Discrimination refers to acts or practices that unjustifiably disadvantage, humiliate, threaten or endanger the integrity of persons on grounds for example of their physical appearance, ethnicity, religious affiliation or gender. The indicator on the experience of discrimination captures the prevalence of the phenomenon in Switzerland from the perspective of the victims.
The value of the indicator measuring the experience of discrimination is 27% in 2022. About 3 out of 10 persons in Switzerland said that they had been subjected to discrimination over the past five years.
Over the period, the proportion of the population saying they experienced discrimination statistically and significantly increased:
- +7 percentage points between 2016 and 2020
- +13 percentage points between 2010 and 2020
Regardless of the year, the proportion of the population saying they experienced discrimination is higher than the proportion of the population saying they experienced physical or mental violence.
Proportion of the population that said they had been a victim of discrimination or violence during the past five years. See codebook questions discri_01, discri_02, viol_01, viol_02.
The figures presented do not tally with the cases of discrimination reported in counselling or reporting centres (explicit incidents, without conviction) or judicial sentences (explicit incidents, sentenced in court).
Grounds of discrimination and situations
The figures below indicate how many people feel discriminated against and which groups are most likely to experience negative treatment. Everyday situations in which discriminatory actions or words are experienced are also examined.
What are the discrimination grounds most mentioned by victims?
- Nationality: mentioned by 50% (population estimates 13%)
- Language: mentioned by 34% (population estimates 9%)
- Gender: mentioned by 27% (population estimates 7%)
Proportion of the population that says they have been a victim of discrimination during the past five years, by grounds of discrimination. A person could name several grounds. See codebook questions discri_03_gr_.
Permanent resident population aged 15 to 88 that say they have been a victim of discrimination in Switzerland in the past five years.
What are the situations in which discrimination occurred most mentioned by victims?
- Work and job search: mentioned by 54%
- Public spaces: mentioned by 29%
- School and education: mentioned by 23%
- In situations involving institutions:
- 14% said experiencing discrimination with public authorities
- 9% said experiencing discrimination with the police
Proportion of the population that says they have been a victim of discrimination during the past five years, by situation. A person could name several situations. See codebook questions discri_04_sit_.
Permanent resident population aged 15 to 88 that say they have been a victim of discrimination in Switzerland in the past five years.
As part of the FSO system of integration indicators, an indicator measuring racial discrimination and also calculated with VeS data is available. It focuses on the ethno-racial grounds of discrimination.
In Switzerland, racism and racial discrimination are monitored by various bodies. The Service for combating racism provides an overview of existing quantitative and qualitative data sources.
Further information
Tables
Sources
- Source: Survey on diversity and coexistence in Switzerland
- Years: 2010, 2012, 2014 (pilot) / 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022
- Universe: Permanent resident population aged 15 to 88
- Non-weighted numbers: n (2022) = 2908
Contact
Federal Statistical Office Section Demography and MigrationEspace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland