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

Health

be 58.8% less likely to die by suicide

Switzerland has a suicide rate of 14.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Macedonia, it is 5.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 7.8 years less

In Switzerland, the average life expectancy is 84 years (83 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 77 years (74 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 2.4 times more likely to be obese

In Switzerland, 11.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Macedonia, that number is 26.8% of people as of 2024.

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see 83.0% less spent on your healthcare

Switzerland spends $10,602 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Macedonia spends $1,808 as of 2023.

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have 34.2% fewer doctors per person

Switzerland has 44.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Macedonia has 29.4 as of 2022.

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have 14.0% less access to essential health services

Switzerland scores 86 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Macedonia scores 74 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 2.5 times more likely to be unemployed

In Switzerland, 4.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Macedonia, that number is 12.3% as of 2025.

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be 38.6% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Switzerland, 15.8% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Macedonia, however, that number is 21.9% as of 2023.

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make 90.9% less money

Switzerland has a GDP per capita of $114,769 as of 2025, while in Macedonia, the GDP per capita is $10,490 as of 2025.

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Life

be 40.0% 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 Macedonia, 3.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 26.5% less likely to die during infancy

In Switzerland, approximately 3.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Macedonia, on the other hand, 2.5 children do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 36.4% less on healthcare

Switzerland spends 11.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Macedonia, that number is 7.4% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 2.5 times more likely to be murdered

Switzerland has a homicide rate of 0.6 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Macedonia, that number is 1.5 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 2.4 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Switzerland, road accidents kill 2.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Macedonia, they kill 5.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 36.4% less home broadband

Switzerland has 47.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Macedonia has 29.9 as of 2024.

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live with 8.1 times more strain on fresh water

Switzerland withdraws 6% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Macedonia withdraws 53% as of 2022.

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use 53.3% less electricity

Switzerland uses 7,117 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Macedonia uses 3,320 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 6.2 times more likely to die from air pollution

In Switzerland, air pollution causes 10.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Macedonia, it causes 62.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Macedonia: At a glance

Macedonia is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 25,433 sq km. Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991. Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, but the issue of the name remained unresolved and negotiations for a solution are ongoing. Since 2004, the US and over 130 other nations have recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into an insurgency in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and the creation of new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. Although Macedonia became an EU candidate in 2005, the country still faces challenges, including fully implementing the Framework Agreement, improving relations with Bulgaria, carrying out democratic reforms, and stimulating economic growth and development. Macedonia's membership in NATO was blocked by Greece at the Alliance's Summit of Bucharest in 2008.
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