Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Switzerland
Switzerland: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 6,183 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Switzerland, 1982–2023
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 6,183 people for distribution of population between different poverty lines in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 66.2% on the previous year and up 81.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Switzerland peaked at 44,739 people in 1982 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 2002.
That places Switzerland 105th out of 120 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 44,739 people | — |
| 1992 | 41,252 people | -7.8% |
| 2000 | 7,184 people | -82.6% |
| 2002 | 0 people | -100.0% |
| 2004 | 7,390 people | — |
| 2006 | 5,694 people | -22.9% |
| 2007 | 5,353 people | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 5,992 people | +11.9% |
| 2009 | 2,947 people | -50.8% |
| 2010 | 5,575 people | +89.2% |
| 2011 | 832 people | -85.1% |
| 2012 | 717 people | -13.8% |
| 2013 | 3,412 people | +375.9% |
| 2014 | 2,683 people | -21.4% |
| 2015 | 2,530 people | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 3,761 people | +48.7% |
| 2017 | 1,845 people | -50.9% |
| 2018 | 3,002 people | +62.7% |
| 2019 | 1,491 people | -50.3% |
| 2020 | 6,092 people | +308.6% |
| 2021 | 3,320 people | -45.5% |
| 2022 | 18,317 people | +451.7% |
| 2023 | 6,183 people | -66.2% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 6,183 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 41,302 people, 15% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 6,183 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23,791 people, 26% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Switzerland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +451.7% | 3,320 people | 18,317 people |
| 2013 | +375.9% | 717 people | 3,412 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 44,739 people | 44,739 people | 44,739 people | 1 |
| 1990s | 41,252 people | 41,252 people | 41,252 people | 1 |
| 2000s | 4,937 people | 0 people | 7,390 people | 7 |
| 2010s | 2,585 people | 717 people | 5,575 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,478 people | 3,320 people | 18,317 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More poverty & inequality data for Switzerland
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 8 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.43 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 5,706 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -6.17 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 26.79 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 26.8% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in Switzerland?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Switzerland was 6,183 people in 2023, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 44,739 people in 1982.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 2002.
- How does Switzerland rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Switzerland ranks 105th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 81.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.