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.

Community corner: latest debates and surveys on Life & Aging

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Swiss foundation marks 25 years of ‘baby boxes’

This content was published on May 10, 2026 Exactly 25 years ago on Saturday, Switzerland’s first baby hatch opened in Canton Schwyz. Since then, 31 newborns have been left anonymously at eight locations in the country.

How Switzerland is responding to a growing elderly prison population

This content was published on May 5, 2026 Many prisons in Switzerland are ill-equipped to cater for elderly inmates. Protection from fellow inmates is also a problem.

A view of Zurich and the Prime Tower on a stormy night

Will AI secure or shake Swiss prosperity?

This content was published on May 4, 2026 AI may close the productivity gap left by ageing populations, or instead drive mass job losses and reshape global wealth. Which scenario emerges will depend on choices made today.

Without immigration, the Swiss population would age rapidly

This content was published on Apr 30, 2026 Immigration not only grows Switzerland’s population but slows its ageing – without it, fewer workers and more pensioners would strain pensions and health insurance.

Eight graphs on free movement and the Swiss economy

This content was published on Apr 30, 2026 Since 2002, EU citizens have been able to freely settle and work in Switzerland. What impact has this had on the country’s economy?

The sunbathing area at Zurich’s Oberer Letten lido.

Switzerland expands as Europe contracts and neither is happy

This content was published on Apr 28, 2026 Demographic change and workforce migration are transforming Europe and Switzerland. Profound disruptions are on the horizon.

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

Demonstrators against femicide and gender-based violence in Bellizona, Switzerland

New Swiss national hotline for domestic violence victims to launch after delays

This content was published on Apr 27, 2026 The national hotline 142 will go live on Friday, as authorities vow to continue tackling the growing number of domestic violence offences.

Those who have little feel more disadvantaged by the system

Over half of Swiss population view current social conditions as ‘unfair’

This content was published on Apr 27, 2026 More than half of people in Switzerland feel that social conditions in the country are ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ unfair, a new survey published by Beobachter magazine shows.

More Swiss working beyond retirement age

This content was published on Apr 27, 2026 The share of people aged 64 and older in the overall workforce in Switzerland has more than doubled since 2005, according to new figures from the Swiss Labour Force Survey.

Deposits in Ticino greatly reduced 40 years after Chernobyl

Radioactive fallout from Chernobyl accident lingers in Switzerland

This content was published on Apr 23, 2026 Radioactive fallout from the 1986 Chernobyl accident still lingers in Switzerland.

A Roman bread was discovered in Vindonissa, canton of Aargau.

Roman bread discovered in Switzerland for the first time

This content was published on Apr 22, 2026 Archaeologists have found a charred Roman loaf of bread. The small flatbread is a rare find.

Eyes peering through the slot of a letterbox.

The right to privacy, except during wartime

This content was published on Apr 12, 2026 During times of political unrest – especially during the two world wars – state censors monitored private as well as military correspondence. They made no attempt to hide their actions.

Opinion

At what point does someone belong in Switzerland?

This content was published on Apr 9, 2026 The initiative to cap the Swiss population at 10 million is not just about how much growth a country can absorb – it also raises the question of who gets to count as being fully part.

Zurich hotline for victims of violence is "actively used"

Domestic violence hotline in Zurich sees strong demand

This content was published on Apr 8, 2026 Zurich’s hotline for victims of violence is being “well used”, according to the Cantonal Justice Director Jacqueline Fehr. Demand is high at night.

Around 3000 gender entries changed since simplified procedure

Switzerland records 3,000 gender entry changes in civil register since 2022

This content was published on Apr 2, 2026 In 2025, 574 people in Switzerland had their gender entry changed in the civil status register, provisional data shows. Such a change has been possible since 2022.

Population: the proportion of seniors exceeds that of young people in Switzerland

In Switzerland, seniors now outnumber young people, new data shows

This content was published on Apr 2, 2026 For the first time, those aged 65 or over outnumber people under 20 in Switzerland, provisional data released by the Federal Statistical Office shows.

Three quarters of Swiss use AI tools in their daily lives

Three-quarters of Swiss use AI in everyday life: survey

This content was published on Apr 2, 2026 More than three-quarters of the Swiss adult population (76%) use AI tools in their daily lives, an increase compared to a year ago, a new Comparis survey shows.

Nick Cave, Sting, Moby, RAYE, Tyla and Deep Purple at Montreux Jazz

Nick Cave, Sting, Moby and more join 60th Montreux Jazz Festival

This content was published on Mar 31, 2026 Nick Cave, Sting, and Moby headline the Montreux Jazz Festival’s 60th anniversary.

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

Swiss foundation marks 25 years of ‘baby boxes’

More

How Switzerland is responding to a growing elderly prison population

More

Will AI secure or shake Swiss prosperity?

More

Without immigration, the Swiss population would age rapidly

More

Eight graphs on free movement and the Swiss economy

More

Switzerland expands as Europe contracts and neither is happy

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

New Swiss national hotline for domestic violence victims to launch after delays

More

Over half of Swiss population view current social conditions as ‘unfair’

More

More Swiss working beyond retirement age

More

Radioactive fallout from Chernobyl accident lingers in Switzerland

More

Roman bread discovered in Switzerland for the first time

More

The right to privacy, except during wartime

More

At what point does someone belong in Switzerland?

More

Domestic violence hotline in Zurich sees strong demand

More

Switzerland records 3,000 gender entry changes in civil register since 2022

More

In Switzerland, seniors now outnumber young people, new data shows

More

Three-quarters of Swiss use AI in everyday life: survey

More

Nick Cave, Sting, Moby and more join 60th Montreux Jazz Festival

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