Included in the MEHM (Minimum European Health Module, a module incorporated into European health surveys), this is an indicator linked to chronic diseases. Suffering from a chronic disease or a long-term health problem may have considerable negative consequences on social integration.
In 2019, 28% of the Swiss permanent resident population aged 15 or over suffered from long-term health problems. The population with a migration background suffered less than the population without a migration background: the first generation had a rate of 27%, the second or subsequent generations 23%, while the population without a migration background had a rate of 29%.
From 2012 to 2019, there was an increase in long-term health problems in the total population and the population with a migration background (respectively 11.0 and +1.4 percentage points). The increase is not significant in the other population groups.
In most cantons, the population without a migration background had more long-term health problems than those with a migration background. This difference is significant in the cantons of Zurich, Schaffhausen, Vaud and Geneva.
Definitions
Share of persons saying that they suffered from a chronic or long-term disease or health problem, i.e. minimum of 6 months.
Contact
Federal Statistical Office Section Demography and MigrationEspace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland