Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 18.5% more likely to be obese

In Switzerland, 19.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Norway, that number is 23.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 11.6% less likely to be unemployed

In Switzerland, 4.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Norway, that number is 3.6% as of 2023.

be 17.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Switzerland, 14.7% live below the poverty line as of 2020. In Norway, however, that number is 12.2% as of 2021.

Life

be 71.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Switzerland, approximately 7.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Norway, 2.0 women do as of 2020.

be 35.5% 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 Norway, on the other hand, 2.3 children do as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 13.5% more on education

Switzerland spends 5.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Norway spends 5.9% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Norway: At a glance

Norway is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 304,282 sq km. Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Although Norway remained neutral in World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping. Norway proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (1940-45). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU. Key domestic issues include immigration and integration of ethnic minorities, maintaining the country's extensive social safety net with an aging population, and preserving economic competitiveness.
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How big is Norway compared to Switzerland? See an in-depth size comparison.

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