Migrant poverty decreasing in Switzerland, report finds

People with a migration background living in Switzerland are generally worse off than those without a migration background. However, the gap is gradually closing, according to new figures from the Federal Statistical Office. 

Migrants in Switzerland more likely to experience poverty

The Swiss Federal Statistical Office regularly publishes figures on the integration of the population with a migration background. Examining eight different areas of life, the latest study shows that people with a migration background are still more likely to experience poverty and unfavourable living conditions than Swiss citizens. 

For instance, people with a migration background are more likely to live in noisy neighbourhoods, are three times more likely to have difficulty making ends meet financially, and have a lower average income than people without a migration background, despite working. A significantly lower proportion of migrants feel that they can ask others for help, compared to the native Swiss population. 

Median income is increasing at faster rate than among native Swiss

However, there are some positive developments: although many migrants do still struggle financially, the proportion experiencing poverty has decreased over the last decade. The median disposable income has also increased at a faster rate among the migrant population than it has among those without a migrant background.

Since 2020, the poverty rate among employed people with a migrant background has fallen slightly. At the same time, the poverty rate has actually risen slightly among those without a migrant background. In 2023, almost 6 percent of people with a migrant background were affected by poverty, 20 Minuten reports, compared to 3,5 percent of native Swiss people. In 2020, it was 6,2 percent of migrants and 3 percent of Swiss people.