Government budget and revenue in Zürich, Switzerland: official figures
In 2024 the cantonal governments of the Zürich region together spent CHF 17.9 billion in total, or CHF 11,025 per resident, 3rd lowest of 7 greater regions (all cantons: CHF 12,109 per resident).
Does the Zürich region have a budget deficit?
Revenue of the cantonal governments of the Zürich region together came to CHF 17.4 billion in 2024, leaving a financing deficit of CHF 458.17 million (2.6% of spending).
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyHow much tax does the Zürich region collect?
Taxes raised CHF 8.5 billion for the cantonal governments of the Zürich region together in 2024, CHF 5,245 per resident and 48.8% of all revenue; that is 3rd lowest of 7 greater regions on cantonal tax per head.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyDoes the Zürich region pay into fiscal equalisation?
Through fiscal and burden equalisation the Zürich region was a net payer in 2024: it paid CHF 999.68 million more than it received, about CHF 617 per resident.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyHow much debt does the Zürich region have?
At the end of 2024 the liabilities of the cantonal governments of the Zürich region together exceeded their financial assets by CHF 4.9 billion, a net debt of CHF 3,006 per resident, 4th highest of 7 greater regions.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyMore figures
- Direct taxes on individuals (income and wealth tax) brought the Zürich region CHF 6.2 billion in 2024, against CHF 1.5 billion from direct taxes on companies, so companies paid 20.0% of the two combined. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Transfer revenue, mainly federal grants, revenue shares and equalisation, made up 36.7% of the revenue of the cantonal governments of the Zürich region together in 2024 (CHF 6.4 billion). Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Spending per resident by the cantonal governments of the Zürich region together rose by 17.5% in five years, from CHF 9,384 in 2019 to CHF 11,025 in 2024. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Personnel costs, including teachers' salaries of CHF 3.2 billion, took 36.8% of cantonal spending in the Zürich region in 2024. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
How Zürich compares with other statistical regions
Cantonal government spending per resident (CHF) (2024)
Zürich ranks 5 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Cantonal government spending per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Région lémanique | CHF 16,557 |
| 2 | Ticino | CHF 12,538 |
| 3 | Espace Mittelland | CHF 12,361 |
| 4 | Nordwestschweiz | CHF 12,231 |
| 5 | Zürich | CHF 11,025 |
| 6 | Zentralschweiz | CHF 10,329 |
| 7 | Ostschweiz | CHF 10,300 |
Cantonal tax revenue per resident (CHF) (2024)
Zürich ranks 5 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Cantonal tax revenue per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Région lémanique | CHF 9,873 |
| 2 | Nordwestschweiz | CHF 6,695 |
| 3 | Ticino | CHF 6,406 |
| 4 | Espace Mittelland | CHF 5,369 |
| 5 | Zürich | CHF 5,245 |
| 6 | Zentralschweiz | CHF 5,207 |
| 7 | Ostschweiz | CHF 4,303 |
Cantonal net debt I per resident (CHF; negative = net wealth) (2024)
Zürich ranks 4 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Cantonal net debt I per resident (CHF; negative = net wealth) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ticino | CHF 7,366 |
| 2 | Région lémanique | CHF 7,175 |
| 3 | Espace Mittelland | CHF 4,238 |
| 4 | Zürich | CHF 3,006 |
| 5 | Nordwestschweiz | CHF 1,582 |
| 6 | Ostschweiz | CHF -1,974 |
| 7 | Zentralschweiz | CHF -3,035 |
Net fiscal and burden equalisation received per resident (CHF; negative = net payer) (2024)
Zürich ranks 6 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Net fiscal and burden equalisation received per resident (CHF; negative = net payer) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Espace Mittelland | CHF 1,394 |
| 2 | Ostschweiz | CHF 488 |
| 3 | Région lémanique | CHF 435 |
| 4 | Nordwestschweiz | CHF 202 |
| 5 | Ticino | CHF 199 |
| 6 | Zürich | CHF -617 |
| 7 | Zentralschweiz | CHF -796 |
More on Zürich: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government and politics · 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.