Unfortunately, there is no sign that the situation for people affected or threatened by poverty will ease this year. On the contrary, we at Caritas see clear indications that our society is drifting further apart, says Peter Lack, Director of Caritas Switzerland.
For years, Switzerland has failed to reduce poverty, as shown by the Federal Government's recent first national poverty monitoring report. The poverty issue in Switzerland has become chronic. As a society, we face the task of ensuring more equal opportunities and compensation. It is unacceptable that 16 percent of the population - including many families and children - are faced with severely limited perspectives and the daily worry of securing their livelihoods, emphasizes Peter Lack.
Costs are rising, wages are stagnant
Caritas Switzerland identifies seven reasons why the situation for poorer people will worsen in 2026:
1. Rising living costs particularly burden poorer households, as they must spend practically their entire gross income on fixed costs and basic needs.
2. Health insurance premiums are rising and rising. January 1, 2026, marks the fourth significant premium increase in a row.
3. The pressure on the housing market will continue to increase in 2026. Finding adequate housing is practically hopeless for poorer households.
4. Many expenses are rising, but low wages are stagnant. Between 2020 and 2024, they even slightly decreased. In 2026, low wages are unlikely to be higher in real terms than six years ago.
5. Securing livelihoods is insufficient. Specifically, the basic needs rate in social assistance is too low.
6. Family support in Switzerland is inadequate. In no other European country does a household's standard of living decrease as much when a child is added. One in five children in Switzerland is affected or threatened by poverty, and the trend has been rising since 2014.
7. The wealthy are relieved, the poor are burdened: poorer households do not benefit from the current trend towards tax cuts, whereas an increase in VAT affects them much more than the wealthy.
The conclusion of Aline Masé, Head of the Principles and Policy Department, is that inequality is increasing in Switzerland, making it even more difficult for the poorer. In our view, this is the wrong development. According to Caritas, poorer households urgently need stronger relief, for instance, through the expansion of existing measures like premium reduction. At the same time, a further increase in inequality must be prevented. Possible measures could include higher wealth or inheritance taxes.
New web platform on poverty in Switzerland
Today, Caritas launches the web platform "Poverty in Switzerland." It provides a comprehensive overview of the poverty situation in Switzerland in a well- understood form. We want to contribute to the fact that knowledge about poverty is widely accessible at the start of Caritas Switzerland's 125th-anniversary, says Peter Lack.
Questions addressed include: What does it mean to be poor in wealthy Switzerland? Who is affected and how exactly? How does our social system work and where are the gaps?
The web platform can be found at www.caritas.ch/armutsplattform
Numbers and facts about poverty in Switzerland
- Over 1.4 million people in Switzerland live below or just above the poverty line according to the Federal Statistical Office. That is 16 percent of the population.
- 708,000 people are affected by poverty in the narrow sense.
- This includes about 100,000 children affected by poverty.
- 336,000 men and women are affected or threatened by poverty despite being employed and are considered the working poor.
- An individual affected by poverty in Switzerland has a maximum of 2,315 Swiss francs monthly available, a family of four with parents and two children 4,051 francs.
Press contact:
Livia Leykauf
Media spokesperson Caritas Switzerland
medien@caritas.ch
076 233 45 04