Poverty and living standards in Vaud (Région lémanique, Switzerland): official figures
Social security cost the cantonal government of Vaud CHF 3.8 billion in 2024, or CHF 4,441 per resident, 3rd highest of 26 cantons; health-insurance premium subsidies and other sickness benefits accounted for CHF 951.82 million of it.
How much does Vaud spend on police?
Public order and safety, including the police (CHF 284.48 million), courts (CHF 227.21 million) and prisons (CHF 172.12 million), cost the cantonal government of Vaud CHF 1,061 per resident in 2024.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyHow many people are on welfare in Vaud?
35,641 people in 21,281 households or cases (support units) received social assistance in Vaud in 2024, an average of 1.67 people per case.
Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copyMore figures
- Cantonal spending on social assistance and asylum in Vaud was CHF 1.3 billion in 2024 (CHF 1,464 per resident), with CHF 406.31 million going to old age and survivors and CHF 599.53 million to disability. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Families and young people received CHF 457.94 million of cantonal social spending in Vaud in 2024, and social housing CHF 0. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- The social assistance rate in Vaud was 4.5% in 2019, so it has fallen by 0.3 percentage points in five years (it stood at 4.9% in 2014). Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copy
- Vaud accounted for 13.9% of all social assistance recipients in Switzerland in 2024, while holding 9.4% of the population. Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copy
How Vaud compares with other cantons in Switzerland
Cantonal social security spending per resident (CHF) (2024)
Vaud ranks 3 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal social security spending per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genève | CHF 5,886 |
| 2 | Basel-Stadt | CHF 5,564 |
| 3 | Vaud | CHF 4,441 |
| 4 | Neuchâtel | CHF 3,908 |
| 5 | Ticino | CHF 3,448 |
| 6 | Jura | CHF 3,121 |
| 7 | Bern / Berne | CHF 2,779 |
Cantonal spending on social assistance and asylum per resident (CHF) (2024)
Vaud ranks 2 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal spending on social assistance and asylum per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genève | CHF 2,427 |
| 2 | Vaud | CHF 1,464 |
| 3 | Basel-Stadt | CHF 1,432 |
| 4 | Neuchâtel | CHF 1,073 |
| 5 | Ticino | CHF 774 |
| 6 | Jura | CHF 742 |
| 7 | Valais / Wallis | CHF 716 |
Social assistance rate (% of residents receiving economic social assistance) (2024)
Vaud ranks 4 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Social assistance rate (% of residents receiving economic social assistance) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genève | 6.7% |
| 2 | Neuchâtel | 5.7% |
| 3 | Basel-Stadt | 4.7% |
| 4 | Vaud | 4.2% |
| 5 | Jura | 3.9% |
| 6 | Bern / Berne | 3.6% |
| 7 | Solothurn | 3.4% |
Change in social assistance rate, 2019-2024 (percentage points) (2024)
Vaud ranks 16 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Change in social assistance rate, 2019-2024 (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Luzern | -0.3 |
| 14 | Obwalden | -0.3 |
| 15 | St. Gallen | -0.3 |
| 16 | Vaud | -0.3 |
| 17 | Zug | -0.3 |
| 18 | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | -0.4 |
| 19 | Bern / Berne | -0.4 |
More on Vaud: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · government and politics · Région lémanique · 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.