Mountain Hiking Accidents Double in Switzerland Over 15 Years

SUVA reports alarming increase in hiking accidents, with annual cases rising from 4,000 to 9,000 over past 15 years.

Key Takeaways

Mountain hiking accidents in Switzerland have doubled over the last 15 years.
The majority of accidents are caused by tripping, slipping, falling, or misstepping.
Accidents are frequently attributed to unsuitable equipment, lack of attention, or overestimated physical fitness.
Fatal accidents occurred mainly in the cantons of Bern, Valais, and Ticino.

By The Numbers

9,000

average annual accidents

4,000

average annual accidents

8 out of 10

accident ratio

deaths

They Said

"Between 2009 and 2013, just over 4,000 accidents occurred each year in the mountains... Between 2019 and 2023, SUVA recorded an average of 9,000 cases."
— SUVA Press Release