Updated
Overview
The Philippines has 13 times the population of Switzerland: 116.79 million people against 9.09 million (2025).
Switzerland's economy is 2.1 times the size of the Philippines', at $1.04T versus $487.09B.
Per person, Switzerland is the wealthier of the two: $114,769 against $4,171 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Philippines | Switzerland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $487.09B | Higher: $1.04T | 2025 | $461.62B / $936.56B |
| GDP per capita | $4,171 | Higher: $114,769 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.7% | Lower: 0.2% | 2025 | 3.2% / 1.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.2% | 4.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 112 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $316 | Higher: $7,309 | 2023 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $145 | Higher: $4,784 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.74 | $9.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 116.79 million | 9.09 million | 2025 | 118.28 million / 8.93 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.1 yrs | 42.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 69.9 yrs | Higher: 84.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 67% | Higher: 97% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 342,353 km² | 41,284 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 341.1/km² | 220.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 175 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.5 t | 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.12B | $6.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 157,000 | 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
The Philippines is growing much faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 1.3%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.7% in the Philippines and 0.2% in Switzerland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the Philippines: a price level of 33 versus 112 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Switzerland: $7,309 against $316 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Philippines is the far younger society: median age 26.1 versus 42.9 years.
Life expectancy is 14.5 years longer in Switzerland (84.4 vs 69.9).
Switzerland is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 56%.
Internet adoption is higher in Switzerland (97% vs 67% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the Philippines is 8.3 times the size of Switzerland: 342,353 km² versus 41,284 km².
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $6.12B (the Philippines) and $6.72B (Switzerland).
The Philippines fields the larger armed forces: 157,000 personnel against 20,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the Philippines bigger than Switzerland?
- The Philippines is larger by land area. The Philippines covers 342,353 km² while Switzerland covers 41,284 km², so the Philippines is 8.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the Philippines or Switzerland?
- The Philippines has the larger population: 116.79 million versus 9.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the Philippines richer than Switzerland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Switzerland is richer: $114,769 against $4,171. Total GDP tells the same story: $487.09B for the Philippines versus $1.04T for Switzerland.
- Who spends more on their military, the Philippines or Switzerland?
- Switzerland spends more: $6.72B versus $6.12B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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