Published on 30 June 2025
Financial statistics FAQ
Here, you can find answers to frequently asked questions about the collection, availability and comparability of financial data in Switzerland. The FAQs cover topics such as data updates, special analyses and the structure of public finances.
Frequently asked questions
The main task of the Financial Statistics Section is to present the financial data of the various government units on a comparable basis. In addition, it prepares specific evaluations and analyses of Switzerland's public finances.
The services of the Financial Statistics Section are available here
The Financial Statistics Section publishes statistics on the revenue, financial and asset situation of government units, including social security funds, as well as on the structure of their expenditure and receipts by task area. All data is updated twice a year and can be accessed on the FFA website.
Moreover, the FFA publishes the following special evaluations (in German): tax-to-GDP ratio, fee-based financing in cantons and municipalities, fiscal capacity utilization index and economic impact of federal activities in the cantons.
The publication dates of regularly published products can be found in the publication calendar.
Furthermore, the data of the Financial Statistics Section is also published in publications of other statistical offices and international organisations (IMF, OECD, Eurostat, etc.), partly further processed and possibly linked with other data.
The financial statistics are based on the Confederation's financial statements, budgets and financial plans (including separate accounts), the cantons with their concordats, the municipalities with their special purpose entities and social security funds (old-age and survivors' insurance, disability insurance, compensation for loss of earnings, unemployment insurance, agriculture family allowances, maternity insurance in Geneva). With the exception of the municipalities, full surveys are conducted, i.e. all financial statements are taken into account, and the statistics are not based on estimates or extrapolations.
Some of the municipalities' data is surveyed in full, and some is estimated based on a sample. The full survey covers all cities and cantonal capitals, all municipalities of the Swiss Union of Cities and all municipalities of cantons with fewer than 30 municipalities. In the case of cantons where the municipalities are not fully surveyed, a canton's municipalities aggregate is estimated based on a sample.
The FFA is aiming for a full survey of the municipalities' data. The next step is to record the data of all municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Due to Switzerland's federal structure, the division of tasks between a canton and its municipalities differs from canton to canton. This concerns various task areas such as education, health, social security and public order. Moreover, public tasks are often organised in special purpose entities across municipalities, especially in small municipalities.
Although the Financial Statistics Section harmonises the data, the data of municipalities in different cantons and cantonal data are directly comparable only to a limited extent because of the different division of tasks. For such comparisons, the FFA recommends comparing the data of “cantons and their municipalities” with each other.
The FFA's Financial Statistics Section prepares data based on the following three accounting models:
- The FS Model: is used for the national comparability of government units. It is based on the national accounting models for the cantons and municipalities (HAM1 and HAM2) and the Confederation (NAM). The statement of financial position, statement of financial performance and financing statement are shown. The model covers the general government sector, its sub-sectors (Confederation, cantons, municipalities, social security funds) and individual government units.
- The GFS Model: ensures international comparability. It is based on the guidelines of the International Monetary Fund (GFSM 2014). The operating statement, transactions in non-financial assets and balance sheet are shown. The model covers the general government sector and its sub-sectors (Confederation, cantons, municipalities and social security funds).
- The ESA model: is used to provide internationally comparable economic data on the general government sector and its sub-sectors in accordance with the requirements of Eurostat (Statistical Office of the European Union) for drawing up Switzerland's system of national accounts. This model is based on the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). The ESA Model is derived from the GFS Model by means of pure mapping, whereby there are consolidation differences. While there is only partial consolidation with the ESA Model, the two other models have full consolidation. The data is published by the FSO within the framework of the national accounts.
Detailed information on the financial statistics models can be found on the FFA website.
The Financial Statistics Section presents the financial data of the various government units in the FS Model on a comparable basis. Although the cantons and municipalities supply their data in accordance with the two recommendations HAM1 and HAM2, the comparability of the data is limited and certain mapping actions and statistical adjustments have to be carried out.
Due to the consolidation of government units, the Financial Statistics Section has to make additional statistical adjustments to the figures. For example, the transfer payments in the government units are compared and a government unit's internal charging is assigned to the corresponding functions. Data mapping and statistical adjustments lead to differences between the general government and municipal financial statements and financial statistics.
Detailed explanations on the HAM2 model (e.g. definitions of the individual items) can be found on the website of the Swiss Public Sector Financial Reporting Advisory Committee (SRS-CSPCP).
The chart of accounts and the functional classification can be found here.
The tax-to-GDP ratio represents actual tax receipts and social contributions as a percentage of nominal gross domestic product (GDP). It covers all taxes collected and contributions of the Confederation, cantons and municipalities, as well as social security contributions (mainly old-age and survivors' insurance, disability insurance, compensation for loss of earnings and unemployment insurance). Although mandatory, health insurance, accident insurance and pension fund contributions are not taken into account, as these entities are public or private enterprises in Switzerland according to the sectoring principles of the European System of Accounts (ESA) and they are thus not part of the general government sector by definition. When determining the tax-to-GDP ratio, the Federal Finance Administration (FFA) uses as a basis the financial statistics figures, which are prepared in accordance with international guidelines. They correspond to the tax receipts published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This ensures comparability with the tax-to-GDP ratios of other member countries. The tax-to-GDP ratio corresponds to the proportion of GDP which the general government sector collects in the form of taxes and social contributions to accomplish government tasks. An international comparison of the tax-to-GDP ratio and other key indicators can be found on the FFA website.
If mandatory contributions to health insurance, accident insurance and pension funds are also added to tax receipts, then it is not the tax-to-GDP ratio, but rather the ratio of compulsory payments. The OECD also provides an international comparison, but as a proportion of total labor costs spent on compulsory payments rather than as a proportion of GDP: https://www.oecd.org/tax/tax-policy/tax-database/non-tax-compulsory-payments.pdf
Gross debt ratio (IMF): The gross debt ratio (IMF) shows the ratio of gross debt as defined by the International Monetary Fund to nominal gross domestic product (GDP). Gross debt is calculated as total liabilities less shares and other equity and less financial derivatives and employee stock options. Negotiable liabilities are recognized at fair value.
Net debt ratio: The net debt ratio expresses net debt as a percentage of GDP. Net debt is comprised of gross debt as defined by the IMF minus financial assets corresponding to debt instruments. Such financial assets include monetary gold and special drawing rights, currency and deposits, debt securities, loans, insurance policies, pensions, standardized guarantee schemes, and other accounts receivable.
Maastricht debt ratio: The Maastricht debt ratio shows the ratio of gross debt in accordance with the Maastricht criteria to nominal GDP. The debt used for calculating this indicator includes the following financial instruments on the liabilities side of the balance sheet using the GFS Model: currency and deposits, debt instruments and loans. However, in accordance with the Maastricht definition, these are measured at nominal value instead of fair value.
As the IMF definition of debt is broader, IMF debt is higher than debt in accordance with the Maastricht definition. The IMF net debt ratio provides a comprehensive view of a country's debt situation. It quantifies a country's ability to repay debt, taking account of its financial assets.
The Maastricht debt ratio is specifically for countries in the euro area. It is often used to verify whether a country meets the requirements for adopting the euro. The ratio is designed to ensure that countries maintain sound fiscal discipline and do not have excessive debt.