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

Health

live 6.5 years longer

In Colombia, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 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 54.7% less likely to be obese

In Colombia, 24.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Switzerland, that number is 11.3% of people as of 2024.

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see 6.0 times more spent on your healthcare

Colombia spends $1,758 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Switzerland spends $10,602 as of 2023.

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have 76.6% more doctors per person

Colombia has 25.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Switzerland has 44.8 as of 2022.

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be 2.8 times more likely to die by suicide

Colombia has a suicide rate of 5.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Switzerland, it is 14.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 41.3% less likely to be unemployed

In Colombia, 8.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Switzerland, that number is 4.9% as of 2025.

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be 50.3% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Colombia, 31.8% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Switzerland, however, that number is 15.8% as of 2021.

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make 13.4 times more money

Colombia has a GDP per capita of $8,562 as of 2025, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $114,769 as of 2025.

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Life

be 91.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Colombia, approximately 59.0 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 67.6% less likely to die during infancy

In Colombia, approximately 10.5 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 34.3% fewer children

In Colombia, there are approximately 13.2 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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Basic Needs

be 22.6% more likely to have internet access

In Colombia, approximately 79.3% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Switzerland, about 97.3% do as of 2025.

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Expenditures

spend 43.6% more on healthcare

Colombia spends 8.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2024. In Switzerland, that number is 11.7% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 97.6% less likely to be murdered

Colombia has a homicide rate of 24.9 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Switzerland, that number is 0.6 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 40.9% more likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In Colombia, 51% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2022. In Switzerland, that number is 72% as of 2021.

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be 85.2% less likely to die in a road accident

In Colombia, road accidents kill 16.2 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 2.7 times more home broadband

Colombia has 17.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Switzerland has 47.0 as of 2024.

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use 4.6 times more electricity

Colombia uses 1,551 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Switzerland uses 7,117 kWh as of 2024.

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live with 79.1% more strain on fresh water

Colombia withdraws 4% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Switzerland withdraws 6% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 58.3% less likely to die from air pollution

In Colombia, air pollution causes 24.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Switzerland, it causes 10.0 as of 2019.

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emit 2.1 times more CO2

Colombia emits 1.8 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 (2019–2022), 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 Colombia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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