Updated
Overview
Russia has 16 times the population of Switzerland: 143.51 million people against 9.09 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 2.5 times the size of Switzerland's, at $2.56T versus $1.04T.
Per person, Switzerland is the wealthier of the two: $114,769 against $17,547 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Switzerland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.56T | $1.04T | 2025 | $2.17T / $936.56B |
| GDP per capita | $17,547 | Higher: $114,769 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 1.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.7% | Lower: 0.2% | 2025 | 6.7% / 1.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.1% | 4.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 112 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $777 | Higher: $7,309 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $208 | Higher: $4,784 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | $9.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 9.09 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 8.93 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 42.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 84.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 94% | Higher: 97% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 41,284 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 220.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 12.3 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $6.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 0.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (1.0% for Russia, 1.3% for Switzerland).
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 0.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Russia: a price level of 32 versus 112 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Switzerland: $7,309 against $777 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Russia is the younger society: median age 40.3 versus 42.9 years.
Life expectancy is 11.0 years longer in Switzerland (84.4 vs 73.4).
Switzerland is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 75%.
Geography
By land area, Russia is 414 times the size of Switzerland: 17,098,242 km² versus 41,284 km².
Switzerland is far more densely settled: 220 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends 22 times as much on defence as Switzerland: $148.97B versus $6.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 20,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Switzerland?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Switzerland covers 41,284 km², so Russia is 414 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Switzerland?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 9.09 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Switzerland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Switzerland is richer: $114,769 against $17,547. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.56T for Russia versus $1.04T for Switzerland.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Switzerland?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $6.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).