Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Switzerland instead of Belgium, you would:

Health

live 1.4 years longer

In Belgium, the average life expectancy is 82 years (79 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022. In Switzerland, that number is 83 years (81 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022.

be 11.8% less likely to be obese

In Belgium, 22.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Switzerland, that number is 19.5% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 30.3% more money

Belgium has a GDP per capita of $63,600 as of 2023, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $82,900 as of 2023.

be 26.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Belgium, 5.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Switzerland, that number is 4.0% as of 2023.

pay a 25.5% lower top tax rate

Belgium has a top tax rate of 53.7% as of 2016. In Switzerland, the top tax rate is 40.0% as of 2016.

be 19.5% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Belgium, 12.3% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Switzerland, however, that number is 14.7% as of 2020.

Life

be 40.0% more likely to die during childbirth

In Belgium, approximately 5.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Switzerland, 7.0 women do as of 2020.

be 12.2% more likely to die during infancy

In Belgium, approximately 3.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Switzerland, on the other hand, 3.6 children do as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 22.4% less on education

Belgium spends 6.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Switzerland spends 5.2% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Service Public Fédéral Finances, The World Factbook, Swiss Federal Tax Administration.

Switzerland: At a glance

Switzerland is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 39,997 sq km. The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two world wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
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How big is Switzerland compared to Belgium? See an in-depth size comparison.

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