Are you part of Switzerland's wealthiest 20 percent?

How much money do you need to be considered rich in Switzerland? With a high cost of living and even higher salaries, the amount is quite eye-watering: a new study by a Swiss university has found that a single person who earns 8.125 francs a month is part of the top 20 percent of earners in the country.

The richest 20, 5 and 0,1 percent in Switzerland revealed

The Swiss Inequality Database, commissioned by the University of Lucerne, has discovered the amount you have to earn to be part of the richest 20, 5 and 0,1 percent of the population in each Swiss canton. This was achieved by analysing tax return data provided by the government for every region of Switzerland. The study's authors noted that what it means to be “rich” in Switzerland is highly dependent on where you choose to live.

Nationally, if your household earns 97.500 Swiss francs a year (before taxes are applied), you are part of the richest 20 percent in the country. This rises to 167.000 francs a year to join the top 5 percent, and 1,2 million francs a year to join the 0,1 percent club. Bear in mind that the average salary in Switzerland is 60.600 Swiss francs a year.

German-speaking areas and Lake Geneva the most affluent 

However, this picture changes dramatically when looking at individual cantons, with huge differences detected across the alpine nation. The most affluent areas were found to be in central and eastern Switzerland, and the area around Lake Geneva, while areas of the mountains, Ticino and French-speaking regions were found to be the most deprived.

Canton Zug was the most affluent area, with people having to earn 133.048 francs a year to be considered part of the top 20 percent, 310.584 to be part of the top 5 percent and 3,7 million Swiss francs a year to be in the top 0,1 percent. This is perhaps unsurprising, given Zug's reputation for low personal and business taxes.

Compare this with Canton Valais, where a person “only” has to earn 80.591 Swiss francs a year to be part of the richest 20 percent, and just 650.632 francs to be a member of the top 0,1 percent. Jura, Ticino and Neuchâtel rounded out the bottom four.

The most and least affluent cantons in Switzerland

In all, here is the annual salary you will need to be considered one of the top 20 percent of earners in the 10 most affluent cantons:

1. Zug (133.048)
2. Zurich (109.585)
3. Schwyz (108.934)
4. Basel-Land (106.284)
5. Nidwalden (104.425)
6. Geneva (102.873)
7. Vaud (101.170)
8. Aargau (101.098)
9. Basel-Stadt (98.784)
10. Appenzell Innerrhoden (97.751)

On the flip side, here’s how much you’ll need to earn to be part of the top 20 percent in the 10 least affluent cantons:

1. Valais (80.591)
2. Jura (83.928)
3. Ticino (85.165)
4. Neuchâtel (86.805)
5. Graubünden (86.992)
6. Glarus (88.349)
7. Bern (89.150)
8. Uri (89.159)
9. St. Gallen (90.486)
10. Appenzell Ausserrhoden (91.689)

For more information, and to see how your canton faired, check out the official study.