Slight rise in the number of defaulting debtors
The number of defaulting debtors in Switzerland has risen by 1.1% since January and now lies at 418,951.
Slight increase in the rate of defaulting debtors, to 5.6%
The CRIF rate of defaulting debtors among all private individuals aged over 18 in Switzerland is now 5.6%. This has risen slightly over the past six months.
High rates of defaulting debtors in western Switzerland, Basel Stadt and Solothurn
The upswing is particularly striking in Geneva: this canton now reports a defaulting debtor rate of 9.4%, joining Neuchâtel in recording the highest level in Switzerland. This development clearly underscores the differences between the various regions. Other cantons with high rates of defaulting debtors are Basel-Stadt, at 7.5%, Solothurn at 7.2% and Vaud at 6.8%.
Appenzell Innerrhoden reports the lowest rate of defaulting debtors
The Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden boasts the lowest rate of defaulting debtors in Switzerland, at just 1.5%. The central Swiss cantons of Uri, Obwalden, Zug and Nidwalden also lie significantly below the national average.
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 August 2025.
CRIF rate of defaulting debtors by canton, as of 31st August 2025
| Canton | Rate of defaulting debtors |
|
Neuchâtel |
9.4% |
|
Geneva |
9.4% |
|
Basel Stadt |
7.5% |
|
Solothurn |
7.2% |
|
Vaud |
6.8% |
|
Jura |
6.4% |
|
Ticino |
6.0% |
|
Glarus |
6.0% |
|
Valais |
5.7% |
|
Bern |
5.6% |
|
Schaffhausen |
5.6% |
|
Freiburg |
5.4% |
|
Basel Land |
5.3% |
|
St Gallen |
5.2% |
|
Aargau |
5.1% |
|
Thurgau |
4.8% |
|
Appenzell Ausserrhoden |
4.6% |
|
Zurich |
4.5% |
|
Lucerne |
4.3% |
|
Graubünden |
3.5% |
|
Schwyz |
3.1% |
|
Nidwalden |
2.7% |
|
Obwalden |
2.6% |
|
Uri |
2.5% |
|
Zug |
2.5% |
|
Appenzell Innerrhoden |
1.5% |
