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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Swiss passport does not guarantee visa-free entry everywhere

This content was published on Sep 22, 2026 The Swiss passport takes 9th place in a global ranking, with 119 visa-free destinations and 54 countries requiring a visa on arrival or other entry formalities for Swiss citizens.

Entrance to the Natural History Museum in Basel

Human remains in museum depots force Swiss to confront colonial legacy

This content was published on Sep 21, 2026 Canton Basel City is returning the remains of three Indigenous people to Chile. At least 4,000 human remains from the colonial era are held in Swiss museums.

Hot summer led to record numbers at Swiss outdoor swimming pools

This content was published on Sep 20, 2026 Demands on pool staff increased as a result of record visitor numbers.

Significant police presence at the ‘March for Life’ in Zurich

Zurich anti-abortion march disrupted by protesters

This content was published on Sep 20, 2026 More than a thousand anti-abortion protesters took part in the ‘March for Life’ in Zurich-Oerlikon on Saturday.

According to the Federal Council, Italy is still not complying with the Dublin Regulation

Switzerland says Italy is not taking back asylum seekers

This content was published on Sep 19, 2026 The Swiss government had announced that it would resume the return of asylum seekers to Italy under the Dublin Regulation from the end of August.

When Winston Churchill called for European unity in neutral Zurich

This content was published on Sep 19, 2026 In September 1946, Winston Churchill delivered a famous speech in Zurich, calling for a “United States of Europe”. What became of his idea?

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.

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The Bern Historical Museum returns cultural artefacts to Namibia

Bern museum returns cultural artefacts to Namibia

This content was published on Sep 17, 2026 The Bern Historical Museum is returning Namibian artefacts to Usakos after a restitution process tied to colonial-era railway exploitation.

Construction is finally getting underway: a study predicts an easing of the housing market

Study predicts an easing of Swiss housing market

This content was published on Sep 17, 2026 Swiss housing construction is set to rise in 2026-27, easing shortages unevenly while cities stay tight.

Switzerland plummets 10 places in the WEF’s gender equality index

Switzerland drops in the WEF’s gender equality index

This content was published on Sep 16, 2026 Switzerland has fallen 10 places this year in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Gender Gap Index, dropping to 27th place.

New record for passenger traffic in 2025

Swiss passenger rail traffic reaches record high in 2025

This content was published on Sep 16, 2026 In 2025, rail transport volume totalled 23.7 billion passenger-kilometres.

In 1926, Wuillemin discovered traces of a Roman temple complex in Thun-Allmendingen. The person in the photograph is not him. (zvg/ADB)

Bronze daggers and shell jewellery: the Swiss teacher who unearthed the past

This content was published on Sep 12, 2026 The finds of amateur archaeologist Franz Wuillemin are still valuable today.

Basel-Stadt returns the remains of indigenous ancestors to Chile

Swiss city returns remains of indigenous ancestors to Chile

This content was published on Sep 11, 2026 Canton Basel City is returning two skeletons and a skull of Kawésqar ancestors to Chile.

Danube Swabians wait in Linz, Austria, in May 1951 for the departure of the train that will take them to a Mediterranean port, from where they will emigrate to Brazil.

How a Swiss aid operation helped former SS members reach Brazil

This content was published on Sep 10, 2026 Waffen-SS landed in Brazil after the Second World War with the support of Switzerland. New research revisits how and why.

Victims speak out about the damage caused by conversion therapy

Conversion therapy still practised in Switzerland, report finds

This content was published on Sep 9, 2026 A report published on Tuesday confirms that conversion therapy is being practised in religious and spiritual settings in the cantons of Geneva and Vaud.

Flowers at the site of the mass shooting in Aarau, Switzerland, August 2026

Semi-automatic rifles circulating in Switzerland despite ban

This content was published on Sep 6, 2026 Semi-automatic rifles with large magazines have been banned in Switzerland since a change in the law in 2019 but with a special permit, sports shooters and collectors can still obtain them.

300 people take part in a memorial march for the victims of the shooting rampage in Aarau

Hundreds attend memorial march for Swiss rave shooting victims

This content was published on Sep 5, 2026 An estimated 300 people took part in a memorial march on Friday evening to remember victims of the shooting rampage at a rave last weekend.

The image shows an elderly person, covered up, lying in bed with a rose in their hand.

Is Zurich forcing Christian homes to tolerate assisted suicide?

This content was published on Aug 31, 2026 Christian care homes see their autonomy and freedom of religion as being under threat as a result of the vote on assisted suicide in Zurich.

Featured image: a young woman, created by artificial intelligence.

Digital love: what men and women seek in AI relationships

This content was published on Aug 30, 2026 AI is turning digital love into a mass phenomenon. Swiss evolutionary psychologist Désirée Popelka surveyed both male and female users. Despite differing expectations, she found they had a similar underlying need.

Life & Aging

Our editor’s picks

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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 passport does not guarantee visa-free entry everywhere

More

Human remains in museum depots force Swiss to confront colonial legacy

More

Hot summer led to record numbers at Swiss outdoor swimming pools

More

Zurich anti-abortion march disrupted by protesters

More

Switzerland says Italy is not taking back asylum seekers

More

When Winston Churchill called for European unity in neutral Zurich

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

Bern museum returns cultural artefacts to Namibia

More

Study predicts an easing of Swiss housing market

More

Switzerland drops in the WEF’s gender equality index

More

Swiss passenger rail traffic reaches record high in 2025

More

Bronze daggers and shell jewellery: the Swiss teacher who unearthed the past

More

Swiss city returns remains of indigenous ancestors to Chile

More

How a Swiss aid operation helped former SS members reach Brazil

More

Conversion therapy still practised in Switzerland, report finds

More

Semi-automatic rifles circulating in Switzerland despite ban

More

Hundreds attend memorial march for Swiss rave shooting victims

More

Is Zurich forcing Christian homes to tolerate assisted suicide?

More

Digital love: what men and women seek in AI relationships

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