Every year, organisations that fight against antisemitism publish statistics on antisemitism in Switzerland. During 2020, CICAD, a non-profit organisation covering French-speaking Switzerland, reported a significant rise in cases, which rose to a total of 147, 144 of which were considered concerning. This represents a rise of 41% compared to 2019 when 100 significant antisemitic acts […]
Last weekend’s coldest Swiss temperature disqualified
Last weekend, at 4am on Saturday a thermometer at Switzerland’s Glattalp weather station 1,900m above sea level plunged to -44 degrees Celsius, the coldest temperature ever recorded in Switzerland. However, the record was disqualified because the thermometer was not in the open air at 2 metres from the ground. Instead it was buried under snow. […]
Sharp rise in Swiss trade
Swiss trade rose sharply in January 2021. However, one industry dominated and masked falls in other sectors. After falling in December 2020, seasonally adjusted Swiss exports rose 5.4% to CHF 18.9 billion in January 2021, according to recently published figures. In addition, imports were up 3.3% to CHF 15.3 billion. 90% of the rise in […]
Covid: Swiss cases and deaths continue downward trend
This week, Switzerland’s Covid figures continued to improve. Over the seven days to 19 February 2021, Switzerland reported 7,048 new positive Covid-19 cases and 133 deaths. The number of daily cases reported in Switzerland over the same period averaged 1,006, a figure 20% lower than the daily reported average of 1,265 reported the week before. The current infection rate […]
Swiss residential property prices on the rise
After falling by 0.8% in the first quarter of 2020, average Swiss residential property prices have rebounded, rising in every quarter since to deliver an annual 2020 increase of 2.5%. Average residential property prices rose by 1.4% in Q2, by 0.2% in Q3 and by 2.3% in the final quarter of 2020. Across the year, […]
Swiss unemployment jumps exceeding EU rate in Lake Geneva region
The rate of unemployment in Switzerland in the 4th quarter of 2020 was 4.9%, up from 3.9% in the 4th quarter of 2019. The same figures for the EU were 6.6% (Q4 2109) and 7.5% (Q4 2020). Unemployment rates were highest among those aged 15-24 (7.3%) and 25-39 (5.4%). Those aged 40-54 (4.6%) and 55-64 […]
Switzerland breaks deficit record in 2020
Switzerland’s federal accounts ended 2020 with a record-breaking deficit of CHF 15.8 billion. The deficit was caused by the pandemic. An unexpected CHF 3.6 billion fall in revenue combined with net CHF 12.5 billion in largely unplanned expenses combined to take the overall result CHF 16.1 billion below the expected positive net result of CHF […]
Poverty in Switzerland: fresh data on those struggling to get by
In 2019, the poverty line in Switzerland was CHF 27,348 (US$ 30,500) for a single person and CHF 47,712 (US$ 53,200) for a couple with two young children. The figures are calculated by SKOS based on the cost of living in Switzerland. People with incomes below these levels in Switzerland are considered to by living […]
Covid: Swiss government presents plan to reopen
On 17 February 2021, Switzerland’s Federal Council presented its plan to start reopening from 1 March 2021. With the number of new infections declining over recent weeks, political pressure has been growing for a return towards normality. A petition opposed to anti-Covid restrictions has now been signed by more than 250,000 people. At its meeting […]
Covid: more than 1% of Swiss population fully vaccinated
The latest figures published by Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) show that 1.18% of Switzerland’s population has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 since vaccinations began on 21 December 2020. The percentages varies by canton. The canton of Nidwalden, where 4.65% of the population have received a full course of vaccine, leads the way. […]
