Updated
Overview
Poland has 4.0 times the population of Switzerland: 36.44 million people against 9.09 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $1.04T for Poland and $1.04T for Switzerland.
Per person, Switzerland is the wealthier of the two: $114,769 against $28,420 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Poland | Switzerland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $1.04T | Higher: $1.04T | 2025 | $914.70B / $936.56B |
| GDP per capita | $28,420 | Higher: $114,769 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.6% | 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.8% | Lower: 0.2% | 2025 | 3.8% / 1.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 4.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 52 | 112 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $2,302 | Higher: $7,309 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,241 | Higher: $4,784 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $9.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.44 million | 9.09 million | 2025 | 38.75 million / 8.93 million |
| Population growth | -0.3% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.5 yrs | 42.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.31 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.4 yrs | Higher: 84.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 60% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 97% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 312,679 km² | 41,284 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 116.5/km² | 220.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 273 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.1 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $38.00B | $6.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 4.2% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 189,000 | 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
Poland is growing faster: 3.6% annual GDP growth versus 1.3%.
Poland runs the hotter price environment: 3.8% inflation versus 0.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Poland: a price level of 52 versus 112 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Switzerland: $7,309 against $2,302 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 42.5 (Poland) and 42.9 (Switzerland).
Life expectancy is 6.0 years longer in Switzerland (84.4 vs 78.4).
Switzerland is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 60%.
Geography
By land area, Poland is 7.6 times the size of Switzerland: 312,679 km² versus 41,284 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
Poland spends 5.7 times as much on defence as Switzerland: $38.00B versus $6.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Poland carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Poland fields the larger armed forces: 189,000 personnel against 20,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Poland bigger than Switzerland?
- Poland is larger by land area. Poland covers 312,679 km² while Switzerland covers 41,284 km², so Poland is 7.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Poland or Switzerland?
- Poland has the larger population: 36.44 million versus 9.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Poland richer than Switzerland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Switzerland is richer: $114,769 against $28,420. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.04T for Poland versus $1.04T for Switzerland.
- Who spends more on their military, Poland or Switzerland?
- Poland spends more: $38.00B versus $6.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).