The 31 Swiss dialysis units treating adult patients with end-stage renal failure have been surveyed. At the end of 1982, 1849 patients, i.e. 284.5/10(6) population were treated, 821 (44.4%) by center hemodialysis, 205 (11.1%) at home, 115 by self-care hemodialysis, 190 (10.2%) by CAPD and 518 (28.0%) by renal transplantation. Centers located in French-speaking Switzerland treat more patients by center hemodialysis (131.4 vs 119.7/10(6) in the German-speaking area), at home (36 vs 29.4/10(6] and by self-care hemodialysis (47 vs 9.4/10(6], while the centers located in the German-speaking area treat more patients by CAPD (33 vs 18.7/10(6] and renal transplantation (92.3 vs 44.6/10(6]. The nursing staff varies among the centers from 1.6 to 10.2 patients/nurse and is in inverse ratio to the number of patients treated per center. It is concluded that 1. in Switzerland, 284.5 patients per million population are treated for ESRF, representing one of the world's highest ratios, 2. within the same country, wide geographical differences are apparent in the choice and application of the various ESRF treatment modalities, 3. the setting-up of numerous new dialysis units seems to lead to the preferential development of center hemodialysis and to a high nursing staff requirement. Other treatment approaches are recommended.