New study sheds light on equality in Switzerland: perception, challenges and solutions
How fair is Switzerland really?
Text: The 2024 Gerechtigkeitsbarometer (Equality Barometer), conducted by gfs.bern on behalf of Der Beobachter and supported by Coop Rechtsschutz, provides new insights into the perception of equality in Switzerland.
A representative survey of over 5,400 people shows that 54% of respondents perceive Switzerland as ‘rather just’ or ‘very just’. Nevertheless, many citizens see considerable room for improvement. Key points of criticism include crime and the deportation of foreign criminals, stagnating wages, gender-specific inequalities and the political neglect of the ‘little people’.
While younger people and city dwellers perceive equality more positively, older people, those living in rural areas or people on lower incomes see greater deficits. Political polarisation is also striking: supporters of left-wing parties focus on issues such as gender equality and sustainable economic activity, while conservative respondents prioritise the fight against crime and social abuse.
‘Women are disadvantaged": 63 per cent of women agree with this statement – but only 24 per cent of men. Picture: Anne Seeger and Andrea Klaiber
Almost two-thirds of respondents (63%) have recently experienced inequality in their personal lives. The workplace (25%) and interactions with public authorities (23%) are particularly affected. Women are more likely to report discrimination in their professional lives, while men are more likely to experience inequality when dealing with public authorities. Furthermore, the study shows that systematic disadvantages – especially against women and people with disabilities – are widely recognised, while injustices against LGBTQI people and people with a migration background are less frequently addressed.
The results show that the perception of justice depends heavily on individual circumstances. For example, people from higher social classes feel privileged more often, while citizens with lower incomes or education perceive greater inequalities.
The study also highlights possible solutions: in addition to a clear mandate for the political and economic sectors, the population sees NGOs and civil society as important actors in promoting equality. Individual contributions, such as consuming fair trade products or reducing one’s ecological footprint, are seen by many as feasible steps. At the same time, the population would like to see a stronger commitment from the state, as well as clear measures to promote equal opportunities.
The 2024 Equality Barometer emphasises that equality in Switzerland has many facets. It highlights the need to combine social and political forces to sustainably reduce existing inequalities. The full study is available on the gfs.bern website.
The 2024 Equality Barometer, commissioned by the Beobachter, is based on a representative survey of 5,447 people in Switzerland. The data collection took place between 20 August and 23 September 2024 in combination with an open survey advertised via Ringier online media (4,947 interviews) and a survey of the in-house panel (500 interviews).
The sample was weighted according to language region, age/sex and type of settlement. A weighting of content was carried out according to party preferences. In addition, the survey method was weighted. The statistical error is ±1.3 percentage points with a 95 per cent probability.
All details and results of the study can be found in the final report (in German language).
An overview of the methodological details can be found here (in German language).