Switzerland vs Norway
Every indicator for Switzerland and Norway side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Switzerland | Norway | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 9,092,436 | 5,610,870 | +62.1% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 1,044 | 531 | +96.6% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 114,769 | 94,594 | +21.3% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 84.4 | 83.2 | — |
| Area (km²) | 41,291 | 624,500 | −93.4% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 220 | 9 | +2,350.9% |
| Median age (years) | 43.0 | 40.2 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 97.3 | 99.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.9 | 4.6 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.2 | 3.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 85.7 | 83.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 6,722 | 10,435 | −35.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.72 | 2.09 | −65.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 2.27 | 4.53 | −49.9% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 739 | 1,860 | −60.2% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 20,000 | 25,000 | −20.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.2 | 4.5 | −50.6% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.40 | 0.85 | −52.9% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Switzerland relative to Norway; a positive value favors Switzerland. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Norway is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Switzerland leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in population density, about 25 times; they are closest on gdp per capita.
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Switzerland stands at 220 against Norway's 9 — roughly 25 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Norway stands at 624,500 against Switzerland's 41,291 — roughly 15 times as much.
- Norway's military expenditure as a share of gdp (2.09) is about 2.9 times Switzerland's (0.72).
- Norway's military expenditure per capita (1,860) is about 2.5 times Switzerland's (739).
- Norway's armed forces as a share of the labor force (0.85) is about 2.1 times Switzerland's (0.40).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Switzerland and Norway differ most?
Where are Switzerland and Norway most alike?
On how many indicators is Switzerland ahead of Norway?
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 Switzerland or Norway.
Switzerland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Norway profile →
All statistics, series, and details.