Statistics counts

for you.

Statistics counts

for you.

Introduction.

Official statistics are essential to democratic debate based on solid facts. They provide information on population growth, the economic situation and the level of education as well as on society, spatial planning and the environment, as shown in these graphs.

On behalf of government and Parliament, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) collects data with the support of its various partners.

As national centre for official statistics in Switzerland, it coordinates surveys to ease the burden on businesses in particular.

The FSO produces objective and well-founded data. Data that can be counted on. Data that enable comparisons with other countries and that show where we have come from and where we are going. Statistics counts. For you too!

How many people live in Switzerland? How old are they? How many children do they have? Where did they come from and where do they live? What job do they do? How are religions, languages and occupations distributed throughout the population?

The Federal Statistical Office provides reliable figures on the population, its origins, its age structure and employment. In so doing it not only describes the past but provides an essential foundation for the future to plan for public infrastructure such as schools and old people's homes, or roads and railways. Without this foundation, cantonal financial compensation could not be calculated and the number of seats in the National Council could not be allocated.

Permanent resident population

at the end of 2020

8 670 300

Permanent resident population

at the end of 2020

8 670 300

How many people live in Switzerland? How old are they? How many children do they have? Where did they come from and where do they live? What job do they do? How are religions, languages and occupations distributed throughout the population?

The Federal Statistical Office provides reliable figures on the population, its origins, its age structure and employment. In so doing it not only describes the past but provides an essential foundation for the future to plan for public infrastructure such as schools and old people's homes, or roads and railways. Without this foundation, cantonal financial compensation could not be calculated and the number of seats in the National Council could not be allocated.

How many people find it hard to make ends meet on their wages and are therefore dependent on social assistance benefits? When do we retire? Does poverty exist in Switzerland?

The Federal Statistical Office keeps a record of how our social security is doing, how much social benefits cost as well as where the money comes from and where it goes. This creates transparency, enabling policy makers to distribute resources correctly and to predict where bottlenecks might occur in future. An objective statistical basis is needed for the welfare state to remain fair and sustainable.

Social assistance recipients

in 2019

271 400

Social assistance recipients

in 2019

271 400

How many people find it hard to make ends meet on their wages and are therefore dependent on social assistance benefits? When do we retire? Does poverty exist in Switzerland?

The Federal Statistical Office keeps a record of how our social security is doing, how much social benefits cost as well as where the money comes from and where it goes. This creates transparency, enabling policy makers to distribute resources correctly and to predict where bottlenecks might occur in future. An objective statistical basis is needed for the welfare state to remain fair and sustainable.

What is the percentage of women in the National Council? How has this percentage changed since the introduction of the right to vote for women in 1971? How many federal popular votes have there been since the creation of the Federal State in 1848?

Switzerland depends on its direct democracy. The Federal Statistical Office documents and analyses elections and referendums and publishes the latest figures on the Sunday of the federal votes and elections. The Federal Statistical Office also maintains historical overviews with many dating as far back as 1848. Which initiatives were accepted or rejected? How did the individual cantons vote? The Federal Statistical Office knows the answer.

Women in the National Council

Progress from 1971 to 2019

Women in the National Council

Progress from 1971 to 2019

What is the percentage of women in the National Council? How has this percentage changed since the introduction of the right to vote for women in 1971? How many federal popular votes have there been since the creation of the Federal State in 1848?

Switzerland depends on its direct democracy. The Federal Statistical Office documents and analyses elections and referendums and publishes the latest figures on the Sunday of the federal votes and elections. The Federal Statistical Office also maintains historical overviews with many dating as far back as 1848. Which initiatives were accepted or rejected? How did the individual cantons vote? The Federal Statistical Office knows the answer.

What is the state of Switzerland's economy? What are the trends in consumer prices and how much money do private households have left over at the end of the month? How does the price level in Switzerland compare internationally?

The Federal Statistical Office compiles important information on the Swiss economy – on such diverse topics as inflation, business statistics and the National Accounts. These data help provide consumers with fair prices. They make for more reliable planning and help the Swiss economy to recognise trends in good time as well as exploiting competitive and locational advantages.

Savings rate of private households

in 2020

27,6%

Savings rate of private households

in 2020

27,6%

What is the state of Switzerland's economy? What are the trends in consumer prices and how much money do private households have left over at the end of the month? How does the price level in Switzerland compare internationally?

The Federal Statistical Office compiles important information on the Swiss economy – on such diverse topics as inflation, business statistics and the National Accounts. These data help provide consumers with fair prices. They make for more reliable planning and help the Swiss economy to recognise trends in good time as well as exploiting competitive and locational advantages.

How many children start school each year? How many teachers will we need in the coming years? How much does a degree course cost? Which courses provide the best job security? How much money do the Confederation, cantons and businesses spend on research and development?

Education is the foundation of every society. The Federal Statistical Offices provides the necessary information on all levels of education. This enables the education authorities and policy makers to plan educational programmes ahead, to set them up and strengthen them – from compulsory schooling to the higher education institutes and continuing education.

Pupils in compulsory education

in 2019/20

965 937

Pupils in compulsory education

in 2019/20

965 937

How many children start school each year? How many teachers will we need in the coming years? How much does a degree course cost? Which courses provide the best job security? How much money do the Confederation, cantons and businesses spend on research and development?

Education is the foundation of every society. The Federal Statistical Offices provides the necessary information on all levels of education. This enables the education authorities and policy makers to plan educational programmes ahead, to set them up and strengthen them – from compulsory schooling to the higher education institutes and continuing education.

What is the occupancy rate of hospital beds? How often do Swiss people take exercise? How many people die from a heart attack, have breast cancer or are coping with the consequences of diabetes? What does our health system cost?

With comprehensive surveys on health and health care provision, the Federal Statistical Office makes an important contribution to the recording of disease, treatment and the population's health behaviour. This also reveals where and for what reason health costs are increasing and where bottlenecks in health care provision can be expected in the future, so that action can be taken in time.

Full-time equivalent jobs in hospitals and nursing homes

in 2019

269 504

Full-time equivalent jobs in hospitals and nursing homes

in 2019

269 504

What is the occupancy rate of hospital beds? How often do Swiss people take exercise? How many people die from a heart attack, have breast cancer or are coping with the consequences of diabetes? What does our health system cost?

With comprehensive surveys on health and health care provision, the Federal Statistical Office makes an important contribution to the recording of disease, treatment and the population's health behaviour. This also reveals where and for what reason health costs are increasing and where bottlenecks in health care provision can be expected in the future, so that action can be taken in time.

By how many square metres does the built environment increase every day? How fast are the glaciers disappearing? What quantity of natural resources are consumed every year? How high are environment-related taxes? Is Switzerland evolving into a sustainable development?

The land use statistics provide data that is essential for spatial planning. The environmental satellite account provides an important basis for decision making in Swiss policy. Furthermore, large amounts of data from the federal statistics are fed into an indicator system which measures Switzerland's progress with regard to sustainable development.

84%

of the population rate the environment quality in Switzerland as very good or quite good

in 2019

84%

of the population rate the environment quality in Switzerland as very good or quite good

in 2019

By how many square metres does the built environment increase every day? How fast are the glaciers disappearing? What quantity of natural resources are consumed every year? How high are environment-related taxes? Is Switzerland evolving into a sustainable development?

The land use statistics provide data that is essential for spatial planning. The environmental satellite account provides an important basis for decision making in Swiss policy. Furthermore, large amounts of data from the federal statistics are fed into an indicator system which measures Switzerland's progress with regard to sustainable development.

How many kilometres do Swiss residents travel per day? How long does an average commute take? What trends can be seen in passenger and goods transport by road and rail? How much does transport cost and who pays what?

Without mobility nothing moves. The federal statistics data series provide information on people's behaviour towards mobility and their use of the infrastructure as well as providing figures on the resulting costs and environmental damage. This information is an important basis for decision-making, for example with regard to investments in the expansion of transport infrastructure and security improvements.

Passenger car stocks

in 2020

4 658 335

Passenger car stocks

in 2020

4 658 335

How many kilometres do Swiss residents travel per day? How long does an average commute take? What trends can be seen in passenger and goods transport by road and rail? How much does transport cost and who pays what?

Without mobility nothing moves. The federal statistics data series provide information on people's behaviour towards mobility and their use of the infrastructure as well as providing figures on the resulting costs and environmental damage. This information is an important basis for decision-making, for example with regard to investments in the expansion of transport infrastructure and security improvements.

What trends can be seen in the different economic sectors in Switzerland? How is the business performance of Swiss companies? How many companies are founded or closed down each year? And how many jobs do they provide?

Economic statistics are useful to every business: for example when choosing new locations, for comparisons with rival companies, for calculating personnel costs or the availability of specialists. Economic statistics are also a basis on which to make important decisions. The Swiss National Bank, for example, uses them for its monetary policy.

39 608

Newly founded enterprises

in 2018

39 608

Newly founded enterprises

in 2018

What trends can be seen in the different economic sectors in Switzerland? How is the business performance of Swiss companies? How many companies are founded or closed down each year? And how many jobs do they provide?

Economic statistics are useful to every business: for example when choosing new locations, for comparisons with rival companies, for calculating personnel costs or the availability of specialists. Economic statistics are also a basis on which to make important decisions. The Swiss National Bank, for example, uses them for its monetary policy.

Why statistics count.

Statistics are an important point of reference in an increasingly complex world. In a modern government their role is to objectify: They turn mere supposition into knowledge and can bring emotional debates back to reality.

Without statistics politics, economy and the society - all of us - risk making decisions on the basis of false assumptions. For this reason the Federal Statistical Office counts. On you too.

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