Poverty and living standards in Aargau (Nordwestschweiz, Switzerland): official figures
Social security cost the cantonal government of Aargau CHF 1.3 billion in 2024, or CHF 1,781 per resident, 3rd lowest of 26 cantons; health-insurance premium subsidies and other sickness benefits accounted for CHF 418.03 million of it.
How much does Aargau spend on police?
Public order and safety, including the police (CHF 212.31 million), courts (CHF 143.99 million) and prisons (CHF 106.25 million), cost the cantonal government of Aargau CHF 730 per resident in 2024.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyHow many people are on welfare in Aargau?
11,327 people in 7,364 households or cases (support units) received social assistance in Aargau in 2024, an average of 1.54 people per case.
Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copyMore figures
- Cantonal spending on social assistance and asylum in Aargau was CHF 270.45 million in 2024 (CHF 368 per resident), with CHF 194.48 million going to old age and survivors and CHF 366.65 million to disability. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Families and young people received CHF 2.36 million of cantonal social spending in Aargau in 2024, and social housing CHF 0. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- The social assistance rate in Aargau was 2.1% in 2019, so it has fallen by 0.5 percentage points in five years (it stood at 2.1% in 2014). Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copy
- Aargau accounted for 4.4% of all social assistance recipients in Switzerland in 2024, while holding 8.1% of the population. Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copy
How Aargau compares with other cantons in Switzerland
Cantonal social security spending per resident (CHF) (2024)
Aargau ranks 24 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal social security spending per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Uri | CHF 1,964 |
| 21 | Appenzell Innerrhoden | CHF 1,857 |
| 22 | Nidwalden | CHF 1,845 |
| 23 | Schwyz | CHF 1,782 |
| 24 | Aargau | CHF 1,781 |
| 25 | Thurgau | CHF 1,773 |
| 26 | Obwalden | CHF 1,631 |
Cantonal spending on social assistance and asylum per resident (CHF) (2024)
Aargau ranks 21 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal spending on social assistance and asylum per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 24 | St. Gallen | CHF 336 |
Social assistance rate (% of residents receiving economic social assistance) (2024)
Aargau ranks 17 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Social assistance rate (% of residents receiving economic social assistance) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 1.9% |
| 15 | Valais / Wallis | 1.9% |
| 16 | St. Gallen | 1.8% |
| 17 | Aargau | 1.6% |
| 18 | Glarus | 1.5% |
| 19 | Schwyz | 1.3% |
| 20 | Zug | 1.3% |
Change in social assistance rate, 2019-2024 (percentage points) (2024)
Aargau ranks 21 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Change in social assistance rate, 2019-2024 (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | -0.4 |
| 19 | Bern / Berne | -0.4 |
| 20 | Thurgau | -0.4 |
| 21 | Aargau | -0.5 |
| 22 | Glarus | -0.5 |
| 23 | Basel-Landschaft | -0.6 |
| 24 | Zürich | -0.6 |
More on Aargau: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · government and politics · Nordwestschweiz · 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.