Experience of discrimination

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.

Throughout the population, 3% say that they have been subject to physical violence, 11% to mental violence and 24% to discrimination. 28% say that they have been subjected to at least one type of discrimination over the past five years.

Methodological aspects

Proportion of the population that said they had been a victim of discrimination or violence during the past five years. A distinction is made between several types: discrimination, physical violence, mental violence. Total: proportion of the population that says it has been subject to at least one type.

Self-report: the percentages 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).

Reference to questionnaire

Questions

1) During the past five years, have you experienced a situation where you have been discriminated against due to your belonging to a group?

2) Have you been subject to physical violence due to your belonging to a group?

3) Have you been subject to mental violence due to your belonging to a group?

Possible answers

1. Yes once, 2. Yes several times, 3. No never, 9. no answer. Consideration of answers 1-2 (together) to questions 1-3.

58% of the victims said they were discriminated against because of their nationality and 27% because of their language or accent. The following grounds of discrimination are then mentioned: gender (19%), professional position (18%), religion (15%) and distinctive physical appearance (15%). 11% of victims say they have been subject to unfair treatment because of their ethnic origin.

Methodological aspects

Proportion of the population that says they have been a victim of discrimination during the past five years, by grounds of discrimination. Respondents could name several grounds.

Reference to questionnaire

Question

Because of your belonging to which group have you been a victim of discrimination in Switzerland? Several answers possible.

Possible answers

1. age, 2. sex, gender, 3. sexual orientation, 4. foreign nationality, 5. Swiss nationality, 6. ethnicity, 7. religion, 8. skin colour, other distinctive physical appearance, 9. language, dialect, accent, 10. socio-economic level, 11. professional position, 12. political views, other opinions, 13. disability, 14. belonging to another group, 15. not belonging to a specific group, 99. no answer.

Consideration of all possible answers. Grouping together of answers: 4-5 = nationality, 15-99 = not belonging to specific group, no information.

Information on data

Sub-universe

Permanent resident population aged 15 to 88 that say they have been a victim of discrimination in Switzerland in the past five years  (n = 703).

Among people who reported having experienced discrimination in the past five years, half (50%) say it occurred at work or when looking for work. 25% of victims say they have been subject to unfair treatment in public spaces and 24% in other non-specified situations. 19% of persons have been subject to discrimination in education and 11% each when looking for accommodation or during leisure time. 8% said they have experienced unfair treatment when dealing with the police and 10% when dealing with public authorities.

Methodological aspects

Proportion of the population that says they have been a victim of discrimination during the past five years, by situation. Respondents could name several situations.

Reference to questionnaire

Question

In Switzerland, in which precise situations have you been a victim of discrimination? Several answers possible.

Possible answers

1. looking for work, job application, 2. everyday working life, colleagues, superiors, 3. school, higher education, 4. looking for accommodation, 5, public authority, administrative procedures, 6. social assistance, 7. medical care, health, 8. police, 9. army, 10, public transport or public spaces,  11. entering a restaurant, bar, club,  12. leisure, sport, local organisation, 13. family, private sphere, 14. other situations, 9. no answer.

Consideration of all possible answers. Grouping together of answers: 1-2 = working life.

Information on data

Sub-universe

Permanent resident population aged 15 to 88 that say they have been a victim of discrimination in Switzerland in the past five years  (n = 703).

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Racial discrimination

As part of the system of integration indicators developed by the FSO, an indicator measuring racial discrimination and also calculated with VeS data is available. It focuses on the ethno-racial aspects as grounds of discrimination.

• To the integration indicator (German version)
• To the integration indicator (French version)

Further information

Tables

Sources

Source: Survey on diversity and coexistence in Switzerland (VeS-2018)

Universe: Permanent resident population aged 15 to 88.                         Non-weighted numbers: n (total) = 3127