The CRIF rate of defaulting debtors among all the private individuals in Switzerland is 6.1%. This represents a slightly lower value than in January 2022, when it stood at 6.3%. The actual number of overindebted people in Switzerland has dropped from 553,344 in January 2022 to the current 542,794.
High rates of defaulting debtors in western Switzerland, Basel Stadt and Ticino
In most cantons, the rate of defaulting debtors either improved slightly or remained at the same level as last year. However, some differences do exist between the various regions. Western Switzerland and Ticino have higher rates of defaulting debtors than the rest of Switzerland. For example, the Canton of Neuchâtel reports the highest rate of defaulting debtors, at 10.1%, followed by Geneva, at 9.6%, Basel-Stadt (8.3%), Vaud (7.8%), Solothurn and Jura at 7.6% each, and Ticino at 7.5%.
Appenzell Innerrhoden has the best payers
The Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden is home to the best payers in Switzerland, with the lowest rate of defaulting debtors (1.5%). The central Swiss Cantons of Zug, Uri, Obwalden and Nidwalden also report low rates of defaulting debtors.
Men have higher levels of overindebtedness
We can also see major differences between the genders: men have higher levels of overborrowing than women. The highest rate of defaulting debtors (13%) is found in men aged between 38 and 41. However, we do not observe this gender difference in every age group – men and women between the ages of 18 and 24 report the same level of bad debts.
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.
