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

Health

live 14.2 years longer

In Turkmenistan, the average life expectancy is 70 years (67 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2024. In Switzerland, that number is 84 years (83 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 49.2% less likely to be obese

In Turkmenistan, 22.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Switzerland, that number is 11.3% of people as of 2024.

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see 8.4 times more spent on your healthcare

Turkmenistan spends $1,264 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Switzerland spends $10,602 as of 2023.

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have 2.3 times more doctors per person

Turkmenistan has 19.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Switzerland has 44.8 as of 2022.

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have 14.7% more access to essential health services

Turkmenistan scores 75 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Switzerland scores 86 as of 2021.

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be 2.1 times more likely to die by suicide

Turkmenistan has a suicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Switzerland, it is 14.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 17.5 times more money

Turkmenistan has a GDP per capita of $6,540 as of 2025, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $114,769 as of 2025.

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be 14.1% more likely to be unemployed

In Turkmenistan, 4.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Switzerland, that number is 4.9% as of 2025.

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Life

be 88.8% less likely to die during infancy

In Turkmenistan, approximately 30.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Switzerland, on the other hand, 3.4 children do as of 2024.

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have 58.4% fewer children

In Turkmenistan, there are approximately 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Switzerland, there are 8.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 3.8 times more likely to have internet access

In Turkmenistan, approximately 25.3% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Switzerland, about 97.3% do as of 2025.

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Expenditures

spend 13.3% more on education

Turkmenistan spends 4.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Switzerland spends 4.9% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 2.1 times more on healthcare

Turkmenistan spends 5.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Switzerland, that number is 11.7% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 70.0% less likely to die in a road accident

In Turkmenistan, road accidents kill 8.0 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Switzerland, they kill 2.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 9.0 times more home broadband

Turkmenistan has 5.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Switzerland has 47.0 as of 2024.

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live with 95.2% less strain on fresh water

Turkmenistan withdraws 135% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Switzerland withdraws 6% as of 2022.

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use 2.6 times more electricity

Turkmenistan uses 2,778 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Switzerland uses 7,117 kWh as of 2024.

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Environment

be 88.5% less likely to die from air pollution

In Turkmenistan, air pollution causes 87.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Switzerland, it causes 10.0 as of 2019.

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emit 65.5% less CO2

Turkmenistan emits 10.9 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Switzerland emits 3.8 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2022). How we calculate this

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

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