Laws in Switzerland

How Switzerland is classified on 42 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.

Body & Life

Abortion: Legal on request Abortion is available on request, subject to a gestational limit.
Euthanasia: Assisted dying only Physician-assisted suicide is legal if the motive is not selfish, while active euthanasia is not explicitly legalized.
Suicide Laws: Not a crime
FGM Laws: Specifically banned FGM is banned by a dedicated law or an explicit criminal provision.
Surrogacy: Banned Surrogacy is illegal in Switzerland under the Federal Act on Medically Assisted Reproduction.

Money & Games

Gambling Age: 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
Cryptocurrency: Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.

Daily Life

Jaywalking: Offense / fined Jaywalking is illegal near crossings or on certain roads, subject to fines.
Drinking in Public: Legal Public drinking is generally legal federally, though specific cantons and venues have local restrictions.
Public Smoking Bans: Varies by region Switzerland has a national ban with exceptions, but stricter laws vary significantly by canton.
Driving Age: 18+ Minimum age to drive a car: 18.
Homeschooling: Legal Homeschooling is legal.

Animals & Environment

Fur Farming: Banned Fur farming is banned.
Cosmetic Animal Testing: No ban No ban on testing cosmetics on animals.
Dog Meat: Slaughter/sale restricted Commercial slaughter is illegal, but slaughter for personal use is legal.
Plastic Bag Bans: Partial measures Plastic-bag measures are voluntary rather than mandatory.

Civic & Family

Voting Age: 18 The voting age is 18.
Compulsory Voting: Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
Minimum Working Age: Under 14 Minimum working age: 13.

Relationships & Sexuality

Same-Sex Marriage: Marriage legal Same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized.
Same-Sex Activity: Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
Age of Consent: 16–17 The age of consent is 16.
Sex Work: Legal & regulated Sex work is legal and regulated, including licensed brothels, while trafficking and pimping are illegal.
Divorce: Legal Divorce is legal and generally available by mutual consent without fault.
Same-Sex Adoption: Joint adoption legal Same-sex couples can jointly petition to adopt.
Incest Laws: Criminal offense
Marriage Age: 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.

Speech & Belief

Blasphemy Laws: Fines / civil penalties Switzerland criminalizes malicious insults to religious convictions with a monetary penalty.
Holocaust Denial: Criminal offense Holocaust denial is a criminal offence.
Flag Desecration: Criminal offense Desecrating national emblems installed by public authority is a crime in Switzerland.
Conversion Therapy: Partial ban Conversion therapy is banned for medical professionals, but a nationwide ban for all contexts is still pending.

Justice & Weapons

Death Penalty: Fully abolished Fully abolished for all crimes.
Gun Laws: Licensed / moderate Handguns can be licensed for sport, hunting or collecting, but personal protection alone is not a sufficient reason.
Military Conscription: Active conscription
Jury Trials: Not used The unified Swiss Code of Criminal Procedure entering into force in 2011 abolishes jury trials and lay judges.

Substances

Cannabis: Decriminalized Recreational possession is decriminalized — a fine at most, not a criminal offence.
Drinking Age: 16–17 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 15.
Smoking Age: 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
Psilocybin Mushrooms: Illegal Psilocybin is a controlled substance; possession is a criminal offence.
Salvia Divinorum: Illegal Possession of salvia divinorum is a criminal offence.
Khat: Illegal Khat is illegal and classified as a narcotic drug in Switzerland.
E-Cigarettes: Regulated E-cigarettes are legal but nicotine strength is capped by law.

Nearby countries

A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.