In 2023, Switzerland's official development assistance (ODA) amounted to CHF 4.64 billion, equivalent to 0.60% of its gross national income (GNI), more than a quarter of which came from asylum-related costs in Switzerland. Excluding these asylum costs, the ODA ratio was 0.43%.
The ODA/GNI ratio reached a new high of 0.60% in 2023, up from 0.56% in 2022. This increase was due to efforts to meet needs related to the war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict, as well as costs associated with hosting asylum seekers, refugees and people seeking protection in Switzerland during their first twelve months in the country.
28 percent asylum-related costs
The share of asylum costs in Switzerland that are included in ODA amounted to CHF 1.311 billion, equivalent to 28% of total ODA, in 2023. Excluding asylum costs, ODA spending increased by CHF 242 million compared to 2022. The ODA/GNI ratio, excluding asylum costs, was 0.43% in 2023, compared to 0.40% in 2022.
Role of Swiss international cooperation
Through its international cooperation, Switzerland helps to reduce poverty and responds to global challenges such as peacebuilding, human rights, pandemics and climate change, and mitigate the causes of forced displacement and irregular migration. Switzerland also plays a role in establishing sustainable, environmentally-friendly development worldwide, with a focus on the sustainable management of natural resources.
Swiss international cooperation is primarily implemented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) of the FDFA, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the FDFA's Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD), whose budgets covered almost two-thirds of ODA in 2023. In addition to international cooperation activities, expenditures (including asylum-related costs) incurred by other federal offices are also counted as ODA in accordance with the OECD directives, as are contributions by Swiss cantons and communes.
Calculating ODA and cross-country comparison
ODA is calculated on the basis of the directives issued by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This allows a statistical comparison of the international commitments of the 31 DAC member states, based on the share of GNI each country spends on ODA.
Switzerland ranked 8th
In the international ranking, Switzerland rises one place compared to 2022 and occupies the 8th position in 2023.
| APD | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| FDFA | 2'533.2 |
2'766.0 |
| EAER | 403.3 | 407.7 |
| DETEC | 49.2 | 45.4 |
| FDF | 0.4 | 24.4 |
| FDJP | 1'216.0 | 1'321.7 |
| FDHA | 6.9 | 6.7 |
| DDPS | 5.2 | 8.2 |
| Cantons and municipalities b) | 60.0 | 60.0 |
| Total ODA |
4'274.1 | 4'640.1 |
| refugees costs in Switzerland countable as ODA | 1'205.8 | 1.310.9 |
| ODA en % du GNI ODA without in-donor refugees costs as % of GNI |
0.56% 0.40% |
0.60% 0.43% |
| GNI gross national imcome | 762'275.5 | 779'069 |
Last modification 22.04.2024