Questions on society are about everyday life: social insurance, work, education, health and the rules of living together.
Retirement provision rests on three pillars: AHV/IV as the first pillar, occupational pensions as the second and the voluntary pillar 3a as the third. Employees and employers each pay half of the AHV contributions, and a 13th AHV pension will be paid for the first time from December 2026. After moving to Switzerland you must take out health insurance within three months.
The education system comes up often too: around two thirds of young people choose an apprenticeship after compulsory school, and ETH Zurich and EPFL are run directly by the Confederation. Practical matters include the emergency numbers (118 fire brigade, 112 across Europe), registering with the municipality after a move and the VAT rate of 8.1 percent.
24 of the 60 questions on this topic in our question bank · Tap an answer to see if it is right. Under “Show answer” you find the solution with an explanation and the source.
Correct answer: B – The AHV/IV (old-age, survivors' and disability insurance)
Swiss retirement provision rests on three pillars. The 1st pillar is the state old-age and survivors' insurance (AHV) together with disability insurance (IV); it is meant to cover basic living needs. Almost everyone who lives or works in Switzerland is compulsorily insured with the AHV.
Source: ahv-iv.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: A – A voluntary, tax-advantaged private pension scheme
The 3rd pillar is voluntary private provision. In the tied pension scheme (pillar 3a), people in employment can pay in up to a maximum amount each year and deduct it from their taxable income. The money can generally only be withdrawn shortly before retirement or for specific purposes such as buying a home.
Source: bsv.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: B – A 13th AHV old-age pension payment
On 3 March 2024 the people and cantons approved the initiative for a 13th AHV pension. The 13th old-age pension is paid every December from 2026 and corresponds to one twelfth of the annual old-age pensions. Disability and survivors' pensions are not affected.
Source: ahv-iv.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: A – Employees and employers, half each
For employees, contributions to the AHV, IV and income compensation scheme (EO) are shared equally between employee and employer. The employer deducts the employee's share directly from the salary and transfers everything to the compensation fund. Self-employed people pay their contributions entirely themselves.
Source: ahv-iv.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: D – At the Regional Employment Centre (RAV)
Anyone who becomes unemployed must register as early as possible – at the latest on the first day for which benefits are claimed – with the RAV or the responsible office in their commune of residence. Unemployment insurance (ALV) is compulsory for employees and financed through wage contributions. Those receiving daily allowances must actively look for a new job.
Source: seco.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: A – 3 months
Anyone moving to Switzerland must register with a health insurer for basic insurance within three months. The insurance then applies retroactively from the date of arrival. Anyone who fails to take out insurance in time is assigned to an insurer by the canton and may have to pay premium surcharges.
Source: bag.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: D – After reaching the deductible you pay 10% of the costs yourself, up to an annual maximum
In addition to the deductible, insured persons pay a co-payment of 10% of costs above it. For adults the co-payment is capped at 700 francs per year, for children at 350 francs. Premium, deductible and co-payment are therefore three different cost components.
Source: bag.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: C – All employees, through their employer
All employees working in Switzerland are compulsorily insured by their employer against occupational accidents and occupational diseases. Anyone working at least eight hours a week for the same employer is also insured against non-occupational accidents (e.g. during sport). People without paid work, such as children, are insured against accidents through their health insurance.
Source: bag.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: D – 215 francs
The Family Allowances Act requires a child allowance of at least 215 francs per child per month (since 2025) and, for young people in education aged 16 and over, an education allowance of at least 268 francs. Cantons may set higher amounts. The allowances are usually paid through the employer.
Source: bsv.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: B – No, but some cantons such as Neuchâtel, Jura, Geneva, Ticino and Basel-Stadt have a cantonal minimum wage
Switzerland has no national minimum wage; a popular initiative for one was clearly rejected in 2014. However, some cantons have introduced cantonal minimum wages. In many sectors, collective labour agreements (CLAs) between employers and trade unions also set minimum wages.
Source: seco.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: C – About two thirds
Around two thirds of young people in Switzerland opt for vocational education and training after compulsory school. They can choose from around 250 occupations. Apprenticeships are considered one reason for Switzerland's low youth unemployment.
Source: sbfi.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: D – ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne
The two Federal Institutes of Technology – ETH Zurich and EPFL in Lausanne – are run by the Confederation. The other universities are cantonal. Both regularly rank among the best universities in the world.
Source: sbfi.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: B – Bern and Zurich
The Swiss National Bank has its legal seats in Bern and Zurich. It is a special-statute joint-stock company whose shareholders are mainly the cantons and cantonal banks. When possible, it distributes part of its profit to the Confederation and the cantons.
Source: snb.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: C – The chemical and pharmaceutical industry
The chemical and pharmaceutical industry, with around half of goods exports, is Switzerland's most important export sector; major companies are based in Basel, for example. Other important exports are machinery, electronics, precision instruments and watches. Cheese and chocolate are famous but make up only a small share of exports.
Source: seco.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: C – The services sector
Around three quarters of employed people in Switzerland work in the services sector, for example in retail, health care, finance, education or tourism. About one fifth work in industry and trades. Only a few per cent still work in agriculture.
Source: bfs.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: C – 8.1%
Since 1 January 2024 the standard VAT rate has been 8.1%. A reduced rate of 2.6% applies to everyday goods such as food, books and medicines, and a special rate of 3.8% to accommodation services. VAT is the Confederation's most important source of revenue.
Source: estv.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: B – Register with the residents' office of the new commune within the prescribed period (usually 14 days)
Anyone who moves must deregister with their old commune and register with the new commune within the period set by the canton – usually 14 days. In many cantons this can be done online via eMovingCH. Foreign nationals must present their residence permit; moving to another canton may require authorisation.
Source: ch.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: A – 118
In the event of a fire or natural disaster, call 118. The fire brigade also helps with accidents where people are trapped, floods or chemical accidents. 143 is the number of Die Dargebotene Hand (helpline) and 145 is Tox Info Suisse for poisoning.
Source: ch.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: D – It is the European emergency number and also works in Switzerland
112 is the European emergency number and also works in Switzerland; calls are usually forwarded to the police. It is particularly useful for people who do not know the Swiss numbers. Those who know the right number (117, 118, 144), however, reach the relevant service more directly.
Source: ch.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: A – Sorted by colour (clear, brown, green) at collection points
Glass bottles and jars are taken to collection points, sorted by colour and recycled. PET bottles, aluminium, paper and cardboard are also collected separately. Out of consideration for neighbours, many collection points may only be used at certain times – not at night and not on Sundays.
Source: bafu.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: D – A pass that lets you buy most public transport tickets at half price
With the Half Fare travelcard you pay only half price for most tickets for trains, buses, trams and many boats and mountain railways. Frequent travellers can buy a General Abonnement (GA travelcard), which allows unlimited travel on almost the entire network. Public transport in Switzerland is very well developed with frequent services.
Source: sbb.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: C – 12 months
Anyone who takes up residence in Switzerland may continue driving with a foreign licence for twelve months. Within this period it must be exchanged for a Swiss licence at the cantonal road traffic office. Depending on the country of origin, a control drive may be required.
Source: astra.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: C – No religious affiliation
According to the Federal Statistical Office, at the end of 2024 36.8% of the population aged 15 and over had no religious affiliation, 30.0% were Roman Catholic and 18.5% Protestant (Reformed). Muslim communities account for about 6%. The share of people with no affiliation has risen sharply in recent decades.
Source: bfs.admin.ch · Checked October 2026
Correct answer: C – About 9.1 million
At the end of 2025 Switzerland's permanent resident population was about 9.13 million. The population is growing mainly through immigration. On 14 June 2026 voters rejected the 'No 10-million Switzerland' initiative.
Source: bfs.admin.ch · Checked October 2026