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

Health

live 3.0 years longer

In United Kingdom, the average life expectancy is 81 years (80 years for men, 83 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 58.8% less likely to be obese

In United Kingdom, 27.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Switzerland, that number is 11.3% of people as of 2024.

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see 60.5% more spent on your healthcare

United Kingdom spends $6,606 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Switzerland spends $10,602 as of 2023.

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have 35.6% more doctors per person

United Kingdom has 33.0 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Switzerland has 44.8 as of 2022.

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be 46.8% more likely to die by suicide

United Kingdom has a suicide rate of 9.6 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 99.2% more money

United Kingdom has a GDP per capita of $57,602 as of 2025, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $114,769 as of 2025.

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Life

be 37.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In United Kingdom, approximately 8.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Switzerland, 5.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 17.1% less likely to die during infancy

In United Kingdom, approximately 4.1 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 12.0% fewer children

In United Kingdom, there are approximately 9.9 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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Expenditures

spend 17.8% less on education

United Kingdom spends 5.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Switzerland spends 4.9% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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Safety

be 46.4% less likely to be murdered

United Kingdom has a homicide rate of 1.1 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Switzerland, that number is 0.6 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 11.5% more home broadband

United Kingdom has 42.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Switzerland has 47.0 as of 2024.

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live with 54.7% less strain on fresh water

United Kingdom withdraws 14% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Switzerland withdraws 6% as of 2022.

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use 69.7% more electricity

United Kingdom uses 4,195 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Switzerland uses 7,117 kWh as of 2024.

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Environment

be 23.1% less likely to die from air pollution

In United Kingdom, air pollution causes 13.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Switzerland, it causes 10.0 as of 2019.

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emit 11.1% less CO2

United Kingdom emits 4.2 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), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019). 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 United Kingdom? See an in-depth size comparison.

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