United Kingdom vs Switzerland
Every indicator for United Kingdom and Switzerland side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Switzerland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 69,487,000 | 9,092,436 | +664.2% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 4,003 | 1,044 | +283.4% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 57,602 | 114,769 | −49.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.4 | 84.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 243,610 | 41,291 | +490.0% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 285 | 220 | +29.5% |
| Median age (years) | 40.6 | 43.0 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 95.5 | 97.3 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.7 | 4.9 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.9 | 0.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 83.3 | 85.7 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 81,763 | 6,722 | +1,116.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.28 | 0.72 | +216.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.25 | 2.27 | +131.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,177 | 739 | +59.2% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 153,000 | 20,000 | +665.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.2 | 2.2 | +0.1% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.45 | 0.40 | +12.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of United Kingdom relative to Switzerland; a positive value favors United Kingdom. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
United Kingdom is higher on 11 of the 12 indicators, while Switzerland leads on the remaining 1. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024), about 12 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: United Kingdom stands at 81,763 against Switzerland's 6,722 — roughly 12 times as much.
- United Kingdom's armed forces personnel (2020) (153,000) is about 7.7 times Switzerland's (20,000).
- United Kingdom's population (2025) (69,487,000) is about 7.6 times Switzerland's (9,092,436).
- United Kingdom's area (243,610) is about 5.9 times Switzerland's (41,291).
- United Kingdom's gdp (nominal) (4,003) is about 3.8 times Switzerland's (1,044).
Frequently asked questions
Where do United Kingdom and Switzerland differ most?
Where are United Kingdom and Switzerland most alike?
On how many indicators is United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom or Switzerland.
United Kingdom profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Switzerland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.