Poverty and living standards in Solothurn (Espace Mittelland, Switzerland): official figures
Social security cost the cantonal government of Solothurn CHF 713.36 million in 2024, or CHF 2,462 per resident, 11th highest of 26 cantons; health-insurance premium subsidies and other sickness benefits accounted for CHF 191.99 million of it.
How much does Solothurn spend on police?
Public order and safety, including the police (CHF 119.23 million), courts (CHF 55.36 million) and prisons (CHF 63.98 million), cost the cantonal government of Solothurn CHF 1,045 per resident in 2024.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyHow many people are on welfare in Solothurn?
9,740 people in 6,555 households or cases (support units) received social assistance in Solothurn in 2024, an average of 1.49 people per case.
Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copyMore figures
- Cantonal spending on social assistance and asylum in Solothurn was CHF 108.51 million in 2024 (CHF 374 per resident), with CHF 145.53 million going to old age and survivors and CHF 216.23 million to disability. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Families and young people received CHF 32.53 million of cantonal social spending in Solothurn in 2024, and social housing CHF 441. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- The social assistance rate in Solothurn was 3.4% in 2019, so it has stayed level over five years (it stood at 3.6% in 2014). Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copy
- Solothurn accounted for 3.8% of all social assistance recipients in Switzerland in 2024, while holding 3.2% of the population. Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copy
How Solothurn compares with other cantons in Switzerland
Cantonal social security spending per resident (CHF) (2024)
Solothurn ranks 11 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal social security spending per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Schaffhausen | CHF 2,767 |
| 9 | Valais / Wallis | CHF 2,540 |
| 10 | Fribourg / Freiburg | CHF 2,471 |
| 11 | Solothurn | CHF 2,462 |
| 12 | Glarus | CHF 2,435 |
| 13 | Basel-Landschaft | CHF 2,385 |
| 14 | Zürich | CHF 2,294 |
Cantonal spending on social assistance and asylum per resident (CHF) (2024)
Solothurn ranks 20 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal spending on social assistance and asylum per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Basel-Landschaft | CHF 408 |
| 18 | Zürich | CHF 408 |
| 19 | Graubünden / Grigioni / Grischun | CHF 379 |
| 20 | Solothurn | CHF 374 |
| 21 | Aargau | CHF 368 |
| 22 | Luzern | CHF 343 |
| 23 | Schwyz | CHF 342 |
Social assistance rate (% of residents receiving economic social assistance) (2024)
Solothurn ranks 7 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Social assistance rate (% of residents receiving economic social assistance) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Vaud | 4.2% |
| 5 | Jura | 3.9% |
| 6 | Bern / Berne | 3.6% |
| 7 | Solothurn | 3.4% |
| 8 | Schaffhausen | 2.8% |
| 9 | Ticino | 2.8% |
| 10 | Zürich | 2.5% |
Change in social assistance rate, 2019-2024 (percentage points) (2024)
Solothurn ranks 8 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Change in social assistance rate, 2019-2024 (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Ticino | +0.1 |
| 6 | Valais / Wallis | +0.1 |
| 7 | Appenzell Innerrhoden | +0.0 |
| 8 | Solothurn | +0.0 |
| 9 | Schwyz | -0.1 |
| 10 | Uri | -0.1 |
| 11 | Fribourg / Freiburg | -0.3 |
More on Solothurn: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · government and politics · Espace Mittelland · Switzerland
Sources
- Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF): Detaillierte Daten FS und GFS Modell: Standardauswertungen (financial statistics of the Confederation, cantons, communes and social insurance, 1990-2024; standardauswertung.csv with its codelist, saved zipped), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5fec658d1506…)
- Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS): WSH: Unterstützungseinheiten, Sozialhilfebeziehende und Sozialhilfequote der wirtschaftlichen Sozialhilfe nach Kanton, 2005-2024 (T 13.05.01.01.01), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 12ff5cd56e28…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.