Quality of life comparison
If you lived in United States instead of Switzerland, you would:
Health
see 27.1% more spent on your healthcare
Switzerland spends $10,602 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). United States spends $13,473 as of 2023.
live 5.5 years less
In Switzerland, the average life expectancy is 84 years (83 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2024. In United States, that number is 79 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024.
be 3.6 times more likely to be obese
In Switzerland, 11.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In United States, that number is 41.0% of people as of 2024.
have 17.8% fewer doctors per person
Switzerland has 44.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. United States has 36.8 as of 2022.
be 11.5% more likely to die by suicide
Switzerland has a suicide rate of 14.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In United States, it is 15.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
be 13.8% less likely to be unemployed
In Switzerland, 4.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In United States, that number is 4.2% as of 2025.
make 21.6% less money
Switzerland has a GDP per capita of $114,769 as of 2025, while in United States, the GDP per capita is $90,027 as of 2025.
Life
have 21.8% more children
In Switzerland, there are approximately 8.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In United States, there are 10.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 3.4 times more 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 United States, 17.0 women do as of 2023.
be 61.8% more 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 United States, on the other hand, 5.5 children do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 11.5% more on education
Switzerland spends 4.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. United States spends 5.4% of total GDP on education as of 2021.
spend 42.8% more on healthcare
Switzerland spends 11.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In United States, that number is 16.7% of GDP as of 2023.
Safety
be 9.6 times more likely to be murdered
Switzerland has a homicide rate of 0.6 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In United States, that number is 5.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 12.0% less likely to feel safe walking alone at night
In Switzerland, 72% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2021. In United States, that number is 63% as of 2021.
be 5.9 times more likely to die in a road accident
In Switzerland, road accidents kill 2.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In United States, they kill 14.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
use 80.4% more electricity
Switzerland uses 7,117 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. United States uses 12,839 kWh as of 2024.
find 17.4% less home broadband
Switzerland has 47.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. United States has 38.9 as of 2024.
live with 4.3 times more strain on fresh water
Switzerland withdraws 6% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. United States withdraws 28% as of 2022.
Environment
be 40.0% more likely to die from air pollution
In Switzerland, air pollution causes 10.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In United States, it causes 14.0 as of 2019.
emit 3.6 times more CO2
Switzerland emits 3.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. United States emits 13.6 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this
Compare further: Switzerland vs. United States
United States: At a glance
How big is United States compared to Switzerland? See an in-depth size comparison.