A look at the figures from the Federal Statistical Office reveals that 134,000 children and young people in Switzerland live below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold. This represents 8.1 per cent of the permanent resident population of Switzerland. This makes children the largest group affected by poverty in this country.
The cantons of Neuchâtel, Geneva and Basel-Stadt have the highest rates of social assistance among minors. The fight against poverty is a matter for the cantons. The level of support one receives varies depending on where one lives.
National Strategy to Combat Poverty
In 2020, Parliament mandated the Federal Council to establish a national poverty monitoring system and to report to the Federal Assembly every five years. The monitoring system is intended to provide the Confederation, the cantons and the municipalities with the information they need to shape poverty policy as effectively as possible. The regular nature of the monitoring is intended to highlight long-term trends.
The first monitoring report was published at the end of 2025. Among other things, it states that in Switzerland there is a strong link between social background and the educational opportunities of children and young people, and that schools therefore have great potential to improve equality of opportunity.
New objectives for social assistance
Raising awareness amongst teachers is cited as a possible starting point – so that children from low-income households are not systematically underestimated. Furthermore, improved access to out-of-school activities contributes to social integration.
Based on these findings, a national strategy to combat poverty is to be developed by mid-2027.
Furthermore, the Conference of Cantonal Social Affairs Directors has approved the second stage of the revision of the SKOS guidelines. Under the new provisions, the support of children and young people is to be explicitly included amongst the objectives of social assistance. Accordingly, costs incurred by families affected by poverty – such as those for summer camps, music lessons or sport – may be covered by social assistance if they serve the child's best interests and promote participation in social life.
A good start with «Gustaf’
The Nidwalden Midwives’ Association has been commissioned by the Public Health Department to make early contact with expectant parents facing difficult circumstances and, where necessary, to arrange appropriate psychosocial or material support. The project has been running as a permanent service since 2023.
Information, help and advice on all aspects of the (family) budget: budgetberatung.ch
