If you lived in Switzerland instead of Bhutan, you would:

Health

live 11.1 years longer

In Bhutan, the average life expectancy is 73 years (72 years for men, 75 years for women) as of 2024. In Switzerland, that number is 84 years (83 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 13.6% less likely to be obese

In Bhutan, 13.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Switzerland, that number is 11.3% of people as of 2024.

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see 15.7 times more spent on your healthcare

Bhutan spends $677 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Switzerland spends $10,602 as of 2023.

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have 8.1 times more doctors per person

Bhutan has 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Switzerland has 44.8 as of 2022.

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have 43.3% more access to essential health services

Bhutan scores 60 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Switzerland scores 86 as of 2021.

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be 2.9 times more likely to die by suicide

Bhutan has a suicide rate of 4.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Switzerland, it is 14.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 25.5 times more money

Bhutan has a GDP per capita of $4,493 as of 2025, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $114,769 as of 2025.

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be 50.8% more likely to be unemployed

In Bhutan, 3.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Switzerland, that number is 4.9% as of 2025.

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be 27.4% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Bhutan, 12.4% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Switzerland, however, that number is 15.8% as of 2021.

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Life

be 89.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Bhutan, approximately 47.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Switzerland, 5.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 75.2% less likely to die during infancy

In Bhutan, approximately 13.7 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Switzerland, on the other hand, 3.4 children do as of 2024.

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have 30.6% fewer children

In Bhutan, there are approximately 12.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Switzerland, there are 8.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 16.9% less on education

Bhutan spends 5.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Switzerland spends 4.9% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 2.6 times more on healthcare

Bhutan spends 4.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Switzerland, that number is 11.7% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 75.7% less likely to be murdered

Bhutan has a homicide rate of 2.5 per 100,000 people as of 2020. In Switzerland, that number is 0.6 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 80.3% less likely to die in a road accident

In Bhutan, road accidents kill 12.2 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Switzerland, they kill 2.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 16.1 times more home broadband

Bhutan has 2.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Switzerland has 47.0 as of 2024.

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live with 4.6 times more strain on fresh water

Bhutan withdraws 1% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Switzerland withdraws 6% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 82.5% less likely to die from air pollution

In Bhutan, air pollution causes 57.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Switzerland, it causes 10.0 as of 2019.

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emit 86.6% more CO2

Bhutan emits 2.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Switzerland emits 3.8 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Switzerland: At a glance

Switzerland is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 39,997 sq km. 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, subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two world wars. 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.
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How big is Switzerland compared to Bhutan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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