Inequality of income distribution

How is income distributed in Switzerland? Is the income gap widening? How does Switzerland fare in international comparison? And to what extent can any inequalities be compensated by government transfers? These statistics offer answers to these questions and data are drawn upon from two different surveys:

• The Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) has been conducted since 2007 and is the only survey suitable for comparisons with other European countries (cf. menu Income distribution on the left-hand side).

• The Household Budget Survey (HBS) has been conducted in its present form since 1998. It forms the basis for analyses on income inequality before and after government transfers (cf. menu Redistribution of income through government transfers on the left-hand side).

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Additional studies on income distribution

To complete the annually updated indicators, the FSO also conducts more in-depth studies on the subject of income distribution and inequality, taking a closer look at certain topics or population groups. These publications can be downloaded free of charge at «Further information/publications» or on our French or German pages.

Comparison of trend and inequality in income and consumption

How has the consumer budget changed in the past ten years in comparison with income? Is consumer expenditure inequality less than income inequality? How have these inequalities changed in comparison to one another? Based on the Household Budget Survey (HBS) 2006-2014, the report examines changes and inequalities in consumer expenditure in Switzerland and compares them with changes and inequalities in income.

How is the middle income group faring?

Where does the social «middle» stand with regard to various areas of life and how satisfied is it with its situation? Do certain problems occur frequently in the middle income groups? Based on the concept of Quality of Life, the report sheds light on how people and households are faring in key areas of life such as income, health, education, work, and security. The analyses are based on data from the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2013 and its in-depth module on «Well-being».

The publication is available in French and in German.

Further information

Tables

Tables only available in French, German and Italian.

Publications

Press Releases

All press releases on the topic Inequality of income

Links

Statistical sources and concepts

Surveys

On this topic