The latest data from the European statistics office Eurostat has revealed that nearly one in five people in Switzerland are at risk of poverty, the highest rate seen in 10 years. What’s more, one Swiss canton was found to have the 17th highest risk in Europe.

Nearly one in five people in Switzerland at risk of poverty

According to the data, 19,5 percent of the population of Switzerland is at risk of poverty or social exclusion, an increase from last year and the highest rate reported since 2014. For Eurostat, people are counted as being "at risk" if their salary is 60 percent of the national median - in Switzerland this means 2.587 francs a month for a single person - they cannot afford necessities, holidays or unexpected costs, or they only work 20 percent of total working hours.

Despite the decline, 19,5 percent still places Switzerland mid-table compared to nations in the European Union, and better than all of its neighbours with the exception of Austria. Romania, Turkey and Bulgaria have the highest poverty rates of the countries analysed, with more than 30 percent of their populations found to be at risk.

By contrast, Czechia (12 percent), Slovenia (13,7 percent), the Netherlands, Norway and Finland (15,8 percent each) were found to have the lowest poverty risk rates in the EU / EEA / EFTA.

However, Eurostat noted that these risks can vary wildly within each nation, with cities and capitals often fairing better than surrounding regions. In Romania for example, Bucharest’s poverty risk rate stood at 12,3 percent of the population, compared to 32,9 percent for the region that surrounds it.

Canton Zurich has lowest at-risk poverty rate in Switzerland

These geographical differences were also very apparent in Switzerland, with Canton Zurich rated as the region with the lowest poverty risk rate. There, 15,5 percent of the population was at risk, putting it on a par with Scandinavia, the Netherlands and southern German federal states.

Zurich was just ahead of “eastern Switzerland” - featuring seven cantons like St. Gallen and both Appenzells - with 15,8 percent, followed by central Switzerland (18,6 percent), northwest Switzerland (19,8 percent), the Lake Geneva region (20,1 percent) and the Mittelland (21,9 percent). 

Over a third of Ticino residents at risk of poverty, Eurostat finds

By contrast, Canton Ticino was ranked as having the highest poverty risk rate in Switzerland. 35,1 percent of inhabitants were found to be at risk of poverty, one of the highest rates in central Europe. In fact, Ticino was ranked as the 17th worst region in Europe, alongside regions in the Balkans and southern Italy.

However, these findings should be taken with a small pinch of salt. As median salaries and living costs in the rest of Switzerland are so much higher compared to Ticino, it means that more workers in the region are pulled into Eurostat’s definition of being “at risk.”

Ticino poverty a "disgrace" says local charity

Nevertheless, Switzerland’s own data from last year reported that a quarter of Ticinese are at risk of poverty. "Poverty is a disgrace for many Ticino residents," social charity Francesco Foundation head Martino told SRF in December last year. 

Speaking to the broadcaster economics professor and Ticino expert Christian Marazzi argued that poverty is becoming increasingly prevalent in the region. He added that what was once predominantly a phenomenon among women is now affecting people across society, including those with jobs.

He concluded that Ticino will remain this way until the government, local institutions and locals conduct massive top-down reforms around costs and working life.

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