Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 1.6 years less

In Switzerland, the average life expectancy is 83 years (81 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022. In Denmark, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

be 15.6% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Switzerland, 14.7% live below the poverty line as of 2020. In Denmark, however, that number is 12.4% as of 2021.

make 17.2% less money

Switzerland has a GDP per capita of $72,300 as of 2022, while in Denmark, the GDP per capita is $59,900 as of 2022.

pay a 39.5% higher top tax rate

Switzerland has a top tax rate of 40.0% as of 2016. In Denmark, the top tax rate is 55.8% as of 2017.

Life

be 28.6% less likely to die during childbirth

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

be 15.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Switzerland, approximately 3.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Denmark, on the other hand, 3.0 children do as of 2022.

have 11.9% more children

In Switzerland, there are approximately 10.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Denmark, there are 11.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Expenditures

spend 11.0% less on healthcare

Switzerland spends 11.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Denmark, that number is 10.5% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 23.1% more on education

Switzerland spends 5.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Denmark spends 6.4% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Danish Central Tax Administration, Swiss Federal Tax Administration.

Denmark: At a glance

Denmark is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 42,434 sq km. Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.
Read more

How big is Denmark compared to Switzerland? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Denmark.or Switzerland It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.