Netherlands vs Switzerland
Every indicator for Netherlands and Switzerland side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Netherlands | Switzerland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 18,087,633 | 9,092,436 | +98.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,333 | 1,044 | +27.7% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 73,684 | 114,769 | −35.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.0 | 84.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 41,540 | 41,291 | +0.6% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 435 | 220 | +97.7% |
| Median age (years) | 42.2 | 43.0 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.0 | 97.3 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.9 | 4.9 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.3 | 0.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 95.9 | 85.7 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 23,179 | 6,722 | +244.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.92 | 0.72 | +166.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.34 | 2.27 | +91.2% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,281 | 739 | +73.3% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 41,000 | 20,000 | +105.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.3 | 2.2 | +3.1% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.42 | 0.40 | +5.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Netherlands relative to Switzerland; a positive value favors Netherlands. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Netherlands is higher on 11 of the 12 indicators, while Switzerland leads on the remaining 1. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024), about 3.4 times; they are closest on area.
Key differences
- Netherlands's military expenditure (2024) (23,179) is about 3.4 times Switzerland's (6,722).
- Netherlands's military expenditure as a share of gdp (1.92) is about 2.7 times Switzerland's (0.72).
- Netherlands's armed forces personnel (2020) (41,000) is about 2.1 times Switzerland's (20,000).
- On population (2025), Netherlands is %99 higher than Switzerland: 18,087,633 against 9,092,436.
- On population density, Netherlands is %98 higher than Switzerland: 435 against 220.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Netherlands and Switzerland differ most?
Where are Netherlands and Switzerland most alike?
On how many indicators is Netherlands 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 Netherlands or Switzerland.
Netherlands profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Switzerland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.