Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 9.7 years longer

In Kentucky, the average life expectancy is 74 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In Switzerland, that number is 83 years (81 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022.

View global rankings →

Economy

make 65.4% more money

Kentucky has a GDP per capita of $50,135 as of 2024, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $82,900 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 15.7% more likely to be unemployed

In Kentucky, 3.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Switzerland, that number is 4.0% as of 2023.

View global rankings →

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, The World Factbook.

Compare further: Kentucky vs. Switzerland
Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Switzerland is 98.1% more expensive than Kentucky
→
Size Comparison · See true size
Kentucky is about 2.5 times bigger than Switzerland.
→
City Size Comparison · See true size
Compare the size of New York City vs Geneva
→

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.
Read more

How big is Switzerland compared to Kentucky? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Switzerland or United States. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.