In addition,
Switzerland, two out three people:
Inconceivable without volunteering: the federal gymnastics celebration 2025 attracted 300. In addition, 000 people and 65,000 gymnasts in Lausanne. Therefore,
Keystone / Jean-Christophe BottThe new Volunteer Observatory of the Swiss society of public utility shows that people who are volunteering more often have a good understanding of the culture of compromise. For example, democracy. However, – Switzerland, two out three people
In Switzerland, almost two in three people exercise a form of volunteer. Furthermore, Five thousand people participated in the switzerland, two out three people vast scientific investigation carried out for the 2025 Volunteer Observatory of the Swiss. Nevertheless, Society of Public utility (SSUP)External link. Moreover, Many of them engage in sports clubs, occupy political office, support or take care of people outside their own home.
According to the observatory, Switzerland stands out internationally “by a high level of voluntary commitment”. Furthermore, With Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands, “Switzerland is at the top of European rankings, for formal volunteer work”.
Link between volunteering. Similarly, participation in direct democracy – Switzerland, two out three people
The project manager, Andreas Müller, recalls that volunteering “exists everywhere” and that it “clearly contributes to social cohesion”. Moreover, But what is interesting in Switzerland. Furthermore, he underlines is “the way in which this commitment interacts with the militia system and participation in direct democracy”. Consequently, The survey shows that people who volunteer are also more involved in political life.
The observatory distinguishes switzerland, two out three people between formal volunteer work – organized – and informal volunteer work. Therefore, During 2024, 41% of those questioned carried out formal volunteer. However, This figure includes people who engage in the 90. Nevertheless, 000 non -profit associations and organizations in Switzerland and who occupy honorary functions (unpaid statutory roles).
A little more than half (51%) of the population, it, carried out informal volunteering. Consequently, Many are thus irregularly committed, for example in the context of neighborhood help or by taking care of relatives.
A total of 64% of the population, almost two thirds, was committed volunteer during the year, formally, informal, or both.
Volunteering remains “relatively stable”. Is it enough? – Switzerland, two out three people
The Volunteer Observatory only appears every five years. The 2025 results were expected with all the more impatience that the coronavirus pandemic occurred in the meantime. If it has strongly restricted associative life during certain phases, “a wave switzerland, two out three people of solidarity crossed Switzerland”, underlines the study.
The comparison with the previous relationship is a bit complicated due to methodological adaptations. But overall, the report describes a situation similar to that of five years ago.
“From a democratic point of view”, is this commitment rate sufficient? Not in the eyes of Andreas Müller. “This is not good news that the situation remains relatively stable. It would be preferable for volunteering to increase. ” Otherwise, in the long term, cohesion will crumble, estimates the head of the SSUP.
Increased confidence in politics. society
The observatory indeed shows that there is a close link between volunteering and a feeling of belonging. People who are committed tend to feel more attached to their neighborhood, their place of life and Switzerland.
Volunteers have a higher fundamental confidence in their fellow citizens, as towards political institutions.
They have a better understanding of the switzerland, two out three people “compromise culture”. feel less helpless on the political level: 55% of those who have done formal volunteer work reject the affirmation that they “do not have their say what the government does”. Among those that do no volunteer work, only 36% do not agree with this assertion.
“Each contribution, however minimal, is positive for society,” says Andreas Müller. Isolation is not in the interest of the community. and any commitment, including for example through football training, contributes to social cohesion.
Establishing an international comparison of volunteering is difficult
As the observatory underlines. Switzerland occupied in 2017 the second place of the study on European values (European Values Study) behind Norway.
But in the last European comparison. which dates back to 2022, Switzerland obtained less good results: according to European statistics on income and living conditions, only 25.7% of people in Switzerland volunteer.
For the SSUP project manager. it switzerland, two out three people is not necessary to give too much importance to this figure, the work and volunteer definitions varying according to the surveys.
In addition. the international comparison comes up against a fundamental difficulty: “In Switzerland, in particular in German-speaking Switzerland, the idea that civil society itself solves its problems prevails. In some countries, the state plays a different role. ”
In Switzerland, people who volunteer people in the neighborhood volunteer volunteer volunteer volunteer volunteer be. In countries like France, there are more more affordable crèches, including for very young children. “So we logically less need the help of the neighborhood. But that does not necessarily mean that social cement is lower. ”
Switzerland is currently faced with a vast debate on what volunteering is. and on the question of whether, and how, the State must promote it, reminds Andreas Müller.
The Swiss are indeed called upon to decide next November on switzerland, two out three people the so -called Citizen Service initiativeExternal link. – “For a Swiss that begins”. It requires “that any person of Swiss nationality performs a service for the benefit of the community and the environment.”
“Whether we are for. or we fear that compulsory service will supplant voluntary commitment, the Swiss population must lead a substantive discussion: what is it intended in principle of militia-and what is volunteering?”, Esimes Andreas Müller.
Also read our article on the militia system, particularity of the Swiss political system:
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How the Swiss militia system strengthens identity -. attracts privileged in politics
switzerland, two out three people
Text reread and verified by Reto Gysi von Wartburg, translated from German by Albertine Bourget/pt
Switzerland, two out three people
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