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

Health

live 11.0 years longer

In Russia, the average life expectancy is 73 years (68 years for men, 79 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 35.9% less likely to be obese

In Russia, 17.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Switzerland, that number is 11.3% of people as of 2024.

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see 3.3 times more spent on your healthcare

Russia spends $3,204 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Switzerland spends $10,602 as of 2023.

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be 34.4% less likely to die by suicide

Russia has a suicide rate of 21.4 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Switzerland, it is 14.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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have 12.4% fewer doctors per person

Russia has 51.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Switzerland has 44.8 as of 2022.

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Economy

make 6.5 times more money

Russia has a GDP per capita of $17,547 as of 2025, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $114,769 as of 2025.

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be 2.3 times more likely to be unemployed

In Russia, 2.1% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Switzerland, that number is 4.9% as of 2025.

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be 2.2 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Russia, 7.2% live below the poverty line as of 2024. In Switzerland, however, that number is 15.8% as of 2021.

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Life

be 44.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Russia, approximately 9.0 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 17.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Russia, approximately 4.1 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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Expenditures

spend 16.8% more on education

Russia spends 4.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Switzerland spends 4.9% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 66.1% more on healthcare

Russia spends 7.0% 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 91.1% less likely to be murdered

Russia has a homicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Switzerland, that number is 0.6 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 77.4% less likely to die in a road accident

In Russia, road accidents kill 10.6 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Switzerland, they kill 2.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 20.8% less likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In Russia, 90% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2020. In Switzerland, that number is 72% as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 73.3% more home broadband

Russia has 27.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Switzerland has 47.0 as of 2024.

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live with 57.8% more strain on fresh water

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

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Environment

be 74.4% less likely to die from air pollution

In Russia, air pollution causes 39.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Switzerland, it causes 10.0 as of 2019.

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emit 73.2% less CO2

Russia emits 14.0 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 Russia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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