Government budget and revenue in Nidwalden (Zentralschweiz, Switzerland): official figures
In 2024 the cantonal government of Nidwalden spent CHF 450.03 million in total, or CHF 9,925 per resident, 8th lowest of 26 cantons (all cantons: CHF 12,109 per resident).
Does Nidwalden have a budget deficit?
Revenue of the cantonal government of Nidwalden came to CHF 486.90 million in 2024, leaving a financing surplus of CHF 36.87 million (8.2% of spending).
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyHow much tax does Nidwalden collect?
Taxes raised CHF 272.95 million for the cantonal government of Nidwalden in 2024, CHF 6,019 per resident and 56.1% of all revenue; that is 8th highest of 26 cantons on cantonal tax per head.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyDoes Nidwalden pay into fiscal equalisation?
Through fiscal and burden equalisation Nidwalden was a net payer in 2024: it paid CHF 50.58 million more than it received, about CHF 1,115 per resident.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyHow much debt does Nidwalden have?
At the end of 2024 the financial assets of the cantonal government of Nidwalden exceeded its liabilities by CHF 27.28 million, a net wealth of CHF 602 per resident, so it had no net debt (11th 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 Nidwalden CHF 176.89 million in 2024, against CHF 27.62 million from direct taxes on companies, so companies paid 13.5% of the two combined. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Transfer revenue, mainly federal grants, revenue shares and equalisation, made up 28.6% of the revenue of the cantonal government of Nidwalden in 2024 (CHF 139.43 million). Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Spending per resident by the cantonal government of Nidwalden rose by 8.8% in five years, from CHF 9,119 in 2019 to CHF 9,925 in 2024. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Personnel costs, including teachers' salaries of CHF 13.32 million, took 19.8% of cantonal spending in Nidwalden in 2024. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
How Nidwalden compares with other cantons in Switzerland
Cantonal government spending per resident (CHF) (2024)
Nidwalden ranks 19 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal government spending per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | CHF 10,653 |
| 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 |
Cantonal tax revenue per resident (CHF) (2024)
Nidwalden ranks 8 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal tax revenue per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Basel-Landschaft | CHF 7,474 |
| 6 | Neuchâtel | CHF 6,987 |
| 7 | Ticino | CHF 6,406 |
| 8 | Nidwalden | CHF 6,019 |
| 9 | Bern / Berne | CHF 5,825 |
| 10 | Jura | CHF 5,306 |
| 11 | Zürich | CHF 5,245 |
Cantonal net debt I per resident (CHF; negative = net wealth) (2024)
Nidwalden ranks 16 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal net debt I per resident (CHF; negative = net wealth) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | CHF 951 |
| 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 |
Net fiscal and burden equalisation received per resident (CHF; negative = net payer) (2024)
Nidwalden ranks 24 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 Nidwalden: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government and politics · Zentralschweiz · 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.