Children or pets, poverty or wealth? 1.29 Many around the country are wondering how long it will be before Switzerland’s population surpasses ten million. Well, it may take a while yet, given that Switzerland’s birth rate has fallen to a record low of 1.29 children per female. SOURCE: FEDERAL STATISTICAL OFFICE, 2024 SURVEY 7,024 Fewer kids. Abandoned pets. This cannot only be down to a lack of money. The average full-time monthly gross wage in the country has increased to 7,024 francs, which should be more than enough to cover the cost of raising 1.29 children – with enough change left over to feed two or three guinea pigs. SOURCE: FEDERAL STATISTICAL OFFICE, 2025 9% But maybe the average wage is misleading, suggesting that everyone in Switzerland is doing fine. In an extensive report, the federal government has revealed that nine per cent of the Swiss population live below the poverty line, i.e. earn less than the minimum needed to get by. This percentage has never fallen in ten years, despite the government pledging to reduce poverty. SOURCE: FEDERAL SOCIAL INSURANCE OFFICE, 2025 32,000 One of the reasons is that more and more people in Switzerland prefer not to have children. Almost one fifth of those in their 20s say they don’t want kids. But many still like the idea of taking on responsibility. Hence, the market for pets is booming. On the flip side: thousands of dogs, cats, rabbits, fish, birds and other creatures are abandoned or turned over to animal shelters every year. Swiss Animal Protection, Switzerland’s leading animal welfare organisation, takes in 32,000 unwanted pets a year alone. SOURCE: SWISS ANIMAL PROTECTION (SAP) 850,000,000,000 If the average wage has increased and the poverty rate remains high, then perhaps the wealthy have become even wealthier. Indeed they have. In 2025, the total wealth owned by the 300 richest Swiss climbed to a record high of 850 billion francs. SOURCE: BILANZ BUSINESS MAGAZINE, ANNUAL SURVEY FIGURES COMPILED BY MARC LETTAU Imprint “Swiss Review”, the magazine for the Swiss Abroad, is in its 51st year of publication and is published five times a year, in 13 regional editions, in German, French, English and Spanish. It has a total circulation of 479,000, including 311,000 electronic copies. All Swiss Abroad who are registered with a Swiss representation receive the magazine free of charge. Anyone else can subscribe for an annual fee (Switzerland: CHF 30 / Abroad: CHF 50). ONLINE EDITION www.revue.ch EDITORS Walter Schmid, Editor-in-Chief (WS), Stéphane Herzog (SH), Theodora Peter (TP), Susanne Wenger (SWE), Amandine Madziel, FDFA representative (AM) FDFA OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS The editorial responsibility for the “Notes from the Federal Palace” section is assumed by the Consular Directorate, Innovation and Partnerships, Effingerstrasse 27, 3003 Berne, Switzerland. kdip@eda.admin.ch | www.eda.admin.ch ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Airpage AG, Uster/Zurich furrer@airpage.ch | www.airpage.ch The ordering parties are fully responsible for the content of advertisements and promotional inserts. This content does not necessarily represent the opinion of either the editorial office or the publisher. EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Nema Bliggenstorfer (NB) TRANSLATION SwissGlobal Language Services AG, Baden LAYOUT Roman Häfliger, Basel PRINT Vogt-Schild Druck AG, Derendingen PUBLISHER The “Swiss Review” is published by the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad. The postal address of the publisher and the editorial office is: Organisation of the Swiss Abroad, Alpenstrasse 26, 3006 Berne. revue@swisscommunity.org Phone: +41 31 356 61 10 Bank details: CH97 0079 0016 1294 4609 8 / KBBECH22 COPY DEADLINE FOR THIS EDITION 15 December 2025 CHANGES OF ADDRESS Please advise your local embassy or consulate. The editorial team cannot access your address and administrative data. Thank you. Swiss Review / February 2026 / No.1 19 Switzerland in figures
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