Switzerland’s official development assistance (ODA) comprises contributions from the federal government, cantons and communes that are meant to facilitate the economic and social development of recipient countries. ODA is recorded in accordance with the international directives of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC).
Swiss official development assistance
Development of Swiss official development assistance (ODA) and NGO donations 1960 – 2021 (million CHF)
| 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODA | 15.1 | 130.0 | 423.1 | 1'041.4 | 1'510.9 | 2'398.0 | 3'080.1 | 3'345.5 | 3'588.8 |
| Confederation | 15.1 | 126.4 | 416.7 | 1'025.6 | 1'488.6 | 2'350.4 | 3'016.2 | 3'282.8 | 3'523.8 |
| Cantons and municipalities a | .. | 3.6 | 6.4 | 15.8 | 22.3 | 47.6 | 63.9 | 62.8 | 65.0 |
| Gross national income (GNI) b | 37'066 | 92'570 | 177'270 | 347'228 | 463'558 | 610'174 | 701'071 | 680'929 | 707'966 |
| ODA as % of GNI | 0.04% | 0.14% | 0.24% | 0.30% | 0.33 % | 0.39% | 0.44% | 0.49% | 0.51% |
| ODA without in-donor refugee costs as % of GNI | 0.04% | 0.14% | 0.24% | 0.30% | 0.32 % | 0.33% | 0.40% | 0.45% | 0.46% |
| ODA Confederation as % of expenditures by the Confederation | 0.56% | 1.59% | 2.34% | 3.14% | 2.71 % | 3.69% | 4.06% | 3.56% | 3.82% |
| ODA as % of public spending c | 0.23% | 0.64% | 0.90% | 1.24% | 1.23 % | 1.55% | 1.69% | 1.60% | 1.74 % |
| Private NGO donations | .. | 50.8 | 106.6 | 148.6 | 272.0 | 431.6 | 532.1 | 476.0 | -- |
| Private NGO donations as % of GNI | .. | 0.05% | 0.06% | 0.04% | 0.06 % | 0.07% | 0.08% | 0.07% | -- |
a Estimate for 2021
b Figures of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) based on the previous European system of accounts (ESA95) up to 2012. GNI figures from 2013 onwards based on the new European system of accounts (ESA2010): GNI 2013 -2016, according to FSO of 27.08.2019, GNI 2017- 2020 according to FSO revision of 26.08.2021. GNI 2021 based on the GDP estimates of SECO (09.12.2021) and the factor incomes (BAK Economics AG, 10.02.2022).
c Expenditure according to the GFS Model (FFA).
Data status as at 12 April 2022
Source: SDC Development Finance Statistics Unit
Switzerland's ODA 2021
In 2021, Switzerland spent CHF 3.589 billion on ODA, CHF 243 million more than in the previous year. As a share of gross national income (GNI), Swiss ODA totalled 0.51%, compared with 0.49% in 2020.
Parliament approved two supplementary credits: CHF 226 million for Switzerland's international cooperation response to the health crisis and CHF 23 million for humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan. In addition, Switzerland donated stocks of unused SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and medical supplies to developing countries (CHF 45 million in Swiss ODA reporting). These additional measures represent 0.04% of GNI. For the first time since 2016, the ODA/GNI ratio again surpassed 0.5%.
Development of Swiss ODA 2004 – 2021 (in CHF million)
Switzerland's international cooperation is implemented mainly by the SDC and SECO’s Economic Cooperation and Development Division, the two bodies which are charged with executing the Federal Act on International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid and the Federal Act on Cooperation with Eastern European Countries. Spending by the SDC and SECO accounted for almost 80% of ODA expenditure in 2021.
In accordance with DAC reporting rules, Switzerland also declares as ODA the costs of receiving asylum seekers, temporarily admitted persons and refugees from developing countries during their first 12 months in Switzerland. These costs include the flat rate contributions paid by the State Secretariat for Migration to the cantons (CHF 98 million), the occupation programmes and the costs of the Swiss Confederation's registration centres (CHF 205 million), legal representation fees (CHF 24 million), interpreters/translators (CHF 8 million) and the costs borne by the cantons for the education of the children of asylum seekers (CHF 2 million). These costs amounted to 9% of Swiss ODA in 2021.
Other federal bodies are also involved in Switzerland's international cooperation, including the FDFA’s Peace and Human Rights Division and the Federal Office for the Environment.
The part of Switzerland’s ODA expenditure provided by the cantons and communes remained flat at 2%.
