Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Denmark instead of Switzerland, you would:
Health
be 25.4% less likely to die by suicide
Switzerland has a suicide rate of 14.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Denmark, it is 10.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.
live 2.2 years less
In Switzerland, the average life expectancy is 84 years (83 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2024. In Denmark, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024.
be 26.9% more likely to be obese
In Switzerland, 11.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Denmark, that number is 14.3% of people as of 2024.
see 31.5% less spent on your healthcare
Switzerland spends $10,602 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Denmark spends $7,262 as of 2024.
Economy
be 21.5% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Switzerland, 15.8% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Denmark, however, that number is 12.4% as of 2021.
be 13.6% more likely to be unemployed
In Switzerland, 4.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Denmark, that number is 5.5% as of 2025.
make 32.9% less money
Switzerland has a GDP per capita of $114,769 as of 2025, while in Denmark, the GDP per capita is $76,970 as of 2025.
Life
be 20.0% less likely to die during childbirth
In Switzerland, approximately 5.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Denmark, 4.0 women do as of 2023.
Expenditures
spend 19.7% less on healthcare
Switzerland spends 11.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Denmark, that number is 9.4% of GDP as of 2024.
spend 30.9% more on education
Switzerland spends 4.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Denmark spends 6.4% of total GDP on education as of 2022.
Safety
be 40.0% more likely to be murdered
Switzerland has a homicide rate of 0.6 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Denmark, that number is 0.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Infrastructure
live with 3.9 times more strain on fresh water
Switzerland withdraws 6% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Denmark withdraws 25% as of 2022.
use 13.4% less electricity
Switzerland uses 7,117 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Denmark uses 6,165 kWh as of 2024.
Environment
be 30.0% more likely to die from air pollution
In Switzerland, air pollution causes 10.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Denmark, it causes 13.0 as of 2019.
emit 14.1% more CO2
Switzerland emits 3.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Denmark emits 4.3 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019). How we calculate this
Compare further: Switzerland vs. Denmark
Denmark: At a glance
How big is Denmark compared to Switzerland? See an in-depth size comparison.