Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Switzerland instead of New Zealand, you would:

Health

be 36.7% less likely to be obese

In New Zealand, 30.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Switzerland, that number is 19.5% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 69.9% more money

New Zealand has a GDP per capita of $48,800 as of 2023, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $82,900 as of 2023.

pay a 21.2% higher top tax rate

New Zealand has a top tax rate of 33.0% as of 2016. In Switzerland, the top tax rate is 40.0% as of 2016.

Life

have 19.8% fewer children

In New Zealand, there are approximately 12.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Switzerland, there are 10.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Expenditures

spend 13.3% less on education

New Zealand spends 6.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Switzerland spends 5.2% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 18.0% more on healthcare

New Zealand spends 10.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Switzerland, that number is 11.8% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, 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 New Zealand? See an in-depth size comparison.

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