Germany vs Switzerland
Every indicator for Germany and Switzerland side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Germany | Switzerland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 83,491,249 | 9,092,436 | +818.2% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 5,051 | 1,044 | +383.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 60,496 | 114,769 | −47.3% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.8 | 84.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 357,680 | 41,291 | +766.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 233 | 220 | +6.0% |
| Median age (years) | 46.7 | 43.0 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 93.5 | 97.3 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.7 | 4.9 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.2 | 0.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 82.1 | 85.7 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 88,458 | 6,722 | +1,215.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.89 | 0.72 | +162.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.93 | 2.27 | +73.1% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,059 | 739 | +43.3% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 183,000 | 20,000 | +815.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.2 | 2.2 | −0.4% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.42 | 0.40 | +5.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Germany relative to Switzerland; a positive value favors Germany. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Germany is higher on 10 of the 12 indicators, while Switzerland leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024), about 13 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: Germany stands at 88,458 against Switzerland's 6,722 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Germany's population (2025) (83,491,249) is about 9.2 times Switzerland's (9,092,436).
- Germany's armed forces personnel (2020) (183,000) is about 9.2 times Switzerland's (20,000).
- Germany's area (357,680) is about 8.7 times Switzerland's (41,291).
- Germany's gdp (nominal) (5,051) is about 4.8 times Switzerland's (1,044).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Germany and Switzerland differ most?
Where are Germany and Switzerland most alike?
On how many indicators is Germany ahead of Switzerland?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving Germany or Switzerland.
Germany profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Switzerland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.