Government budget and revenue in St. Gallen (Ostschweiz, Switzerland): official figures
In 2024 the cantonal government of St. Gallen spent CHF 5.3 billion in total, or CHF 9,879 per resident, 7th lowest of 26 cantons (all cantons: CHF 12,109 per resident).
Does St. Gallen have a budget deficit?
Revenue of the cantonal government of St. Gallen came to CHF 5.2 billion in 2024, leaving a financing deficit of CHF 184.05 million (3.4% of spending).
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyHow much tax does St. Gallen collect?
Taxes raised CHF 2.5 billion for the cantonal government of St. Gallen in 2024, CHF 4,677 per resident and 49.0% of all revenue; that is 12th lowest of 26 cantons on cantonal tax per head.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyDoes St. Gallen receive money from fiscal equalisation?
Through fiscal and burden equalisation St. Gallen was a net receiver in 2024: equalisation payments received exceeded those paid by CHF 112.68 million, about CHF 209 per resident.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyHow much debt does St. Gallen have?
At the end of 2024 the financial assets of the cantonal government of St. Gallen exceeded its liabilities by CHF 400.41 million, a net wealth of CHF 741 per resident, so it had no net debt (10th lowest of 26 cantons on net debt per head).
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyMore figures
- Direct taxes on individuals (income and wealth tax) brought St. Gallen CHF 1.6 billion in 2024, against CHF 416.28 million from direct taxes on companies, so companies paid 20.7% of the two combined. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Transfer revenue, mainly federal grants, revenue shares and equalisation, made up 35.3% of the revenue of the cantonal government of St. Gallen in 2024 (CHF 1.8 billion). Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Spending per resident by the cantonal government of St. Gallen rose by 1.9% in five years, from CHF 9,697 in 2019 to CHF 9,879 in 2024. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Personnel costs, including teachers' salaries of CHF 326.87 million, took 20.4% of cantonal spending in St. Gallen in 2024. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
How St. Gallen compares with other cantons in Switzerland
Cantonal government spending per resident (CHF) (2024)
St. Gallen ranks 20 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal government spending per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Basel-Landschaft | CHF 10,623 |
| 18 | Glarus | CHF 10,237 |
| 19 | Nidwalden | CHF 9,925 |
| 20 | St. Gallen | CHF 9,879 |
| 21 | Obwalden | CHF 9,831 |
| 22 | Luzern | CHF 9,528 |
| 23 | Schwyz | CHF 9,520 |
Cantonal tax revenue per resident (CHF) (2024)
St. Gallen ranks 15 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal tax revenue per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Schwyz | CHF 4,928 |
| 13 | Graubünden / Grigioni / Grischun | CHF 4,794 |
| 14 | Appenzell Innerrhoden | CHF 4,688 |
| 15 | St. Gallen | CHF 4,677 |
| 16 | Luzern | CHF 4,593 |
| 17 | Schaffhausen | CHF 4,564 |
| 18 | Fribourg / Freiburg | CHF 4,426 |
Cantonal net debt I per resident (CHF; negative = net wealth) (2024)
St. Gallen ranks 17 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal net debt I per resident (CHF; negative = net wealth) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Obwalden | CHF 588 |
| 15 | Luzern | CHF 195 |
| 16 | Nidwalden | CHF -602 |
| 17 | St. Gallen | CHF -741 |
| 18 | Aargau | CHF -795 |
| 19 | Fribourg / Freiburg | CHF -810 |
| 20 | Glarus | CHF -2,024 |
Net fiscal and burden equalisation received per resident (CHF; negative = net payer) (2024)
St. Gallen ranks 14 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Net fiscal and burden equalisation received per resident (CHF; negative = net payer) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Thurgau | CHF 647 |
| 12 | Aargau | CHF 600 |
| 13 | Appenzell Innerrhoden | CHF 243 |
| 14 | St. Gallen | CHF 209 |
| 15 | Ticino | CHF 199 |
| 16 | Vaud | CHF 137 |
| 17 | Schaffhausen | CHF -29 |
More on St. Gallen: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government and politics · Ostschweiz · 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.