The financial social assistance rate is the main indicator of the social assistance recipients statistics. It represents the proportion of recipients who received a social assistance payment during the survey year in relation to the whole of the permanent resident population.
Financial social assistance rate and geographic distribution
In 2022, 256 800 persons in Switzerland received social assistance in the form of a financial benefit on at least one occasion. The social assistance rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 2.9%.
The differences between cantons in the social assistance rate are partly related to the population structure and the economic make-up of the region, partly to the cantonal benefits that precede financial social assistance.
Groups at risk in social assistance
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.
Education level of social assistance recipients
The education level of recipients is an important factor in the risk of becoming dependent on social assistance. Persons without professional training or education are over-represented in social assistance. They form 14.6% of the permanent resident population but represent 49.5% of social assistance recipients. This proportion is almost three times higher in social assistance than in the overall population.
Further informations
Statistical sources and concepts
Contact
Federal Statistical Office Section Social WelfareEspace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
- Tel.
- +41 58 461 44 44