criminal police head

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Great St. Bernard pass between Switzerland and Italy closed due to avalanche

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Just one in five Swiss attend a religious service at Easter

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Major road disruptions continue after heavy snowfall in parts of Switzerland

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Swiss businessman gets prison term for asbestos deaths

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Swiss true crimes: the Wohlen double parricide

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Zurich: how the world capital of housing shortages is tackling the problem

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The Swiss Alps ski village that is luring nervous Americans

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The Böögg, Switzerland’s exploding psychic snowman

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Swiss franc surge sparks bets on negative interest rates

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Did you immigrate to Switzerland? What are your experiences?

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What are your experiences with housing shortages and rising property prices?

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How are mental illnesses treated in your country?

Zurich: how the world capital of housing shortages is tackling the problem 

Zurich: how the world capital of housing shortages is tackling the problem 