937,000 Accidents in Switzerland: Leisure-Related Accidents Continue to Rise
In 2025, approximately 937,000 work-related and recreational accidents, as well as occupational diseases, were reported to the 22 Swiss accident insurers (UVG). This represents a 2.4 percent increase over the previous year. This increase was again driven by the significant rise in leisure-time accidents, while the number of work-related accidents remained stable.
All employees working in Switzerland are mandatorily insured against occupational accidents and occupational diseases under the Accident Insurance Act (UVG). Anyone who works at least eight hours per week is also insured against accidents that occur during leisure time. Job seekers and individuals participating in IV measures are also mandatorily insured against occupational and leisure-time accidents.
The 22 UVG insurers in Switzerland recorded a total of approximately 937,000 accidents and occupational diseases in 2025. This represents an increase of about 2.4 percent compared to the previous year. While the number of occupational accidents and illnesses (BUV) remained virtually stable at around 281,000 cases (+0.3 percent), the number of leisure-time accidents (NBUV) rose by 3.0 percent to approximately 636,000. There was also a significant increase in the number of accidents involving job seekers: they rose by 16.3 percent to approximately 18,000 cases.
The operating costs for 2025 are not yet fully known. In the previous year, insurance benefits totaled approximately 5.6 billion Swiss francs, primarily for medical expenses (medical and therapeutic services), daily benefits, and provisions for disability and survivors’ pensions. Leisure accidents accounted for the largest share of this, at 64.6 percent; 32 percent was attributable to occupational accidents and occupational diseases; 3.1 percent to accidents involving the unemployed; and 0.2 percent to accidents involving individuals participating in IV programs.
Violence-Related Injuries: Young Men Remain Most at Risk
The featured chapter of this year’s UVG statistics examines trends in violence-related injuries among young people. It also addresses the question of whether the rise since the mid-1990s reflects an actual increase in violent crimes—or whether it is primarily related to changes in reporting patterns.
The analysis suggests that this is not merely a reporting bias: The number of violent assaults in the UVG statistics has followed a similar trend to that in the police crime statistics. Since 2024, however, the two series have been diverging more sharply. It remains to be seen, however, whether a new trend can already be identified from this.
The number of violent incidents involving young men has declined significantly since its peak in 2008, but among 15- to 24-year-olds, it remains about 20 percent higher than it was in the late 1990s. Among young women, too, the risk of a violence-related injury has risen slightly in a long-term comparison, though it remains significantly lower than among young men. The fact that incidents of violence continue to have a significant impact is also evident in the costs: average medical costs for these cases have risen more sharply since 1995 than for recreational accidents overall.
Cases reported to all UVG insurers under the mandatory accident insurance program:
| 2025 | Change from the previous year | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total number of reported cases | 936 965 | +2,4% | 914,741 |
| Work-Related Accidents and Occupational Diseases | 281,162 | +0,3% | 280,323 |
| Recreational accidents | 636,323 | +3,0 % | 617,528 |
| Accidents and Occupational Diseases Among Job Seekers | 17,639 | +16,3% | 15,162 |
| Accidents and Occupational Diseases of Individuals Participating in IV Programs |
1841 | +6,5% | 1728 |
| Total number of recognized cases | not yet available | 867,940 | |
| Recognized Occupational Diseases | not yet available | 2979 | |
| Total Insurance Benefits | not yet available | 5.6 billion CHF |
Accident statistics and source of supply
The Central Office for Accident Insurance Statistics (SSUV), administered by Suva, publishes the annual UVG accident statistics on behalf of the Coordination Group for Accident Insurance Statistics (KSUV). The statistics are based on data from the 22 UVG accident insurers in Switzerland (Suva, private insurers subject to the Insurance Supervision Act (VAG), public accident insurance funds, recognized health insurance funds, substitute funds), which provide mandatory coverage for employed persons against occupational and non-work-related accidents as well as occupational diseases. Also included are the results of the mandatory accident insurance for unemployed persons and for individuals participating in IV measures who are insured through Suva.
The UVG statistics do not include accidents involving children, schoolchildren, students, homemakers, self-employed individuals, and retirees. Essentially, the statistics cover employees and apprentices aged 15 to 65 who are permanent residents of Switzerland. These individuals account for just over half of the resident population.
The newly published 2026 Accident Insurance Statistics present the statistical findings on cases from 2025, as well as the costs and accident trends from 2024.
Source: www.unfallstatistik.ch
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