The European Union has set the at-risk-of-poverty threshold at 60% of the median equivalised disposable income. Being at risk of poverty, therefore, means having an income that is significantly lower than that of the population as a whole, a situation that can lead to social exclusion. In 2022, the risk-of-poverty threshold was CHF 2,587 per month for a single-person household and 15.6% of the population living in Switzerland was exposed to the risk of poverty, i.e. more than one in six.
At-risk-of-poverty threshold
Groups at risk of poverty
The risk of poverty is largely determined by family circumstances and the level of education. Single persons aged under 65 are 2.9 times more exposed to the risk of poverty (17,5%) than couples under 65 without children (6.1%). The latter are 1.3 times less at risk than families with two children (7.6%), 3.4 times less at risk than families with three children and more (20.7%) and 4.2 times less at risk than single parent households (25.1%). Furthermore, people with tertiary level education are almost 3.8 times less likely to be at risk of poverty than those who completed no training after their compulsory schooling (7.9% compared with 30.2%).
65 year-olds and older are a special case: although they are particularly exposed to the risk of poverty (24.1%), especially if they live alone (30.8%), a significantly greater number of them use up their accumulated assets to pay for daily expenses (18.2% compared with 6.6% of people aged between 18 and 64 and 8.4% of 50-64 year-olds). But the use of accumulated wealth is not taken account of in equivalised disposable income and does not figure, therefore, in the estimation of risk of poverty.
European Comparisons
For European comparisons, the reference year for data is 2022. Furthermore, imputed rent (which corresponds to the rental value of the property, after deduction of the dwelling costs actually paid) is not taken into account in the equivalised disposable income.
In European comparison, the Swiss at-risk-of-poverty threshold, expressed in terms of purchasing power without imputed rent, is among the highest in Europe, after Luxembourg.
As far as the at-risk-of-poverty rate in 2022 is concerned, at European level it varies between 22.9% (Bulgaria) and 10.2% (Czechia). Switzerland (15.8% without imputed rent) is below the European average (EU: 16.5%). Among our neighbours, the at-risk-of-poverty rate is 20.1% in Italy, 15.6% in France, 14.8% in Austria and 14.7% in Germany.
Links to the results and publications at European level are listed further below under "Further information" in the paragraph "Links".
Risk of poverty of employed persons
In 2022, 7.9% of all employed persons in Switzerland were at risk of poverty. This corresponds to 298’000 persons.
The income of employed persons is largely determined by the form of work and work conditions. The following groups were particularly often at risk of poverty despite being employed:
- persons who worked for only part of the year
- persons who worked mainly part-time
- self-employed persons
- persons employed in small businesses
Special attention is given to the question of risk of poverty of employed persons. In fact, paid work is considered a way to reduce the risk of poverty.
More information on poverty and deprivation of employed persons can be found here:
Poverty of employed persons
Material and social deprivation of employed persons
European Comparisons
To compare the situation of employed persons in Switzerland with other countries, the at-risk-of-poverty rate without imputed rent is used. Switzerland's rate is at 8.2%.
It should be noted here that one of the highest at-risk-of-poverty thresholds in Europe is used due to the high median income in Switzerland.
List of countries and accession status in 2022
EU
AT=Austria, BE=Belgium, BG=Bulgaria, CY=Cyprus, CZ=Czechia, DE=Germany, DK=Denmark, EE=Estonia, EL=Greece, ES=Spain, FI=Finland, FR=France, HR=Croatia, HU=Hungary, IE=Ireland, IT=Italy, LT=Lithuania, LU=Luxembourg, LV=Latvia, MT=Malta, NL=Netherlands, PL=Poland, PT=Portugal, RO=Romania, SE=Sweden, SI=Slovenia, SK=Slovakia.
Other countries
CH=Switzerland, ME=Montenegro, MK= North Macedonia, NO=Norway, RS=Serbia, UK=United Kingdom.
Further information
Statistical sources and concepts
Contact
Federal Statistical Office Section Income, Consumption and Living ConditionsEspace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
- Tel.
- +41 58 463 68 04