Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Switzerland instead of South Korea, you would:

Health

be 4.1 times more likely to be obese

In South Korea, 4.7% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Switzerland, that number is 19.5% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 63.8% more money

South Korea has a GDP per capita of $50,600 as of 2023, while in Switzerland, the GDP per capita is $82,900 as of 2023.

be 53.4% more likely to be unemployed

In South Korea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Switzerland, that number is 4.0% as of 2023.

Life

have 46.0% more children

In South Korea, there are approximately 6.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Switzerland, there are 10.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 24.7% more likely to die during infancy

In South Korea, approximately 2.9 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 10.6% more on education

South Korea spends 4.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Switzerland spends 5.2% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 40.5% more on healthcare

South Korea spends 8.4% 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.

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 South Korea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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