Government budget and revenue in Basel-Stadt (Nordwestschweiz, Switzerland): official figures
In 2024 the cantonal government of Basel-Stadt spent CHF 5.8 billion in total, or CHF 28,685 per resident, the highest of 26 cantons (all cantons: CHF 12,109 per resident).
Does Basel-Stadt have a budget deficit?
Revenue of the cantonal government of Basel-Stadt came to CHF 5.8 billion in 2024, leaving a financing surplus of CHF 49.93 million (0.9% of spending).
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyHow much tax does Basel-Stadt collect?
Taxes raised CHF 3.0 billion for the cantonal government of Basel-Stadt in 2024, CHF 15,116 per resident and 52.2% of all revenue; that is 2nd highest of 26 cantons on cantonal tax per head.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyDoes Basel-Stadt pay into fiscal equalisation?
Through fiscal and burden equalisation Basel-Stadt was a net payer in 2024: it paid CHF 126.65 million more than it received, about CHF 629 per resident.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyHow much debt does Basel-Stadt have?
At the end of 2024 the liabilities of the cantonal government of Basel-Stadt exceeded its financial assets by CHF 203.50 million, a net debt of CHF 1,011 per resident, 12th highest of 26 cantons.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyMore figures
- Direct taxes on individuals (income and wealth tax) brought Basel-Stadt CHF 2.1 billion in 2024, against CHF 710.60 million from direct taxes on companies, so companies paid 25.4% of the two combined. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Transfer revenue, mainly federal grants, revenue shares and equalisation, made up 24.5% of the revenue of the cantonal government of Basel-Stadt in 2024 (CHF 1.4 billion). Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Spending per resident by the cantonal government of Basel-Stadt rose by 15.4% in five years, from CHF 24,854 in 2019 to CHF 28,685 in 2024. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Personnel costs, including teachers' salaries of CHF 550.10 million, took 32.7% of cantonal spending in Basel-Stadt in 2024. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
How Basel-Stadt compares with other cantons in Switzerland
Cantonal government spending per resident (CHF) (2024)
Basel-Stadt ranks 1 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal government spending per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basel-Stadt | CHF 28,685 |
| 2 | Genève | CHF 22,340 |
| 3 | Vaud | CHF 14,824 |
| 4 | Neuchâtel | CHF 14,439 |
| 5 | Graubünden / Grigioni / Grischun | CHF 13,657 |
| 6 | Jura | CHF 13,639 |
| 7 | Zug | CHF 13,464 |
Cantonal tax revenue per resident (CHF) (2024)
Basel-Stadt ranks 2 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal tax revenue per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genève | CHF 16,112 |
| 2 | Basel-Stadt | CHF 15,116 |
| 3 | Zug | CHF 8,464 |
| 4 | Vaud | CHF 8,376 |
| 5 | Basel-Landschaft | CHF 7,474 |
| 6 | Neuchâtel | CHF 6,987 |
| 7 | Ticino | CHF 6,406 |
Cantonal net debt I per resident (CHF; negative = net wealth) (2024)
Basel-Stadt ranks 12 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal net debt I per resident (CHF; negative = net wealth) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Zürich | CHF 3,006 |
| 10 | Valais / Wallis | CHF 2,603 |
| 11 | Thurgau | CHF 2,131 |
| 12 | Basel-Stadt | CHF 1,011 |
| 13 | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | CHF 951 |
| 14 | Obwalden | CHF 588 |
| 15 | Luzern | CHF 195 |
Net fiscal and burden equalisation received per resident (CHF; negative = net payer) (2024)
Basel-Stadt ranks 23 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Net fiscal and burden equalisation received per resident (CHF; negative = net payer) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Basel-Landschaft | CHF -213 |
| 21 | Genève | CHF -380 |
| 22 | Zürich | CHF -617 |
| 23 | Basel-Stadt | CHF -629 |
| 24 | Nidwalden | CHF -1,115 |
| 25 | Schwyz | CHF -1,585 |
| 26 | Zug | CHF -2,946 |
More on Basel-Stadt: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.