Poverty and living standards in Zug (Zentralschweiz, Switzerland): official figures
Social security cost the cantonal government of Zug CHF 272.61 million in 2024, or CHF 2,038 per resident, 8th lowest of 26 cantons; health-insurance premium subsidies and other sickness benefits accounted for CHF 75.14 million of it.
How much does Zug spend on police?
Public order and safety, including the police (CHF 75.14 million), courts (CHF 35.85 million) and prisons (CHF 8.41 million), cost the cantonal government of Zug CHF 1,154 per resident in 2024.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyHow many people are on welfare in Zug?
1,719 people in 1,083 households or cases (support units) received social assistance in Zug in 2024, an average of 1.59 people per case.
Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copyMore figures
- Cantonal spending on social assistance and asylum in Zug was CHF 74.08 million in 2024 (CHF 554 per resident), with CHF 34.92 million going to old age and survivors and CHF 70.18 million to disability. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Families and young people received CHF 3.18 million of cantonal social spending in Zug in 2024, and social housing CHF 3.94 million. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- The social assistance rate in Zug was 1.6% in 2019, so it has fallen by 0.3 percentage points in five years (it stood at 1.7% in 2014). Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copy
- Zug accounted for 0.7% of all social assistance recipients in Switzerland in 2024, while holding 1.5% of the population. Source: Federal Statistical Office (BFS/OFS) · saved copy
How Zug compares with other cantons in Switzerland
Cantonal social security spending per resident (CHF) (2024)
Zug ranks 19 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal social security spending per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Luzern | CHF 2,138 |
| 17 | St. Gallen | CHF 2,057 |
| 18 | Graubünden / Grigioni / Grischun | CHF 2,055 |
| 19 | Zug | CHF 2,038 |
| 20 | Uri | CHF 1,964 |
| 21 | Appenzell Innerrhoden | CHF 1,857 |
| 22 | Nidwalden | CHF 1,845 |
Cantonal spending on social assistance and asylum per resident (CHF) (2024)
Zug ranks 13 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Cantonal spending on social assistance and asylum per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Bern / Berne | CHF 612 |
| 11 | Glarus | CHF 574 |
| 12 | Nidwalden | CHF 569 |
| 13 | Zug | CHF 554 |
| 14 | Uri | CHF 526 |
| 15 | Fribourg / Freiburg | CHF 513 |
| 16 | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | CHF 488 |
Social assistance rate (% of residents receiving economic social assistance) (2024)
Zug ranks 20 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Social assistance rate (% of residents receiving economic social assistance) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Aargau | 1.6% |
| 18 | Glarus | 1.5% |
| 19 | Schwyz | 1.3% |
| 20 | Zug | 1.3% |
| 21 | Thurgau | 1.1% |
| 22 | Uri | 1.1% |
| 23 | Graubünden / Grigioni / Grischun | 1.0% |
Change in social assistance rate, 2019-2024 (percentage points) (2024)
Zug ranks 17 of 26, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Change in social assistance rate, 2019-2024 (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 20 | Thurgau | -0.4 |
More on Zug: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · 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…)
- 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.