Over-qualification rates by citizenship in Switzerland

Switzerland: Over-qualification rates by citizenship was 17.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
17.2%
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
33rd
of 45 countries
All-time high
23.3%
in 1996
All-time low
17.2%
in 2025
Years of data
30
1996–2025

Over-qualification rates by citizenship in Switzerland, 1996–2025

05101520251996201020251996: 23.3 Percentage1997: 23.1 Percentage1998: 21.3 Percentage1999: 21.1 Percentage2000: 20.7 Percentage2001: 20.7 Percentage2002: 21.2 Percentage2003: 20 Percentage2004: 21 Percentage2005: 20 Percentage2006: 20 Percentage2007: 20.3 Percentage2008: 20.6 Percentage2009: 20.1 Percentage2010: 20.9 Percentage2011: 22 Percentage2012: 21.5 Percentage2013: 21.9 Percentage2014: 22.1 Percentage2015: 21.5 Percentage2016: 20.9 Percentage2017: 21.2 Percentage2018: 20.8 Percentage2019: 20.1 Percentage2020: 19.8 Percentage2021: 19 Percentage2022: 17.9 Percentage2023: 18.5 Percentage2024: 17.9 Percentage2025: 17.2 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

In 2025, over-qualification rates by citizenship in Switzerland stood at 17.2%. That is the lowest value across all 30 years on record.

The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 20.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, over-qualification rates by citizenship in Switzerland peaked at 23.3% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 17.2%, in 2025.

That places Switzerland 33rd out of 45 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 30 years of available data.

Over-qualification rates by citizenship in Switzerland, year by year

Annual values for Over-qualification rates by citizenship in Switzerland, 1996 to 2025.
Year Percentage Change
1996 23.3% —
1997 23.1% -0.9%
1998 21.3% -7.8%
1999 21.1% -0.9%
2000 20.7% -1.9%
2001 20.7% +0.0%
2002 21.2% +2.4%
2003 20.0% -5.7%
2004 21.0% +5.0%
2005 20.0% -4.8%
2006 20.0% +0.0%
2007 20.3% +1.5%
2008 20.6% +1.5%
2009 20.1% -2.4%
2010 20.9% +4.0%
2011 22.0% +5.3%
2012 21.5% -2.3%
2013 21.9% +1.9%
2014 22.1% +0.9%
2015 21.5% -2.7%
2016 20.9% -2.8%
2017 21.2% +1.4%
2018 20.8% -1.9%
2019 20.1% -3.4%
2020 19.8% -1.5%
2021 19.0% -4.0%
2022 17.9% -5.8%
2023 18.5% +3.4%
2024 17.9% -3.2%
2025 17.2% -3.9%

Switzerland compared with similar countries

  • Switzerland's 17.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 20.1%, 85% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • Switzerland's 17.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 20.0%, 86% of the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 22.2% 21.1% 23.3% 4
2000s 20.5% 20.0% 21.2% 10
2010s 21.3% 20.1% 22.1% 10
2020s 18.4% 17.2% 19.8% 6

Countries ranked near Switzerland

  1. 30 Iceland 18.3% compare
  2. 30 Norway 18.3% compare
  3. 32 Montenegro 18.1% compare
  4. 34 Finland 16.9% compare
  5. 35 Denmark 16.3% compare
  6. 36 Portugal 16.1% compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More reference data data for Switzerland

All data for Switzerland →

Frequently asked questions

What is over-qualification rates by citizenship in Switzerland?
Over-qualification rates by citizenship in Switzerland was 17.2% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest over-qualification rates by citizenship recorded in Switzerland?
The highest recorded value was 23.3% in 1996.
What is the lowest over-qualification rates by citizenship recorded in Switzerland?
The lowest recorded value was 17.2% in 2025.
How does Switzerland rank for over-qualification rates by citizenship?
Switzerland ranks 33rd out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
Is over-qualification rates by citizenship rising or falling in Switzerland?
Over the last ten years it is down 20.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Switzerland data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Over-qualification rates by citizenship. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Over-qualification rates by citizenship in Switzerland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 25 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/over-qualification-rates-by-citizenship/switzerland/

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About this data

Indicator
Over-qualification rates by citizenship
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 1,261 data points, 1995–2025
Last refreshed