The rate of defaulting debtors in Switzerland is 5.5 %

CRIF AG has calculated the rate of defaulting debtors in Switzerland. This rate has fallen to 5.5%, compared to 5.6% in January 2023. 412,762 people are considered over-indebted. The Canton of Neuchâtel reports the highest rate of defaulting debtors, at 9.2%

CRIF AG has analysed how many new companies were set up in the first nine months of 2024, how many businesses filed for bankruptcy and how many companies were deleted entirely from the commercial register.

Slight decline in the rate of defaulting debtors

The CRIF rate of defaulting debtors among all private individuals aged over 18 in Switzerland is 5.5%. This represents a lower value than in January 2024, when it was 5.6%. The number of defaulting debtors in Switzerland has fallen because of the growth in the country’s population and the favourable economic climate.

High rates of defaulting debtors in western Switzerland, Basel Stadt, and Solothurn

The rate of defaulting debtors has fallen slightly in certain Cantons, but major regional differences do exist. Western Switzerland has higher rates of defaulting debtors than the remainder of Switzerland. The Canton of Neuchâtel reports the highest rate of defaulting debtors, at 9.2%, followed by Geneva at 8.8%, Basel-Stadt at 7.3%, Solothurn at 7.0%, Vaud at 6.9% and Jura 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 report low rates of defaulting debtors.

Men bear higher levels of debt

Major differences can also be seen between the genders: men are more heavily in debt than women. The highest rate of defaulting debtors is found in men aged between 38 and 41. However, the same difference is not present in every age group – men and women between the ages of 18 and 24 report the same rates of bad debt as each other.

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 31st August 2024.

Table: CRIF rate of defaulting debtors by canton, as of 31st August 2024