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

Health

live 8.6 years less

In Switzerland, the average life expectancy is 83 years (81 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022. In Palau, that number is 75 years (71 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022.

be 2.8 times more likely to be obese

In Switzerland, 19.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Palau, that number is 55.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 58.0% less likely to be unemployed

In Switzerland, 4.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Palau, that number is 1.7% as of 2015.

make 80.9% less money

Switzerland has a GDP per capita of $82,900 as of 2023, while in Palau, the GDP per capita is $15,800 as of 2023.

be 69.4% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Switzerland, 14.7% live below the poverty line as of 2020. In Palau, however, that number is 24.9% as of 2006.

Life

have 14.9% more children

In Switzerland, there are approximately 10.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Palau, there are 11.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 3.2 times more 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 Palau, on the other hand, 11.3 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 61.2% less likely to have internet access

In Switzerland, approximately 96.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Palau, about 37.2% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 30.8% more on education

Switzerland spends 5.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Palau spends 6.8% of total GDP on education as of 2019.

spend 55.9% more on healthcare

Switzerland spends 11.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Palau, that number is 18.4% of GDP as of 2020.


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

Palau: At a glance

Palau is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 459 sq km. After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986 but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year when the islands gained independence.
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How big is Palau compared to Switzerland? See an in-depth size comparison.

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