The Wealthiest Renters on Earth
Switzerland is the wealthiest country in the world by median wealth. In this crowd of 2,000 Swiss people, 1,280 rent. Not because they cannot afford to own — but because Swiss housing policy, rent stabilization laws, and home prices so high they exceed most citizens' reach have made renting the rational choice. The 1,280 renters in this crowd are not desperate. They are pragmatic.
Did you know
Switzerland has the lowest homeownership rate of any wealthy nation — around 36%. In a crowd of 2,000 Swiss adults, fewer than 720 own their home. The rest rent — for life, often. This is not a sign of poverty or instability. Swiss tenancy law is so protective that renting is a rational long-term choice. The alternative assumption — that ownership equals security — is a Swiss non-sequitur.