Updated
Overview
Romania has 2.1 times the population of Switzerland: 19.02 million people against 9.09 million (2025).
Switzerland's economy is 2.4 times the size of Romania's, at $1.04T versus $428.68B.
Per person, Switzerland is the wealthier of the two: $114,769 against $22,538 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Romania | Switzerland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $428.68B | Higher: $1.04T | 2025 | $382.77B / $936.56B |
| GDP per capita | $22,538 | Higher: $114,769 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.7% | Higher: 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 7.2% | Lower: 0.2% | 2025 | 5.7% / 1.1% |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | Lower: 4.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 44 | 112 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,722 | Higher: $7,309 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $906 | Higher: $4,784 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.01 | $9.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 19.02 million | 9.09 million | 2025 | 18.15 million / 8.93 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 43.2 yrs | 42.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.71 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.5 yrs | Higher: 84.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 52% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 91% | Higher: 97% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 238,391 km² | 41,284 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 79.8/km² | 220.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 69 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 3.6 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $8.72B | $6.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 128,000 | 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
Switzerland is growing faster: 1.3% annual GDP growth versus 0.7%.
Romania runs the hotter price environment: 7.2% inflation versus 0.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Romania: a price level of 44 versus 112 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Switzerland: $7,309 against $1,722 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 43.2 (Romania) and 42.9 (Switzerland).
Life expectancy is 7.9 years longer in Switzerland (84.4 vs 76.5).
Switzerland is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, Romania is 5.8 times the size of Switzerland: 238,391 km² versus 41,284 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Switzerland is far more densely settled: 220 people per km² against 80.
Military
Romania spends 30% more on defence than Switzerland: $8.72B versus $6.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Romania carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Romania fields the larger armed forces: 128,000 personnel against 20,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Romania bigger than Switzerland?
- Romania is larger by land area. Romania covers 238,391 km² while Switzerland covers 41,284 km², so Romania is 5.8 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Romania or Switzerland?
- Romania has the larger population: 19.02 million versus 9.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Romania richer than Switzerland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Switzerland is richer: $114,769 against $22,538. Total GDP tells the same story: $428.68B for Romania versus $1.04T for Switzerland.
- Who spends more on their military, Romania or Switzerland?
- Romania spends more: $8.72B versus $6.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).