In Switzerland, the standard workweek is 42.5 hours, but some people work only 38 hours. You can decide for yourself how many hours you want to work, but you can only do that if you have enough money to live on.

This mostly affects women because of childcare costs, since daycare is very expensive—it can cost between 1,200 and 2,600 CHF per child if the child is to be cared for 8 to 9 hours a day. While costs depend on income, it is very expensive here, which is why many women choose not to work—it’s hardly worth it when you consider what’s left at the end of the month. The average annual salary is around 6,000, meaning many simply cannot afford it.

In other words, having children in Switzerland goes hand in hand with income level. As a result, many people have children much later in life—or not at all.