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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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.

Swiss national takes the chair of the World Organisation of Historians

Swiss elected head of world organisation of historians

This content was published on Aug 28, 2026 Swiss historian Sacha Zala is the new president of the International Council of Historical Sciences (CISH).

Asylum applications are falling, whilst forced returns are on the rise

Swiss asylum applications set to fall below forecast

This content was published on Aug 26, 2026 The number of asylum applications in Switzerland is expected to be lower than previously forecast in 2026, while the number of forced returns is increasing.

French-Canadian director Denis Côté during a photocall at Locarno Film Festival.

Dying with dignity, living with freedom: Denis Côté on ‘Nobody’s Violence’

This content was published on Aug 23, 2026 In his latest film, premiered in Locarno, Canadian filmmaker Denis Côté follows a woman who delivers assisted death to strangers.

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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Zurich unveils Switzerland’s first queer memorial

This content was published on Aug 21, 2026 The new memorial commemorates people who have lost their lives because of anti-queer violence or exclusion, according to HAZ-Queer Zürich.

Pensions: pension payments are falling, covering an ever-smaller proportion of the final salary

Just one-quarter of Swiss believe old-age pension will be secure in 20 years

This content was published on Aug 6, 2026 The Swiss pension system is showing signs of increasing fragility, according to a study published on Thursday by the consultancy firm VermögensZentrum (VZ).

From Zug to Schwyz: this is where the millionaire taxpayers are concentrated

From Zug to Schwyz: this is where the millionaires live in Switzerland

This content was published on Aug 3, 2026 There are 7,666 people in Switzerland who declare an income of at least CHF1 million.

We asked an AI about the future – its answer might scare you

This content was published on Jul 30, 2026 A few prompts in, Google’s Gemini paints a dark future. In conversation with a language model.

The three-child trap: where the Swiss family model hits a wall

This content was published on Jul 29, 2026 Across the globe, rising childlessness is the main driver for plunging birth rates. Switzerland, however, tells a different story.

Administrative Court rejects Zurich’s basic assistance for undocumented migrants

Court blocks Zurich scheme to provide cash to undocumented migrants

This content was published on Jul 27, 2026 The scheme violates statutory reporting obligations to the migration authorities.

The Swiss associate the birth of their country with 1848 rather than 1291

This content was published on Jul 26, 2026 A majority of Swiss people believe that the country came into being in 1848 with the creation of the federal state, rather than in 1291. They also regard William Tell as a legendary figure rather than a historical hero, according to a poll published ahead of the National Day on 1 August.

Solar Impulse’s round-the-world flight marks its 10th anniversary

This content was published on Jul 26, 2026 Exactly 10 years ago, Solar Impulse 2 made aviation history by completing the first fuel-free flight around the world.

Two young people standing in front of a sleeper carriage at Basel station

Interrail – opening up a world of possibility for young people

This content was published on Jul 26, 2026 The Swiss National Museum’s blog takes a look at the history of the European youth rail pass, launched in 1972 to immediate success.

A woman with two children by Lake Zurich.

Why family support policies fail to gain traction in Switzerland

This content was published on Jul 25, 2026 Family policy in Switzerland lags behind the rest of Europe – in part because of the country’s prosperity, according to political scientist Silja Häusermann.

A brief history of Swiss banking oversight and its scandals

This content was published on Jul 20, 2026 Scandals and outside pressure have shaped Swiss banking regulations – yet powerful financial lobbies have often managed to water them down.

Adults-only campsite: the idea caused an uproar, but it works

Switzerland’s first ‘child-free’ campsite fully booked despite criticism

This content was published on Jul 19, 2026 Switzerland’s first campsite reserved exclusively for those aged 16 and over caused an uproar but is now fully booked.

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

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

More

Swiss elected head of world organisation of historians

More

Swiss asylum applications set to fall below forecast

More

Dying with dignity, living with freedom: Denis Côté on ‘Nobody’s Violence’

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

Zurich unveils Switzerland’s first queer memorial

More

Just one-quarter of Swiss believe old-age pension will be secure in 20 years

More

From Zug to Schwyz: this is where the millionaires live in Switzerland

More

We asked an AI about the future – its answer might scare you

More

The three-child trap: where the Swiss family model hits a wall

More

Court blocks Zurich scheme to provide cash to undocumented migrants

More

The Swiss associate the birth of their country with 1848 rather than 1291

More

Solar Impulse’s round-the-world flight marks its 10th anniversary

More

Interrail – opening up a world of possibility for young people

More

Why family support policies fail to gain traction in Switzerland

More

A brief history of Swiss banking oversight and its scandals

More

Switzerland’s first ‘child-free’ campsite fully booked despite criticism

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