Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 67.4% less likely to be obese

In Illinois, 34.6% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Switzerland, that number is 11.3% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 62.4% more money

Illinois has a GDP per capita of $70,691 as of 2024, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $114,769 as of 2025.

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be 38.6% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Illinois, 11.4% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Switzerland, however, that number is 15.8% as of 2021.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: Illinois vs. Switzerland

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Switzerland is 45.3% more expensive than Illinois
→
Size Comparison · See true size
Illinois is about 3.5 times bigger than Switzerland.
→
Moving from Illinois to Switzerland · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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City Size Comparison · See true size
Compare the size of Chicago vs Zurich
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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 Illinois? See an in-depth size comparison.

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