Slight increase in the number of defaulting debtors
In Switzerland, the number of defaulting debtors has risen to 414,364, which represents an increase of 1.5% compared with the previous year.
Slight decline in the rate of defaulting debtors
The CRIF rate of defaulting debtors among all private individuals aged over 18 in Switzerland is now 5.5%. This is a very slight fall over the past 12 months, a result produced due to the growth in the country’s population.
High rates of defaulting debtors in western Switzerland, Basel Stadt and Solothurn
There are still major differences between the various regions. Western Switzerland reports higher rates of defaulting debtors than the remainder of Switzerland. The Canton of Neuchâtel reports the highest rate of defaulting debtors, at 9.2%, followed by Geneva at 8.7%, Basel Stadt at 7.6%, Solothurn at 7.1% and Vaud at 6.8%.
Appenzell Innerrhoden reports the lowest rate
The Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden boasts the lowest rate of defaulting debtors in Switzerland, at 1.4%. The central Swiss Cantons of Uri, Obwalden, Zug and Nidwalden also report low rates of defaulting debtors.
Men bear higher levels of debt
Major differences can also be seen between the genders: men are more heavily in debt than women. The highest rate of defaulting debtors (10%) is found in men aged between 40 and 44. However, the same difference is not present in every age group – men and women between the ages of 18 and 24 report practically the same rates of bad debt as each other.
CRIF rate of defaulting debtors
The CRIF rate of defaulting debtors is calculated on the basis of all those private individuals who are involved in debt enforcement proceedings following requests for continuation of enforcement demands, bankruptcies and loss certificates. In addition, CRIF also consolidates and includes the payment records of over 10,000 businesses across the whole of Switzerland. This survey was carried out on 31st January 2025.
CRIF rate of defaulting debtors by Canton
| Canton | Rate of defaulting debtors |
| NE | 9.2% |
| GE | 8.7% |
| BS | 7.6% |
| SO | 7.1% |
| VD | 6.8% |
| JU | 6.3% |
| TI | 5.9% |
| GL | 5.9% |
| VS | 5.7% |
| BE | 5.6% |
| SH | 5.6% |
| FR | 5.4% |
| BL | 5.3% |
| SG | 5.1% |
| AG | 5.1% |
| TG | 4.8% |
| AR | 4.6% |
| ZH | 4.6% |
| LU | 4.4% |
| GR | 3.5% |
| SZ | 3.1% |
| NW | 2.7% |
| OW | 2.7% |
| ZG | 2.5% |
| UR | 2.5% |
| AI | 1.4% |
