Switzerland
With a global ranking of #2, Switzerland leads in human development index. Few places match this level of performance. Test your knowledge of this global leader.
Switzerland is a country in Europe with a population of 8.93M and an area of 41,284 km². Life expectancy is 84.1 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Human Development Index
0.97The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Life Expectancy
84.1 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Life Expectancy
84.0 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
GDP Per Capita
$82.0KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
94.1KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Life Satisfaction
7.82How satisfied people are with their lives, rated on a scale from 0 to 10.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
🚀Life Expectancy
84.3 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
🚀Human Development Index
0.97The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
❤️Life Expectancy
84.1 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
🤝Safety at Night
87.5%The percentage of people who feel safe walking alone at night.
💰GDP Per Capita
$82.0KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Ranks #1 globally in life expectancy
Life Expectancy: 84.3 years
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
OECD 2024Ranks #6 globally in life expectancy
Life Expectancy: 84.1 years
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #195 in fdi inflows (% gdp)
FDI Inflows (% GDP): -9.9%
Foreign investment flowing into the country as a percentage of GDP.
World Bank 2023Ranks #2 globally in safety at night
Safety at Night: 87.5%
The percentage of people who feel safe walking alone at night.
OECD 2024Ranks #9 globally in life expectancy
Life Expectancy: 84.0 years
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Our World in Data 2023Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Switzerland Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
Above avgGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
Above avgHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
Above avgThe Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout Switzerland
The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, which was modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. The major European powers have long honored Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality, and the country was not involved in either World War. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half-century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
- Location
- Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
- Climate
- temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
- Terrain
- mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
- Natural Resources
- hydropower potential, timber, salt
- Natural Hazards
- avalanches, landslides; flash floods
- Size Comparison
- slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
- Languages
- German (or Swiss German) (official) 62.1%, French (official) 22.8%, Italian (official) 8%, English 5.7%, Portuguese 3.5%, Albanian 3.3%, Serbo-Croatian 2.3%, Spanish 2.3%, Romansh (official) 0.5%, other 7.9% (2019 est.)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 34.4%, Protestant 22.5%, other Christian 5.7%, Muslim 5.4%, other 1.5%, none 29.4%, unspecified 1.1% (2020 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Swiss 69.2%, German 4.2%, Italian 3.2%, Portuguese 2.5%, French 2.1%, Kosovan 1.1%, Turkish 1%, other 16.7% (2020 est.)
- Major Cities
- 1.432 million Zurich, 441,000 BERN (capital) (2023)
- Government Type
- federal republic (formally a confederation)
- Capital
- Bern
- Capital Coordinates
- 46 55 N, 7 28 E
- Capital Timezone
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Swiss Confederation
- Name Origin
- name derives from the canton of Schwyz, one of the founding cantons of the Swiss Confederacy formed in the late 13th century
- Independence
- 1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
- National Symbols
- Swiss cross (white cross on red field)
- National Anthem
- the Swiss anthem has four names: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm)
- UNESCO Heritage
- 13 (9 cultural, 4 natural)
- Overview
- high-income, non-EU European economy; top ten in GDP per capita; renowned banking and financial hub; low unemployment and inflation; slowed GDP growth post-pandemic; highly skilled but aging workforce; key pharmaceutical and precision manufacturing exporter; leader in innovation and competitiveness indices
- Industries
- machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals
- Agricultural Products
- milk, sugar beets, wheat, potatoes, pork, apples, barley, beef, maize, grapes (2023)
- Export Partners
- Germany 14%, China 12%, USA 11%, Italy 5%, Turkey 5% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, nitrogen compounds, base metal watches (2023)
- Import Partners
- Germany 17%, USA 9%, Italy 8%, France 6%, China 5% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, cars, jewelry (2023)
- Military Forces
- Swiss Armed Forces (aka Swiss Army or Schweizer Armee); Army (aka Land Forces), Swiss Air Force (2025)
- Military Service
- every Swiss man 18-30 is obligated to serve in the military or the alternative civilian service; women can serve on a voluntary basis; required military service is 245 days, including 18-21 weeks of basic training generally between the ages of 19-25, followed by six three-week recalls for refresher training over the following nine years; the system offers opportunities for conscripts to train as non-commissioned and commissioned officers in the militia with longer service commitments (2026)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); nuclear: 34.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 6.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 53% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); biomass and waste: 4.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- publicly owned Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SSR) has 8 national TV networks, 3 broadcasting in German, 3 in French, and 2 in Italian; private commercial TV stations broadcast regionally and locally; German, Italian, and French TV broadcasts widely available via multi-channel cable and satellite TV; SRG/SSR has 17 radio stations (2019)
Deep Dive
77 of 143 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
Related Countries
Austria
France
Germany
ItalyCountries with Similar GDP
Brunei
Cayman Islands
Norway
United States
NetherlandsCompare Switzerland with...
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AzerbaijanShare a Fact
Share something surprising about Switzerland!
The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Frequently Asked Questions about Switzerland
Switzerland has a population of 8.93M, ranking #102 globally by population.
Switzerland is located in Europe. It has an area of 41,284 km².
Life expectancy in Switzerland is 84.1 years, ranking #6 globally.
Switzerland's GDP per capita (PPP) is 94.1K, ranking #8 globally.
Switzerland ranks particularly high in Human Development Index (#2), Life Expectancy (#6), Life Expectancy (#9).
Switzerland has an HDI of 0.970, ranking #2 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Switzerland has a population density of 225.0 people per km², ranking #60 globally.
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