Published on 16 April 2025

Switzerland’s performance compared with other countries

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) annually collects and publishes data on the official development assistance (ODA) of all members of its Development Assistance Committee (DAC). Switzerland is one of the 32 DAC members.

Official development assistance (ODA) in international comparison for 2024

  • Total ODA of DAC members: USD 212 billion (decrease of 7.1% compared to 2023);
  • Excluding asylum-related costs, total ODA from DAC members fell by 5.4%;
  • 4 countries achieved the United Nations (UN) target of 0.7% of ODA/gross national income (GNI): Norway, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark;
  • Switzerland’s ranking in terms of ODA/GNI ratio: 8th;
  • Largest contributors in terms of absolute volume: United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and France;
  • Switzerland’s ranking by absolute volume: 11th.

Switzerland’s performance compared with other countries

ODA is measured based on internationally agreed OECD guidelines. The DAC is the competent body within the OECD. The guidelines facilitate comparison between the 32 DAC members (31 countries and the European Union, EU) and provide transparency.

Switzerland is a member of the DAC’s Working Party on Development Finance Statistics (WP-STAT). It regularly participates in WP-STAT meetings where it contributes to developing and refining comprehensive statistical guidelines. The guidelines define the activities and contributions that qualify as ODA based on actual disbursements in the past year (ex-post accounting). The performance of various donor countries is compared based on the ODA ratio, which is calculated as a percentage of net ODA to GNI.

The DAC first introduced the concept of ODA in 1969 and refined the definition in 1972. ODA is the main reference point for the vast majority of all development goals and for evaluating development efforts. In a resolution adopted in 1970 (UN General Assembly Resolution 2626), the United Nations set an ODA target of 0.7% of GNI for all economically advanced countries. This target was reaffirmed several times in international declarations on development finance (Monterrey 2001, Doha 2008, Rio 2012, Addis Ababa 2015).

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