Updated
Overview
Austria and Switzerland are nearly matched in population: 9.21 million versus 9.09 million people (2025).
Switzerland's economy is about 80% larger than Austria's, at $1.04T versus $579.47B.
Per person, Switzerland is the wealthier of the two: $114,769 against $62,930 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Austria | Switzerland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $579.47B | Higher: $1.04T | 2025 | $521.64B / $936.56B |
| GDP per capita | $62,930 | Higher: $114,769 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.6% | Higher: 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.5% | Lower: 0.2% | 2025 | 2.9% / 1.1% |
| Unemployment | 5.6% | Lower: 4.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 82 | 112 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $6,155 | Higher: $7,309 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | — | $4,784 | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $9.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 9.21 million | 9.09 million | 2025 | 9.17 million / 8.93 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 43.6 yrs | 42.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.33 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 82.0 yrs | Higher: 84.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 70% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 92% | Higher: 97% | 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 83,871 km² | 41,284 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 109.8/km² | 220.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 56 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 6.2 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.26B | $6.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 23,000 | 20,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Switzerland is growing faster: 1.3% annual GDP growth versus 0.6%.
Austria runs the hotter price environment: 3.5% inflation versus 0.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Austria: a price level of 82 versus 112 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Switzerland: $7,309 against $6,155 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 43.6 (Austria) and 42.9 (Switzerland).
Life expectancy is 2.4 years longer in Switzerland (84.4 vs 82.0).
Switzerland is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 70%.
Geography
By land area, Austria is 2.0 times the size of Switzerland: 83,871 km² versus 41,284 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Switzerland is far more densely settled: 220 people per km² against 110.
Military
Switzerland spends 28% more on defence than Austria: $6.72B versus $5.26B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Austria fields the larger armed forces: 23,000 personnel against 20,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Austria bigger than Switzerland?
- Austria is larger by land area. Austria covers 83,871 km² while Switzerland covers 41,284 km², so Austria is 2.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Austria or Switzerland?
- Austria has the larger population: 9.21 million versus 9.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Austria richer than Switzerland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Switzerland is richer: $114,769 against $62,930. Total GDP tells the same story: $579.47B for Austria versus $1.04T for Switzerland.
- Who spends more on their military, Austria or Switzerland?
- Switzerland spends more: $6.72B versus $5.26B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).