Free
96
/ 100
| Political Rights | 39 / 40 |
| Civil Liberties | 57 / 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
96 / 100 Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60. See the methodology.
Switzerland’s political system is characterized by decentralization and direct democracy, and broad coalition governments are the norm. Political rights and civil liberties are generally respected, though laws and policies adopted in recent years have reflected a growing wariness of immigration and ethnic minority groups, whose members face societal and systemic discrimination.
- It was reported in September that federal prosecutors were investigating alleged fraud by companies hired to collect signatures for referendum proposals, raising the possibility that signatures for various popular initiatives in recent years had been forged or fabricated. Some civil society experts called for a ban on the commercial collection of signatures.
- In a December report, a parliamentary investigative committee concluded that the government had acted lawfully and prevented a financial crisis in 2023, when it facilitated the UBS Group’s emergency acquisition of Credit Suisse, a distressed financial institution, by providing large loan guarantees without consulting the parliament. In the weeks after that decision, the National Council, the lower house of the Federal Assembly, had expressed its disapproval of the loans through a nonbinding vote.
- Also in December, the Federal Assembly elected Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter of the Free Democratic Party to serve as the country’s largely ceremonial president for the coming year.
- A number of pro-Palestinian sit-in demonstrations were organized during the year to call for an end to the conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, which had been triggered by a massive Hamas terrorist attack on Israel in October 2023. While police intervened in some cases to remove demonstrators from university buildings and other sites, the events generally remained peaceful.
This report has been abridged for Freedom in the World 2025 due to ongoing budget constraints. Freedom in the World is entirely funded by nongovernmental sources such as private foundations, corporations, and individuals like you. Please consider making a donation to support future editions of this vital resource.
For additional background information, see last year’s full report.
A1 0-4 pts
| Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? | 4 / 4 |
A2 0-4 pts
| Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? | 4 / 4 |
A3 0-4 pts
| Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? | 4 / 4 |
B1 0-4 pts
| Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? | 4 / 4 |
B2 0-4 pts
| Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? | 4 / 4 |
B3 0-4 pts
| Are the people’s political choices free from domination by forces that are external to the political sphere, or by political forces that employ extrapolitical means? | 4 / 4 |
B4 0-4 pts
| Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, racial, religious, gender, LGBT+, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? | 3 / 4 |
C1 0-4 pts
| Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? | 4 / 4 |
C2 0-4 pts
| Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? | 4 / 4 |
C3 0-4 pts
| Does the government operate with openness and transparency? | 4 / 4 |
D1 0-4 pts
| Are there free and independent media? | 4 / 4 |
D2 0-4 pts
| Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? | 3 / 4 |
D3 0-4 pts
| Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? | 4 / 4 |
D4 0-4 pts
| Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? | 4 / 4 |
E1 0-4 pts
| Is there freedom of assembly? | 4 / 4 |
E2 0-4 pts
| Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights– and governance-related work? | 4 / 4 |
E3 0-4 pts
| Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? | 4 / 4 |
F1 0-4 pts
| Is there an independent judiciary? | 4 / 4 |
F2 0-4 pts
| Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? | 4 / 4 |
F3 0-4 pts
| Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? | 4 / 4 |
F4 0-4 pts
| Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? | 3 / 4 |
G1 0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? | 4 / 4 |
G2 0-4 pts
| Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? | 4 / 4 |
G3 0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? | 4 / 4 |
G4 0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? | 3 / 4 |
