Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 1.3 years longer

In United Kingdom, the average life expectancy is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022. In Switzerland, that number is 83 years (81 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022.

be 29.9% less likely to be obese

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

Economy

make 64.4% more money

United Kingdom has a GDP per capita of $41,600 as of 2020, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $68,400 as of 2020.

be 27.1% less likely to be unemployed

In United Kingdom, 3.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2019. In Switzerland, that number is 2.3% as of 2019.

be 14.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In United Kingdom, 18.6% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Switzerland, however, that number is 16.0% as of 2018.

pay a 11.1% lower top tax rate

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

Life

be 28.6% less likely to die during childbirth

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

Expenditures

spend 10.8% more on healthcare

United Kingdom spends 10.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Switzerland, that number is 11.3% of GDP as of 2019.

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

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.
Read more

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

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

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