Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Switzerland
Switzerland: Social protection spending as share of total government spending was 39.3% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Switzerland, 2007–2023
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
In 2023, social protection spending as share of total government spending in Switzerland stood at 39.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, social protection spending as share of total government spending in Switzerland peaked at 43.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 38.4%, in 2009.
That places Switzerland 9th out of 37 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 39.3% | — |
| 2008 | 38.5% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 38.4% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 39.0% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 38.8% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 38.6% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 39.8% | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 39.6% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 39.5% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 39.8% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 39.6% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 39.5% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 39.3% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 43.2% | +10.0% |
| 2021 | 39.6% | -8.4% |
| 2022 | 38.9% | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 39.3% | +1.1% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 39.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.5%, 1.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 39.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 36.4%, 1.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.7% | 38.4% | 39.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 39.3% | 38.6% | 39.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.2% | 38.9% | 43.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More reference data data for Switzerland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5507 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2683 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.272 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is social protection spending as share of total government spending in Switzerland?
- Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Switzerland was 39.3% in 2023, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest social protection spending as share of total government spending recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 43.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest social protection spending as share of total government spending recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.4% in 2009.
- How does Switzerland rank for social protection spending as share of total government spending?
- Switzerland ranks 9th out of 37 countries with data for 2023.
- Is social protection spending as share of total government spending rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Social protection spending as share of total government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
General government expenditure on social protection. This data is divided by total government expenditure, expressed as a percentage.