Nearly half in Switzerland say they put dreams on hold

Nearly half of people in Switzerland say they have put off personal dreams for too long, according to a survey reported by SRF. The poll also found that three-quarters feel lucky in life, while many would like to be more confident in everyday situations.

The representative survey was conducted in June 2026 by research institute Sotomo on behalf of insurer Helvetia. It questioned 1,866 adults in German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland about optimism, courage, risk and personal fulfilment.

Feelings of happiness varied by age and income. Among people over 65, 87 percent said they often or mostly felt happy in life. The figure was 88 percent among those with an equivalised income above 6,000 Swiss francs, compared with 58 percent among people whose income was below 4,000 francs. Only 3 percent said their lives were mostly shaped by bad luck.

People in younger and middle age groups were especially likely to feel they had postponed their dreams. At the same time, 57 percent said they allow themselves to have big dreams at their current stage of life. That included 68 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds and 48 percent of people aged 65 and over.

The most common ambitions involved health and fitness, travel and experiences, and finances or property. Partnership and family, followed by career goals, also featured. Only a small minority said they currently had no big dream.

The survey found that people often look back positively on major changes they have made. A move into self-employment and a fresh start in a career were each viewed positively by 93 percent, while 69 percent looked back positively on a separation.

Overall, 69 percent of adults said they would like to be more confident in everyday life. Among those aged 18 to 34, the proportion rose to 81 percent. Common challenges included saying no, addressing conflicts openly and asking others for help.