Updated
Overview
Brazil has 23 times the population of Switzerland: 212.81 million people against 9.09 million (2025).
Brazil's economy is 2.2 times the size of Switzerland's, at $2.28T versus $1.04T.
Per person, Switzerland is the wealthier of the two: $114,769 against $10,713 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Brazil | Switzerland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.28T | $1.04T | 2025 | $2.18T / $936.56B |
| GDP per capita | $10,713 | Higher: $114,769 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.3% | 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 5.0% | Lower: 0.2% | 2025 | 4.4% / 1.1% |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | Lower: 4.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 46 | 112 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $607 | Higher: $7,309 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $262 | Higher: $4,784 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.71 | $9.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 212.81 million | 9.09 million | 2025 | 221.36 million / 8.93 million |
| Population growth | 0.4% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.8 yrs | 42.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.60 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.0 yrs | Higher: 84.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 88% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 97% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 8,515,767 km² | 41,284 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 25.0/km² | 220.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 483 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.3 t | 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $20.95B | $6.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 762,000 | 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
Brazil is growing faster: 2.3% annual GDP growth versus 1.3%.
Brazil runs the hotter price environment: 5.0% inflation versus 0.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Brazil: a price level of 46 versus 112 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Switzerland: $7,309 against $607 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Brazil is the far younger society: median age 34.8 versus 42.9 years.
Life expectancy is 8.4 years longer in Switzerland (84.4 vs 76.0).
Internet adoption is higher in Switzerland (97% vs 84% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Brazil is 206 times the size of Switzerland: 8,515,767 km² versus 41,284 km².
Switzerland is far more densely settled: 220 people per km² against 25.
Military
Brazil spends 3.1 times as much on defence as Switzerland: $20.95B versus $6.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Brazil fields the larger armed forces: 762,000 personnel against 20,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Brazil bigger than Switzerland?
- Brazil is larger by land area. Brazil covers 8,515,767 km² while Switzerland covers 41,284 km², so Brazil is 206 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Brazil or Switzerland?
- Brazil has the larger population: 212.81 million versus 9.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Brazil richer than Switzerland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Switzerland is richer: $114,769 against $10,713. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.28T for Brazil versus $1.04T for Switzerland.
- Who spends more on their military, Brazil or Switzerland?
- Brazil spends more: $20.95B versus $6.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).