Recommended by the EU, this indicator only concerns people of Swiss nationality aged 18 and over as only Swiss passport holders have the right to vote at federal level in Switzerland.
Relevance/Result
Trends over time
Major region
In 2019 the percentage of people who said they would take part in at least 8 out 10 popular votes is significantly higher among Swiss nationals without a migration background (68%) than among those with a migration background from the first generation (61%) and from the second or subsequent generations (56%).
Between 2014 and 2019, the rate of people who would take part in at least 8 out of 10 federal votes increased among people without a migration background (+2 percentage points) and among the first generation (+5 percentage points). However, there is no significant difference in the population with a migration background of the 2nd generation between 2014 and 2019. Since 2016, it has had the lowest turnout in federal elections.
The major regions for which there are sufficient numbers to disseminate results for both population groups tend to show significant differences in participation in at least 8 out of 10 federal votes, with a higher rate in the population without a migration background than in the population with a migration background. The difference is pronounced in Zurich (74% compared with 55%), i.e. 1.3 times higher.
Definitions
“If there were 10 federal votes next year, How many would you usually take part in?” Here we are looking at the rate of Swiss national who say they take part in at least 8 out of 10 votes.
Methodologies
Following changes to the survey framework and improvements in the weighting model, results from 2014 on can no longer be directly compared with those from previous years (series break).
Contact
Federal Statistical Office Section Demography and MigrationEspace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland