Macro-economic Data

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A. Demography and Macroeconomy

A.1 Population
VariableEnd of 2018End of 2017End of 2016SourcesVar ID
Total population8.51 million8.45 million8.37 million
WDI
A.1.1
Total number of households3.8 million3.68 million3.7 millionA.1.2
Average household size2.232.232.24A.1.3
Urban population (% of total)73.8% of total73.76% of total73.74% of total
WDI
A.1.4
Urban population growth (annual %).79%.96%1.12%
WDI
A.1.5
A.2 Economy
VariableEnd of 2018End of 2017End of 2016SourcesVar ID
GDP, current prices (U.S. dollars)725,766 USD (millions)695,258 USD (millions)687,550 USD (millions)
WEO
A.2.1
GDP based on PPP valuation of country GDP (Current international dollar)611,207 USD (millions)580,223 USD (millions)563,610 USD (millions)
WEO
A.2.2
GDP per capita, current prices (U.S. dollars)85,545 USD 82,572 USD 82,569 USD
WEO
A.2.3
GDP based on PPP per capita GDP (Current international dollar)72,042 USD 68,910 USD 67,685 USD
WEO
A.2.4
GDP, constant prices (Percent change)2.87%1.43%2.07%
WEO
A.2.5
Inflation, end of period consumer prices (Percent change).72%.87%.02%
WEO
A.2.6
GDP, deflator (Index)99.7999.0299.39
WEO
A.2.7
Consumer price index99.1998.2797.75
WDI
A.2.8
GINI Index33.1032.7033.00
WDI
A.2.9
Median national annual household income51,034 USD Not available53,449 USD
Swiss Statistics Office
A.2.10
Growth in urban household income (%/year)A.2.13
Employment (% of total laborforce)A.2.14
Self-employed14.75%Not availableNot available
OECD
A.2.14.1
Informally employed10.4%Not availableNot available
ILO
A.2.14.2
Unemployed4.7%Not available4.9%
Swiss Statistics Office
A.2.14.3
Interest Rates:A.2.15
Central bank lending/discount rateNot availableNot availableNot available
IFS
A.2.15.1
Yield on 3 months treasury billsNot availableNot availableNot available
IFS
A.2.15.2
Yield on 10-year Government bond.03%Not availableNot available
IFS
A.2.15.3
Average bank deposit rateNot availableNot availableNot available
IFS
A.2.15.4
Lending rate2.63%2.63%2.65%
IFS
A.2.15.5
B. Housing Market
B.1 Housing Stock: Production, Transactions
VariableEnd of 2018End of 2017End of 2016SourcesVar ID
Number of dwelling units:B.1.1
Total4.53 million4.47 million4.42 million
Swiss Statistics Office
B.1.1.1
Percentage of vacant units1.66% of total1.62% of total1.47% of total
Swiss Statistics Office
B.1.2
Characteristics of housing stock:B.1.3
Average dwelling unit size-existing99 sq.mtNot available99 sq.mt
Swiss Statistics Office
B.1.3.1
Tenure in urban areas (%):B.1.4
Owner-occupied units42.5% of total41.3% of total42.5% of total
Eurostat
B.1.4.1
% of owner units with a mortgage38.3% of total37.4% of total38.5% of total
Eurostat
B.1.4.2
Private rental units51.5% of total50.9% of total50.2% of total
Eurostat
B.1.4.3
Public / social rental units6.4% of total7.8% of total7.2% of total
Eurostat
B.1.4.4
Estimated Number of units completed/yearB.1.5
Formal sector/registered12,190 units12,315 units12,701 units
Swiss Statistics Office
B.1.5.1
B.2 Housing Prices and Cost for Urban Areas or Capital City
VariableEnd of 2018End of 2017End of 2016SourcesVar ID
Median urban house price in USD:B.2.1
Median house price to median annual HH income:B.2.2
Annual average % change in median house prices:B.2.3
M2 construction cost for median quality houseB.2.4


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Notes: (2010 = 100)
Notes: (2010 = 100)
Notes: (2010 = 100)
Notes: (2010 = 100)
Notes: (2010 = 100)
Notes: (2010 = 100)
Notes: (2010 = 100)
Notes: (2010 = 100)
Notes: (2010 = 100)
Notes: 15% for money market mortgages linked to LIBOR and 10% for adjustable-rate mortgages
Notes: 165.18
Notes: 4% for insurers, 1.5% for pension funds
Notes: A landlord is able to deduct depreciation and other costs related to the rental property
Notes: A landlord is able to deduct depreciation and other costs related to the rental property 
Notes: Average lending rate on 10-yr fixed rate mortgage
Notes: banks have self-adopted strict guidelines
Notes: Cantonal Banks are Swiss-governmental owned regional commercial banks
Notes: Cantonal Banks are Swiss-governmental owned regional commercial banks
Notes: Cantonal Banks are Swiss-governmental owned regional commercial banks
Notes: Cantonal Banks are Swiss-governmental owned regional commercial banks
Notes: Cantonal Banks are Swiss-governmental owned regional commercial banks
Notes: Cantonal Banks are Swiss-governmental owned regional commercial banks
Notes: Cantonal Banks are Swiss-governmental owned regional commercial banks
Notes: Cantonal Banks are Swiss-governmental owned regional commercial banks
Notes: Cantonal Banks are Swiss-governmental owned regional commercial banks
Notes: Cantonal Banks are Swiss-governmental owned regional commercial banks
Notes: Cantonal Banks are Swiss-governmental owned regional commercial banks
Notes: Corporate bonds
Notes: Financing at below-market interest rates
Notes: Generous rent control
Notes: Generous rent control
Notes: Homeowners can deduct loan interest payments from their income. Payments that apply to the principal and leasing costs do not apply
Notes: Homeowners can deduct loan interest payments from their income. Payments that apply to the principal and leasing costs do not apply
Notes: Homeowners can deduct loan interest payments from their income. Payments that apply to the principal and leasing costs do not apply
Notes: Income generated from tenants is taxed at the federal, cantonal and municipal levels at their respective rates
Notes: Income generated from tenants is taxed at the federal, cantonal and municipal levels at their respective rates
Notes: Income generated from tenants is taxed at the federal, cantonal and municipal levels at their respective rates 
Notes: Increase in online mortgage volumes and crowd-lending (where investors take on the role of investors)
Notes: Infinite term mortgage loans are available in Switzerland
Notes: Infinite term mortgage loans are available in Switzerland
Notes: Infinite term mortgage loans are available in Switzerland
Notes: Infinite term mortgage loans are available in Switzerland
Notes: Infinite term mortgage loans are available in Switzerland
Notes: Infinite term mortgage loans are available in Switzerland subject to certain criteria
Notes: Infinite term mortgage loans are available in Switzerland subject to certain criteria
Notes: Infinite term mortgage loans are available in Switzerland subject to certain criteria 
Notes: Landlords are (1) able to deduct depreciation and costs related to the rental property, (2) subject to a tax on imputed rental value, but at a generous rate
Notes: Landlords are subject to a tax on imputed rental value, but at a generous rate
Notes: LTVs concentrated between 79-80%
Notes: make up about 30% of the mortgage market and have varying degrees of government backing
Notes: make up about 30% of the mortgage market and have varying degrees of government backing
Notes: make up about 30% of the mortgage market and have varying degrees of government backing 
Notes: makes up approx. 13% of outstanding mortgages (ECBC)
Notes: Maximum LTV ratios for mortgages are not legally binding, but most banks have a policy that sets the ceiling at 80%
Notes: Maximum LTV ratios for mortgages are not legally binding, but most banks have internal policies that set the ceiling at 80%
Notes: Maximum LTV ratios for mortgages are not legally binding, but most banks have internal policies that set the ceiling at 80%
Notes: Maximum LTV ratios for mortgages are not legally binding, but most banks have internal policies that set the ceiling at 80% 
Notes: Maximum LTVs are not legally binding but internal policies of banks typically specify a ceiling of 80%
Notes: Maximum LTVs are not legally binding but internal policies of banks typically specify a ceiling of 80%
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, includes non-urban areas
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants that pay market-price rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants that pay market-price rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants that pay market-price rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants that pay market-price rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants that pay market-price rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants that pay market-price rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants that pay market-price rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants that pay market-price rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants that pay market-price rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants with reduced/free rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants with reduced/free rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants with reduced/free rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants with reduced/free rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants with reduced/free rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants with reduced/free rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants with reduced/free rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants with reduced/free rent
Notes: National rate, percentage of tenants with reduced/free rent
Notes: No specific securitization legislation, though the general legal framework (Swiss Code of Obligations, general capital markets regulations) applies
Notes: Percentage in 2018 based on 2017 IMF report stating that aside from fixed rate mortgages, the remaining share corresponds to money market mortgages linked to LIBOR and adjustable-rate mortgages
Notes: PostFinance is part of Swiss Post, a state-owned shipping company. They offer savings accounts, retirement plans, and mortgage loans.
Notes: PostFinance is part of Swiss Post, a state-owned shipping company. They offer savings accounts, retirement plans, and mortgage loans.
Notes: PostFinance is part of Swiss Post, a state-owned shipping company. They offer savings accounts, retirement plans, and mortgage loans.
Notes: PostFinance is part of Swiss Post, a state-owned shipping company. They offer savings accounts, retirement plans, and mortgage loans.
Notes: PostFinance is part of Swiss Post, a state-owned shipping company. They offer savings accounts, retirement plans, and mortgage loans.
Notes: PostFinance is part of Swiss Post, a state-owned shipping company. They offer savings accounts, retirement plans, and mortgage loans. 
Notes: PostFinance is part of Swiss Post, a state-owned shipping company. They offer savings accounts, retirement plans, and mortgage loans.  
Notes: Property transfer tax is generally paid by the purchaser
Notes: Regulation under the Swiss Pfandbrief Act
Notes: Subsidies for buildings that meet environmental certifications
Notes: Taxes on inheritance/gifting; Income generated from tenants is taxed at the federal, cantonal and municipal levels at their respective rates
Notes: The actual value is -0.07%
Notes: The actual value is -0.07%
Notes: The actual value is -0.13%
Notes: The actual value is -0.13%
Notes: The actual value is -0.14%
Notes: The actual value is -0.18%
Notes: The actual value is -0.21%
Notes: The actual value is -0.25%
Notes: The actual value is -0.25%
Notes: The actual value is -0.25%
Notes: The actual value is -0.25%
Notes: The actual value is -0.27%
Notes: The actual value is -0.31%
Notes: The actual value is -0.32%
Notes: The actual value is -0.36%
Notes: The actual value is -0.99%
Notes: The actual value is -1.03%
Notes: The property tax rate ranges from 0.05 to 0.3% and is levied on the value of the home
Notes: The property tax rate ranges from 0.05 to 0.3% and is levied on the value of the home
Notes: The property tax rate ranges from 0.05 to 0.3% and is levied on the value of the home
Notes: The property tax rate ranges from 0.05 to 0.3% and is levied on the value of the home
Notes: The Swiss Bankers Association creates guidelines to set standards for estimating property valuations used for LTV-ratio calculations
Notes: The Swiss Bankers Association creates guidelines to set standards for estimating property valuations used for LTV-ratio calculations
Notes: The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) makes amendments to SBA guidelines
Notes: The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) makes amendments to SBA guidelines
Notes: There are companies that are owned or partially owned by state-owned cantonal banks. For example, Homegate AG is an online real estate marketplace, similar to Zillow, that offers mortgage loans. They are part of media group Tamedia AG and Zurcher Kantonalbank.
Notes: There are companies that are owned or partially owned by state-owned cantonal banks. For example, Homegate AG is an online real estate marketplace, similar to Zillow, that offers mortgage loans. They are part of media group Tamedia AG and Zurcher Kantonalbank.
Notes: There are companies that are owned or partially owned by state-owned cantonal banks. For example, Homegate AG is an online real estate marketplace, similar to Zillow, that offers mortgage loans. They are part of media group Tamedia AG and Zurcher Kantonalbank.
Notes: There are companies that are owned or partially owned by state-owned cantonal banks. For example, Homegate AG is an online real estate marketplace, similar to Zillow, that offers mortgage loans. They are part of media group Tamedia AG and Zurcher Kantonalbank.
Notes: There are companies that are owned or partially owned by state-owned cantonal banks. For example, Homegate AG is an online real estate marketplace, similar to Zillow, that offers mortgage loans. They are part of media group Tamedia AG and Zurcher Kantonalbank. 
Notes: There are companies that are owned or partially owned by state-owned cantonal banks. For example, Homegate AG is an online real estate marketplace, similar to Zillow, that offers mortgage loans. They are part of media group Tamedia AG and Zurcher Kantonalbank.  
Notes: There are companies that are owned or partially owned by state-owned cantonal banks. For example, Homegate AG is an online real estate marketplace, similar to Zillow, that offers mortgage loans. They are part of media group Tamedia AG and Zurcher Kantonalbank.
Notes: There are subsidies for construction and renovation of non-profit housing
Notes: There are subsidies for construction and renovation of non-profit housing
Notes: There are subsidies for construction and renovation of non-profit housing
Notes: Together, UBS and Credit Suisse account for about 27% of the mortgage market
Notes: Together, UBS and Credit Suisse account for about 27% of the mortgage market
Notes: While Capital gains are not taxed at the federal level, they are taxed at the cantonal and municipal levels. The rate depends on the amount of gain and the length of time that the property was owned
Notes: While Capital gains are not taxed at the federal level, they are taxed at the cantonal and municipal levels. The rate depends on the amount of gain and the length of time that the property was owned
Notes: While Capital gains are not taxed at the federal level, they are taxed at the cantonal and municipal levels. The rate depends on the amount of gain and the length of time that the property was owned
Notes: While Capital gains are not taxed at the federal level, they are taxed at the cantonal and municipal levels. The rate depends on the amount of gain and the length of time that the property was owned