This week, Unisanté published calculations showing Swiss life expectancy of 84 years for 2023, the highest level ever reached. Life expectancy at birth was 82.2 for men and 85.6 for women, said Unisanté, referencing its calculations based on Federal Statistical Office (FSO) data. These figures are higher than they were in 2019, before the Covid-19 […]
Switzerland makes progress on gender gap
Every year, the World Economic Forum (WEF) compares the economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment of men and women across the world. The latest report, published on 14 June 2024, shows a shrinking gap between Swiss men and women. This year, Switzerland scored 0.785 and ranked 20th, up from […]
Switzerland’s low incarceration rate comes with Europe’s second highest prison suicide rate
A study published this week highlights Switzerland’s high prison suicide rate (20.2 per 10,000), which is second only to Latvia’s (21.7 to 10,000) in Europe. The average prison suicide rate across the 45 European countries in the survey was 7.1 per 10,000. The rate across Swiss prisons was 20.2 per 10,000, nearly three times the […]
Gambling addiction rising fast in Switzerland
With the arrival of the internet, gambling was transformed. It became easier to access and market gambling products. Data published this week show how this continues lure an increasing number of people in Switzerland to bet, which is pushing up the number of people with a gambling addiction. According to the report by an organisation […]
Swiss canton bans sexist advertisement
Authorities in the canton of Vaud recently banned an advert they consider sexist, reported RTS. A study last year found half of advertising in Switzerland used discriminatory generalisations. The offending advert used a picture of a naked man walking in the mountains to advertise insurance. A Vaud government body tasked with combatting sexist advertising issued […]
Gambian ex-minister given 20 years in prison by Swiss court
This week, Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court sentenced a former Gambian interior minister to 20 years in prison for multiple crimes against humanity, reported RTS. The ruling is historic. It is the first time a European court has convicted and sentenced someone for crimes committed against humanity outside Europe. Ousman Sonko came to Switzerland as an […]
Switzerland wins Eurovision with song “The Code”
Nemo Mettler, the 24-year-old who grew up in Bienne/Biel in Switzerland, won Eurovision with “The Code”, a song with elements of rap, drum and base and opera. This year’s Eurovision competition, the 68th edition, took place over the weekend in the Swedish city of Malmo. Born in Switzerland in 1999, Nemo has been playing the […]
Federal Council wants to get tough on conscription choices to boost military
A shortage of military personnel is creating challenges for Switzerland’s leaders. This week, the Federal Council said it wants to make it harder for conscripts to opt for community service and to use some of those doing civil service for defense. However, the idea was met with resistance. Over the years, it has become easier […]
Swiss police firearm use lowest in 14 years
Switzerland’s police carry guns but rarely use them. In 2023, firearms were used only twice, the lowest number in 14 years, reported CCPCS, an organisation that connects cantonal police forces. The use of police force is always based on the principle of proportionality, said the organisation. The use of firearms is only permitted as a […]
Migration between Swiss cantons – gainers and losers
The population is growing exceptionally fast in Switzerland. The nation draws many migrants from the EU and takes in proportionally high numbers of refugees. Over the last 20 years, the nation’s population has risen by 20%, far more than in France (10%), Austria (12%), Italy (3%) and Germany (2%) over the same period. In addition […]
