Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Switzerland instead of South Carolina, you would:

Health

live 8.4 years longer

In South Carolina, the average life expectancy is 75 years (74 years for men, 80 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 66.1% more money

South Carolina has a GDP per capita of $49,914 as of 2024, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $82,900 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 17.3% less likely to be unemployed

In South Carolina, 4.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Switzerland, that number is 4.0% as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 14.0% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Carolina, 12.9% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Switzerland, however, that number is 14.7% as of 2020.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 10.3% more likely to have internet access

In South Carolina, approximately 87.0% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Switzerland, about 96.0% do as of 2021.

View global rankings →

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Compare further: South Carolina vs. Switzerland
Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Switzerland is 81.3% more expensive than South Carolina
→
Size Comparison · See true size
South Carolina is about 1.9 times bigger than Switzerland.
→
City Size Comparison · See true size
Compare the size of Los Angeles 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 South Carolina? 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.