CRIF AG has calculated the rate of defaulting debtors in Switzerland with a decrease to 5.6%, compared to 6.1% in January 2023. The Canton of Neuchâtel has the highest rate of defaulting debtors, at 9.3%

Decline in the rate of defaulting debtors
The CRIF rate of defaulting debtors among all private individuals aged over 18 in Switzerland is 5.6%. This represents a decrease compared to January 2023, when the value was 6.1%. The number of defaulting debtors in Switzerland has fallen because of the growth in the country’s population and the more favorable economic climate.

High rates of defaulting debtors in western Switzerland, Basel Stadt and Ticino
The rate of defaulting debtors has fallen slightly in every Canton, but major regional differences do exist. Western Switzerland and Ticino have higher rates of defaulting debtors than the rest of Switzerland. The Canton of Neuchâtel has the highest rate of defaulting debtors at 9.3%, followed by Geneva at 8.7%, Basel-Stadt at 7.5%, Solothurn at 7.1%, Vaud at 6.9%, Jura at 6.3% and Ticino at 6.2%.

Appenzell Innerrhoden reports the lowest rate
The Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden boasts the lowest rate of defaulting debtors in Switzerland, at 1.4%. The central Swiss Cantons of Zug, Uri, Obwalden and Nidwalden also have low rates of defaulting debtors.

Men have higher levels of overindebtedness.
Major differences can also be seen between the genders: men have higher levels of overborrowing than women. The highest rate of defaulting debtors is found in men aged between 38 and 41. However, the same difference is not seen in every age group – men and women between the ages of 18 and 24 report the same rates of bad debt.

CRIF rate of defaulting debtors
The CRIF rate of defaulting debtors is calculated on the basis of all those private individuals who are involved in debt enforcement proceedings following requests for continuation of enforcement demands, bankruptcies and loss certificates. In addition, CRIF also consolidates and includes the payment records of over 10,000 businesses across the whole of Switzerland. This survey was carried out on January 31, 2024.

CRIF rate of defaulting debtors by canton, as of January 31, 2024

Canton                              Rate of defaulting debtors        

Neuchâtel

9.3%

Geneva

8.7%

Basel-Stadt

7.5%

Solothurn

7.1%

Vaud

6.9%

Jura

6.3%

Ticino

6.2%

Glarus

5.8%

Valais

5.8%

Bern

5.6%

Schaffhausen

5.5%

Freiburg

5.3%

Basel-Land

5.2%

Aargau

5.0%

St Gallen

5.0%

Thurgau

4.8%

Zurich

4.6%

Appenzell Ausserrhoden

4.5%

Lucerne

4.4%

Graubünden

3.6%

Schwyz

3.2%

Nidwalden

2.7%

Zug

2.5%

Obwalden

2.5%

Uri

2.4%

Appenzell Innerrhoden

1.4%

 

crif-logo