Hiking accidents have doubled in Switzerland since 2009

While hiking is a popular pastime in Switzerland, the sport can still prove to be quite dangerous. Insurance company Suva has found that the number of reported hiking accidents in Switzerland has doubled over the past 15 years.

Hiking accidents on the rise in Switzerland

Insurance company Suva has reported that an average of 4.000 hiking accidents took place in the Swiss mountains each year between 2009 and 2013. This number has since increased quite dramatically, doubling to 9.000 incidents reported on average each year between 2019 and 2023.

The COVID-19 pandemic encouraged a surge in hikers as people spent more time outside, resulting in an increase in hiking accidents too, reports Watson. In 2009, there were 3.586 hiking-related incidents and by 2020 the number had tripled to 11.119. The number of reported incidents has since dropped to 7.876 in 2023.

To add to this, Zentralplus reports an even starker figure from the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC). The number of hiking fatalities in Switzerland has declined only slightly since 2013. There were 150 hiking-related deaths reported in 2013, and by 2024 the number dropped slightly to 111. Furthermore, approximately 50 percent of fatalities involved internationals (i.e. someone without a Swiss passport).

Most hiking accidents due to tripping or falling

Over 80 percent of reported hiking accidents were due to “tripping, slipping, falling or a misstep”, reports Watson. This was followed by being bitten or stung by an insect and “other scenarios” such as “being struck or hit”, for example by falling rocks or tree branches.

These incidents were largely due to “incorrect equipment, lack of experience, lack of attention and overestimated fitness.” Suva recommends via their website that potential hikers plan routes carefully to match fitness levels, take frequent breaks, wear appropriate footwear and pay attention to the hiking trail in order to minimise the likelihood of an accident.