Groups at risk of social exclusion

Despite the existence of social insurances and means-tested benefits, some people do not have sufficient financial resources to cover their fundamental needs and/or face deficiencies in various areas of their existence.

Financial resources approach: social assistance in the narrow sense

Economic social assistance is the last safety net of the social security system. It assures coverage of the basic needs of those who do not have access to other social benefits.

The risk of depending on social assistance is greater for certain population groups such as children, foreign nationals, divorced persons and those with no post-compulsory education. The financial social assistance rate is higher in urban regions and increases in parallel to the size of the commune.

The rate of households on social assistance was 3.9% in 2021 showing only slight changes compared with 2014. Households composed of two or more not married adults and minors recorded a slight decrease during this period. For other types of household, the social assistance rate remained stable.

Financial resources approach: income poverty

Those who do not have the financial means to acquire goods and services necessary to an integrated social life can be measured using the absolute poverty rate. This includes all persons with a disposable household income that is below the poverty line based on a social existence minimum set by the Swiss Conference for Social Assistance.

In 2021, 8.7% of the Swiss resident population living in a private household was affected by income poverty. Those particularly concerned were:
• Persons living in a household without an employed person
• Persons living in a lone-parent household
• Adults of working age living alone
• Persons without a post-compulsory education
• Persons of foreign origin
• Persons aged 65 and over. However, this population group more often has resources to cover its current expenditure than other groups.

Living conditions approach

This approach covers the situation of groups at risk in various areas of existence such as financial situation, housing, work, education and training, health, social relations, social and political participation, personal security and well-being.

In 2020, in the population as a whole, 2.2% had both objective and subjective disadvantages. Those particularly concerned were the unemployed, persons with a low income and persons without a post-compulsory education.

Further information

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Statistical sources and concepts

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