Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 70.8% less likely to be obese

In Iowa, 38.7% 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 80.0% more money

Iowa has a GDP per capita of $63,747 as of 2024, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $114,769 as of 2025.

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be 47.6% more likely to be unemployed

In Iowa, 3.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Switzerland, that number is 4.9% as of 2025.

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be 50.5% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Iowa, 10.5% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Switzerland, however, that number is 15.8% as of 2021.

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Basic Needs

be 10.7% more likely to have internet access

In Iowa, approximately 87.9% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Switzerland, about 97.3% do as of 2025.

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

Compare further: Iowa vs. Switzerland

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Switzerland is 66.7% more expensive than Iowa
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Size Comparison · See true size
Iowa is about 3.5 times bigger than Switzerland.
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Moving from Iowa 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 Des Moines 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 Iowa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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