Updated
Overview
Egypt has 13 times the population of Switzerland: 118.37 million people against 9.09 million (2025).
Switzerland's economy is 2.9 times the size of Egypt's, at $1.04T versus $365.25B.
Per person, Switzerland is the wealthier of the two: $114,769 against $3,086 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Egypt | Switzerland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $365.25B | Higher: $1.04T | 2025 | $389.06B / $936.56B |
| GDP per capita | $3,086 | Higher: $114,769 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 14.1% | Lower: 0.2% | 2025 | 28.3% / 1.1% |
| Unemployment | 6.8% | Lower: 4.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 15 | 112 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $109 | Higher: $7,309 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $132 | Higher: $4,784 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.87 | $9.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 118.37 million | 9.09 million | 2025 | 112.87 million / 8.93 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 24.5 yrs | 42.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.71 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 71.8 yrs | Higher: 84.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 43% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 75% | Higher: 97% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,002,450 km² | 41,284 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 118.1/km² | 220.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 258 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.40B | $6.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 836,000 | 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
Egypt is growing much faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 1.3%.
Egypt runs the hotter price environment: 14.1% inflation versus 0.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Egypt: a price level of 15 versus 112 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Switzerland: $7,309 against $109 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Egypt is the far younger society: median age 24.5 versus 42.9 years.
Life expectancy is 12.6 years longer in Switzerland (84.4 vs 71.8).
Switzerland is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 43%.
Internet adoption is higher in Switzerland (97% vs 75% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Egypt is 24 times the size of Switzerland: 1,002,450 km² versus 41,284 km².
Military
Switzerland spends 2.8 times as much on defence as Egypt: $6.72B versus $2.40B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Egypt fields the larger armed forces: 836,000 personnel against 20,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Egypt bigger than Switzerland?
- Egypt is larger by land area. Egypt covers 1,002,450 km² while Switzerland covers 41,284 km², so Egypt is 24 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Egypt or Switzerland?
- Egypt has the larger population: 118.37 million versus 9.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Egypt richer than Switzerland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Switzerland is richer: $114,769 against $3,086. Total GDP tells the same story: $365.25B for Egypt versus $1.04T for Switzerland.
- Who spends more on their military, Egypt or Switzerland?
- Switzerland spends more: $6.72B versus $2.40B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).