Updated
Overview
Chile has 2.2 times the population of Switzerland: 19.86 million people against 9.09 million (2025).
Switzerland's economy is 2.9 times the size of Chile's, at $1.04T versus $357.37B.
Per person, Switzerland is the wealthier of the two: $114,769 against $17,995 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Chile | Switzerland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $357.37B | Higher: $1.04T | 2025 | $330.27B / $936.56B |
| GDP per capita | $17,995 | Higher: $114,769 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.5% | 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 4.2% | Lower: 0.2% | 2025 | 4.3% / 1.1% |
| Unemployment | 9.0% | Lower: 4.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 48 | 112 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,024 | Higher: $7,309 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $530 | Higher: $4,784 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.41 | $9.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 19.86 million | 9.09 million | 2025 | 19.09 million / 8.93 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 36.9 yrs | 42.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.13 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 81.4 yrs | Higher: 84.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 89% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 96% | Higher: 97% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 756,102 km² | 41,284 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 26.3/km² | 220.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 79 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 4.0 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.11B | $6.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.6% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 114,000 | 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
Chile is growing faster: 2.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.3%.
Chile runs the hotter price environment: 4.2% inflation versus 0.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Chile: a price level of 48 versus 112 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Switzerland: $7,309 against $1,024 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Chile is the younger society: median age 36.9 versus 42.9 years.
Life expectancy is 3.0 years longer in Switzerland (84.4 vs 81.4).
Geography
By land area, Chile is 18 times the size of Switzerland: 756,102 km² versus 41,284 km².
Switzerland is far more densely settled: 220 people per km² against 26.
Military
Switzerland spends 32% more on defence than Chile: $6.72B versus $5.11B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Chile carries the heavier military burden: 1.6% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Chile fields the larger armed forces: 114,000 personnel against 20,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Chile bigger than Switzerland?
- Chile is larger by land area. Chile covers 756,102 km² while Switzerland covers 41,284 km², so Chile is 18 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Chile or Switzerland?
- Chile has the larger population: 19.86 million versus 9.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Chile richer than Switzerland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Switzerland is richer: $114,769 against $17,995. Total GDP tells the same story: $357.37B for Chile versus $1.04T for Switzerland.
- Who spends more on their military, Chile or Switzerland?
- Switzerland spends more: $6.72B versus $5.11B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).