Finland vs Switzerland
Every indicator for Finland and Switzerland side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Finland | Switzerland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 5,646,436 | 9,092,436 | −37.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 317 | 1,044 | −69.6% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 56,149 | 114,769 | −51.1% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.3 | 84.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 338,480 | 41,291 | +719.7% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 17 | 220 | −92.4% |
| Median age (years) | 43.4 | 43.0 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 93.7 | 97.3 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 9.5 | 4.9 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.3 | 0.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 74.5 | 85.7 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 6,988 | 6,722 | +4.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.30 | 0.72 | +219.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.05 | 2.27 | +78.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,238 | 739 | +67.4% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 22,000 | 20,000 | +10.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 3.9 | 2.2 | +77.1% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.80 | 0.40 | +100.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Finland relative to Switzerland; a positive value favors Finland. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Finland is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Switzerland leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in population density, about 13 times; they are closest on military expenditure (2024).
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Switzerland stands at 220 against Finland's 17 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Finland's area (338,480) is about 8.2 times Switzerland's (41,291).
- Switzerland's gdp (nominal) (1,044) is about 3.3 times Finland's (317).
- Finland's military expenditure as a share of gdp (2.30) is about 3.2 times Switzerland's (0.72).
- Switzerland's gdp per capita (114,769) is about 2.0 times Finland's (56,149).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Finland and Switzerland differ most?
Where are Finland and Switzerland most alike?
On how many indicators is Finland 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 Finland or Switzerland.
Finland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Switzerland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.