The third Swiss Family Barometer, published by Pax and Pro Familia Switzerland, provides insights into the current challenges and concerns of families in Switzerland.
The third Swiss family barometer, published by Pax and Pro Familia Switzerland, provides insights into the current challenges and concerns of families in Switzerland. The representative study, for which 2,200 families were surveyed, shows that financial issues remain the biggest concern. However, regional differences and the pressure on parents also shape family life.
Health insurance premiums and rising prices continue to top the list of family concerns. 45 per cent of respondents cited premiums as their most pressing problem, followed by rising prices (39 per cent) and health issues (29 per cent). Housing costs (24 per cent) and the school system (23 per cent) are also among the top five issues.
An interesting trend is emerging in relation to the media and social media: the importance of this topic has increased in the last three years (from 16 to 20 per cent). At the same time, topics such as climate change and energy supply are becoming less relevant. While 21 per cent of families still cited climate change as an important topic in 2022, this figure had fallen to just 14 per cent in 2025.
Regional differences: education system and youth violence
In addition to financial concerns, which dominate in all parts of the country, there are significant regional differences. In German-speaking Switzerland, the school system and education policy concern 28 per cent of families, while youth violence is a bigger issue in French-speaking Switzerland. In French-speaking Switzerland, 23 per cent of families cited youth violence as an urgent problem, while in Ticino the figure was 17 per cent. In German-speaking Switzerland, the figure is only 8 per cent.
Pressure on parents affects family life
A quarter of the families surveyed say that the pressure on parents affects family life. The main reasons cited for this pressure are the need to balance work and family life (54 per cent), followed by high expectations of oneself (49 per cent). In families with teenagers, 25 per cent also state that the pressure on their children impacts family life.
Demands on family policy
Above all, families want politicians to ease the burden on them when it comes to health insurance premiums (50 per cent) and general financial support (40 per cent). The third most popular demand is to make it easier to reconcile work and family life (29 per cent). On the employers‘ side, the respondents see home office and more flexible working hours as the most important measures to improve this compatibility.
Daniel Mutz, head of sales and marketing, member of the management board and the person responsible for the Pax study, answers the question of how politics and companies can better promote the compatibility of work and family life in order to reduce the pressure on parents: ’From the study results, the respondents see two measures as the most effective: Firstly, companies can give their employees more freedom in organising their working hours and, if the job allows it, offer the option of a home office. Politicians, for example, can help by creating a suitable framework for childcare, as the results show.’
Occupational pensions: need for action on part-time work and pension levels
When it comes to occupational pensions, families see the greatest need for action in terms of providing security for part-time employees and low earners (37 per cent) and in securing the pension level (36 per cent). By contrast, the often-discussed redistribution from working people to pensioners is considered an urgent problem by only 9 per cent of families.
Income determines the pension strategy
The importance of the various forms of retirement provision varies greatly with income. While AHV is the most important element of retirement provision for most families, occupational retirement provision comes to the fore for households with an income of over CHF 100,000. For incomes over CHF 140,000, home ownership also gains in importance, pushing AHV into third place.
Financial burden remains high
Despite some positive developments, many families still feel that their financial situation is strained. 46 per cent of respondents say that their household income is sufficient for family life, while 47 per cent only just make ends meet. 7 per cent say that their income is insufficient. Dr Philippe Gnaegi, Director of Pro Familia Switzerland, emphasises: ‘The family barometer shows the perceived reality of family life, and this perception ultimately shapes their attitudes and actions.’
Climate change and energy supply are becoming less important
The study is unable to determine why topics such as climate change and energy supply are becoming less important, while the media and social media are becoming more relevant. It only measures relevance, not the reasons for the shift, which is why it can only be sought in the context of other observable factors. ‘Climate change and energy supply have been somewhat pushed into the background by global political events in the last year, which is probably reflected in how families deal with these issues. The increasing relevance of dealing with media and social media was confirmed to us in the discussion of the study results with partner organisations of Pro Familia Switzerland – it could be related to the increasing consumption of digital media offerings and the progressive spread of these platforms,’ said Daniel Mutz of Pax.
The full report, ‘Swiss Family Barometer 2025 – What moves families in Switzerland’, will be available from 20 March 2025 at familienbarometer.ch.
Binci Heeb
Also read: Swiss Family Barometer 2024: Families‘ financial situation is worsening
