GeoRealityMatch
A beautiful autumn view of Bern, Switzerland, showcasing vibrant fall foliage and historic architecture.Scenic view of traditional Swiss chalets on a quiet street in Interlaken, Switzerland, near snow-capped mountains.

Switzerland

Europe · Western Europe

Very high safetyVery expensive cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and incomes are high for Europe. Living costs are high.

vs United Statesvs Italyvs France
Safety

3rd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.363lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#3 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.6per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
72.6Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the European median

Median disposable income
€51,926per adult, a year, after tax and transfersVery high
Eurostat · 2024
Rent index
51.5New York = 100Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
11.4years of median income to buy a median flatModerateNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 92% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 16% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$60K$120K$102,513 PPP$114,769Inflation, % a year3%0200620102015202020252006, $59,910 a person, $46,981 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2007, $66,082 a person, $51,786 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2008, $75,148 a person, $54,514 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2009, $72,788 a person, $53,874 at PPP, inflation -0.5%2010, $77,956 a person, $55,446 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2011, $91,910 a person, $58,405 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2012, $87,270 a person, $60,434 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2013, $88,851 a person, $62,749 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2014, $90,512 a person, $64,694 at PPP2015, $85,265 a person, $66,419 at PPP, inflation -1.1%2016, $83,432 a person, $68,400 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2017, $83,610 a person, $69,318 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2018, $87,002 a person, $72,169 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2019, $85,873 a person, $75,267 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2020, $87,530 a person, $74,385 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2021, $96,583 a person, $83,525 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2022, $97,809 a person, $94,630 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2023, $104,450 a person, $93,940 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2024, $107,702 a person, $97,468 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2025, $114,769 a person, $102,513 at PPP, inflation 0.2%$0$60K$120KInflation, % a year3%0200620102015202020252006, $59,910 a person, $46,981 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2007, $66,082 a person, $51,786 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2008, $75,148 a person, $54,514 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2009, $72,788 a person, $53,874 at PPP, inflation -0.5%2010, $77,956 a person, $55,446 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2011, $91,910 a person, $58,405 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2012, $87,270 a person, $60,434 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2013, $88,851 a person, $62,749 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2014, $90,512 a person, $64,694 at PPP2015, $85,265 a person, $66,419 at PPP, inflation -1.1%2016, $83,432 a person, $68,400 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2017, $83,610 a person, $69,318 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2018, $87,002 a person, $72,169 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2019, $85,873 a person, $75,267 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2020, $87,530 a person, $74,385 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2021, $96,583 a person, $83,525 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2022, $97,809 a person, $94,630 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2023, $104,450 a person, $93,940 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2024, $107,702 a person, $97,468 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2025, $114,769 a person, $102,513 at PPP, inflation 0.2%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
84.4years, at birthVery high
#4 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
87WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
8.1PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Among the lowest youth unemployment in Europe

Youth unemployment
8.8%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceVery low
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
286 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
564EF English Proficiency Index scoreHighEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet286 MbpsVery fast
Mobile124 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Scenic view of traditional Swiss chalets on a quiet street in Interlaken, Switzerland, near snow-capped mountains.
How it changed

Switzerland's Human Development Index

0.970Very high human development

2nd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 3rd of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #1Iceland0.972
  2. #2Norway0.970
  3. #2Switzerland0.970
  4. #4Denmark0.962
  5. #5Germany0.959
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.858 in 1990 to 0.970 in 2023.

0.800.901.000.97019902000201020231990: 0.8581991: 0.8601992: 0.8631993: 0.8671994: 0.8701995: 0.8721996: 0.8751997: 0.8801998: 0.8861999: 0.8892000: 0.8922001: 0.8952002: 0.8962003: 0.9012004: 0.9062005: 0.9092006: 0.9182007: 0.9262008: 0.9342009: 0.9422010: 0.9452011: 0.9462012: 0.9492013: 0.9522014: 0.9562015: 0.9572016: 0.9592017: 0.9602018: 0.9622019: 0.9652020: 0.9632021: 0.9682022: 0.9662023: 0.9700.800.901.0019902000201020231990: 0.8581991: 0.8601992: 0.8631993: 0.8671994: 0.8701995: 0.8721996: 0.8751997: 0.8801998: 0.8861999: 0.8892000: 0.8922001: 0.8952002: 0.8962003: 0.9012004: 0.9062005: 0.9092006: 0.9182007: 0.9262008: 0.9342009: 0.9422010: 0.9452011: 0.9462012: 0.9492013: 0.9522014: 0.9562015: 0.9572016: 0.9592017: 0.9602018: 0.9622019: 0.9652020: 0.9632021: 0.9682022: 0.9662023: 0.970

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
84.4 years2024at birthUp 3.2 years from 81.2 years in 2005
Internet users
97%2025of people onlineUp 22 points from 76% in 2006
Urban population
86%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 12 points from 74% in 2006
Births per woman
1.292024births per womanDown 0.13 from 1.42 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
28%2021of energy usedUp 10 points from 18% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
32024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 4 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
3.8 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 2.6 t from 6.3 t in 2005
Forest area
32%2023of land under forestUp 2 points from 31% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Europe's highest salaries, with a very high cost of living offset by world-class infrastructure. The case for living here is peace, high incomes for Europe and long lives. The case against is a high cost of living.

About Switzerland

Switzerland is a small, mountainous Central European country that has refined the art of doing things carefully, from its watchmaking and chocolate to its trains, its bank architecture, and its exceptional alpine landscapes. The country is multilingual and multicultural in a precise way, with German, French, Italian, and Romansh regions each maintaining their own character. Those who connect with the combination of natural grandeur and human precision will find it one of the most quietly satisfying places in Europe.

Practical facts

  • CapitalBern
  • LanguagesFrench, Swiss German, Italian, Romansh
  • CurrencySwiss franc (CHF)
  • Area39,510 km²
  • Plug typeType C/J
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Switzerland's Human Development Index?

Switzerland's Human Development Index is 0.970 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #2 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Switzerland safe?

Switzerland scores 1.36 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #3 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Switzerland?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Switzerland at 110.7 (New York = 100); that is #143 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Switzerland?

Life expectancy at birth in Switzerland is 84.4 yrs (World Bank), ranked #4 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Switzerland?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Switzerland at 206.2, ranked #5 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.