Updated
Overview
Kazakhstan has 2.3 times the population of Switzerland: 20.84 million people against 9.09 million (2025).
Switzerland's economy is 3.4 times the size of Kazakhstan's, at $1.04T versus $306.24B.
Per person, Switzerland is the wealthier of the two: $114,769 against $14,692 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Kazakhstan | Switzerland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $306.24B | Higher: $1.04T | 2025 | $288.41B / $936.56B |
| GDP per capita | $14,692 | Higher: $114,769 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 6.5% | 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 11.4% | Lower: 0.2% | 2025 | 8.8% / 1.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.8% | 4.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 112 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $673 | Higher: $7,309 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $181 | Higher: $4,784 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $9.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 20.84 million | 9.09 million | 2025 | 20.43 million / 8.93 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.7 yrs | 42.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.95 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.5 yrs | Higher: 84.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 62% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 93% | Higher: 97% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,724,900 km² | 41,284 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 7.6/km² | 220.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 287 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 13.9 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.21B | $6.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 71,000 | 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
Kazakhstan is growing much faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.3%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 0.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kazakhstan: a price level of 33 versus 112 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Switzerland: $7,309 against $673 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the far younger society: median age 29.7 versus 42.9 years.
Life expectancy is 9.9 years longer in Switzerland (84.4 vs 74.5).
Switzerland is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 62%.
Geography
By land area, Kazakhstan is 66 times the size of Switzerland: 2,724,900 km² versus 41,284 km².
Switzerland is far more densely settled: 220 people per km² against 8.
Military
Switzerland spends 5.6 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $6.72B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Kazakhstan fields the larger armed forces: 71,000 personnel against 20,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Kazakhstan bigger than Switzerland?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km² while Switzerland covers 41,284 km², so Kazakhstan is 66 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Kazakhstan or Switzerland?
- Kazakhstan has the larger population: 20.84 million versus 9.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Kazakhstan richer than Switzerland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Switzerland is richer: $114,769 against $14,692. Total GDP tells the same story: $306.24B for Kazakhstan versus $1.04T for Switzerland.
- Who spends more on their military, Kazakhstan or Switzerland?
- Switzerland spends more: $6.72B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).