Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in United Kingdom instead of Switzerland, you would:

Health

live 1.7 years less

In Switzerland, the average life expectancy is 83 years (80 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2020. In United Kingdom, that number is 81 years (79 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2020.

be 42.6% more likely to be obese

In Switzerland, 19.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In United Kingdom, that number is 27.8% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 28.7% less money

Switzerland has a GDP per capita of $62,100 as of 2017, while in United Kingdom, the GDP per capita is $44,300 as of 2017.

be 37.5% more likely to be unemployed

In Switzerland, 3.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2017. In United Kingdom, that number is 4.4% as of 2017.

be 2.3 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Switzerland, 6.6% live below the poverty line as of 2014. In United Kingdom, however, that number is 15.0% as of 2013.

pay a 12.5% higher top tax rate

Switzerland has a top tax rate of 40.0% as of 2016. In United Kingdom, the top tax rate is 45.0% as of 2016.

Life

have 13.3% more children

In Switzerland, there are approximately 10.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020. In United Kingdom, there are 11.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020.

be 40.0% more likely to die during childbirth

In Switzerland, approximately 5.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In United Kingdom, 7.0 women do as of 2017.

be 17.1% more likely to die during infancy

In Switzerland, approximately 3.5 children die before they reach the age of one as of 2020. In United Kingdom, on the other hand, 4.1 children do as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Swiss Federal Tax Administration, HM Revenue & Customs.

United Kingdom: At a glance

United Kingdom (sometimes abbreviated UK) is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 241,930 sq km. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.
Read more

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

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

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