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

Health

live 8.9 years longer

In Brunei, the average life expectancy is 76 years (73 years for men, 78 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 69.5% less likely to be obese

In Brunei, 37.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Switzerland, that number is 11.3% of people as of 2024.

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see 5.6 times more spent on your healthcare

Brunei spends $1,896 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Switzerland spends $10,602 as of 2023.

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have 2.4 times more doctors per person

Brunei has 18.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2021. Switzerland has 44.8 as of 2022.

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have 10.3% more access to essential health services

Brunei scores 78 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Switzerland scores 86 as of 2021.

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be 4.6 times more likely to die by suicide

Brunei has a suicide rate of 3.0 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 3.6 times more money

Brunei has a GDP per capita of $32,235 as of 2025, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $114,769 as of 2025.

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Life

be 86.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Brunei, approximately 36.0 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 60.5% less likely to die during infancy

In Brunei, approximately 8.6 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 34.7% fewer children

In Brunei, there are approximately 13.3 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 5.2 times more on healthcare

Brunei spends 2.2% 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 33.3% less likely to die in a road accident

In Brunei, road accidents kill 3.6 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 2.2 times more home broadband

Brunei has 21.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Switzerland has 47.0 as of 2024.

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live with 87.3% more strain on fresh water

Brunei withdraws 3% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Switzerland withdraws 6% as of 2022.

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use 33.3% less electricity

Brunei uses 10,674 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Switzerland uses 7,117 kWh as of 2024.

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Environment

be 50.0% less likely to die from air pollution

In Brunei, air pollution causes 20.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Switzerland, it causes 10.0 as of 2019.

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emit 81.5% less CO2

Brunei emits 20.2 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 (2021–2025), 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 Brunei? See an in-depth size comparison.

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