Moving to Switzerland from Papua New Guinea

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Papua New Guinea to Switzerland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Papua New Guinea to Switzerland, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bern averages 55°F vs 88°F in Port Moresby, making it significantly cooler.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Switzerland

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Papua New Guinea to Switzerland.

Moved in 2023
1

people moved from Papua New Guinea to Switzerland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Switzerland?

Top countries of origin for Switzerland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Switzerland compared to Papua New Guinea.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

PG
9.4
CH
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PG
14.9
CH
2.4

Switzerland performs significantly better than Papua New Guinea across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PG
$133
CH
$10,602
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

PG
0.6
CH
44.4

Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Papua New Guinea leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

PG
38.0
CH
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PG
0.5t
CH
3.7t

Papua New Guinea generally does better on environment, though Switzerland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PG
0.2
CH
47.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PG
0.1%
CH
6.5%

Switzerland generally does better on infrastructure, though Papua New Guinea leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

PG
2.6%
CH
4.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PG
$4,200
CH
$82,900

Switzerland generally does better on employment & economy, though Papua New Guinea leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

PG
69.4 yrs
CH
83.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PG
33.6
CH
3.6

Switzerland performs significantly better than Papua New Guinea across all family life metrics.

Data: Internal Revenue Commission, Papua New Guinea, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Port Moresby Rain: 35.4 in/yr (899 mm)
88° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bern Rain: 42.8 in/yr (1086 mm)
55° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Port Moresby Bern
Jan–Mar 89°/74°F (32°/24°C) 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 87°/73°F (30°/23°C) 70°/53°F (21°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 90°/74°F (32°/24°C) 46°/36°F (8°/2°C)
View all months
Month Port Moresby Bern
Jan 90°/75°F (32.1°/23.7°C) 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C)
Feb 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.5°C) 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C)
Mar 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.4°C) 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C)
Apr 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C)
May 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.5°C) 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C)
Jun 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.1°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C)
Aug 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.6°C) 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C)
Sep 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C)
Oct 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.5°C) 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C)
Nov 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.6°C) 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C)
Dec 90°/75°F (32.4°/23.7°C) 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C)

Data: Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service Papua New Guinea Meteorological Service, MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Papua New Guinea and Switzerland. To live, work, or study long-term in Switzerland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Switzerland's immigration authority.

Papua New Guinea passport

Papua New Guinea passport holder visiting Switzerland

Visa Required
Papua New Guinea passport holders need a visa to enter Switzerland.
Switzerland passport

Switzerland passport holder visiting Papua New Guinea

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Switzerland passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Papua New Guinea.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Switzerland?

Connectivity is usually fine (Switzerland: 47.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Switzerland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Switzerland safe for expats?

Switzerland performs significantly better than Papua New Guinea across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Papua New Guinea.

How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Papua New Guinea?

Switzerland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Papua New Guinea leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 44.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Switzerland, compared to 0.6 in Papua New Guinea. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Papua New Guinea: 30).

What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to Papua New Guinea?

The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 88°F in Port Moresby. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Port Moresby gets 35.4 in.

What language do they speak in Switzerland?

The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Papua New Guinea, the official languages are English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin.

Share this

At a Glance

PG CH
Population 9,593,498 8,508,698
Currency Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK) Swiss Franc (CHF)
Languages English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin French, Italian, Romansh, Swiss German
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +675 +41
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 000 112