20% living in poverty in Switzerland

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Around 20% of all households in Switzerland are living in poverty – with those who have retired being the worst affected.

The figures have been released by the Federal Social Insurance Office after a survey by the University of Geneva. 

Using tax data collected between 2011 and 2015 covering half the population, it showed 15% of households were in poverty and 20% of retired residents. 

The average family income is CHF 63,500 a year – the poverty line was set as CHF 38,000. 

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