Key facts & figures

The definitions and key facts to understand Swiss news: old-age pension, occupational pension, the SMI, popular votes…

• Health insurance in Switzerland (LAMal): how it works

  Mandatory insurance, premiums, deductible, co-payment and subsidies: Switzerland's health insurance system (LAMal) explained simply, and why premiums keep rising.

• Housing in Switzerland: a nation of renters

  Low homeownership, high rents, a tight market, the reference interest rate: how housing works in Switzerland and why most people rent.

• Public holidays in Switzerland: why they vary by canton

  Only one federal holiday, the rest decided by the cantons: why public holidays differ from one canton to another in Switzerland.

• Recycling and waste in Switzerland: the bag tax and sorting

  Bag tax, strict sorting, PET, glass, aluminium: how waste management works in Switzerland, one of the world's top recycling countries.

• Salaries in Switzerland: how much do people really earn?

  Median wage, no federal minimum wage, a 13th salary: what to know about pay in Switzerland, among the highest in the world.

• State, occupational and private pensions: the Swiss retirement system explained

  State, occupational and private pensions: Switzerland's three-pillar retirement system, how the parts fit together and why they keep returning at the ballot box.

• Swiss public transport: the SBB and a renowned network

  SBB, a dense network, punctuality, the Half-Fare and travelpass: how Swiss public transport works, among the most used in the world.

• Taxes in Switzerland: Confederation, canton and municipality

  Federal, cantonal and municipal tax, wealth tax, tax competition between cantons: how the Swiss tax system really works.

• The cost of living in Switzerland: expensive, but why?

  Zurich and Geneva among the world's most expensive cities, but high salaries: what is costly in Switzerland and what offsets it, explained simply.

• The driving licence in Switzerland: steps and exchange

  Learner's permit, exams, probationary licence, exchanging a foreign licence: how to obtain and get a driving licence recognised in Switzerland.

• The history of Switzerland in a few key dates

  From 1291 to the UN in 2002, by way of the federal state of 1848: the key dates that shaped Switzerland, summarised simply.

• The SMI explained: the benchmark index of the Swiss stock market

  The SMI (Swiss Market Index) brings together the 20 largest companies listed on the Swiss stock exchange. What it measures, what it contains and why Nestlé, Novartis and Roche carry so much weight.

• The Swiss franc and the central bank: why such a strong currency?

  Safe haven, strong franc, Swiss National Bank: what makes the Swiss franc one of the world's most solid currencies, and the role of the central bank.

• The Swiss healthcare system: respected, costly, decentralised

  Hospitals run by the cantons, free choice of doctor, high quality but costs among the world's highest: the Swiss healthcare system explained.

• Working in Switzerland: work permits and cross-border commuters

  B, C and G (cross-border) permits, free movement with the EU, high salaries: what you need to know to work in Switzerland, explained simply.