Updated
Overview
Switzerland has about 60% more people than Finland: 9.09 million against 5.65 million (2025).
Switzerland's economy is 3.3 times the size of Finland's, at $1.04T versus $317.04B.
Per person, Switzerland is the wealthier of the two: $114,769 against $56,149 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Switzerland | Finland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.04T | $317.04B | 2025 | $936.56B / $299.84B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $114,769 | $56,149 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.3% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.2% | 0.3% | 2025 | 1.1% / 1.6% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.9% | 9.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 112 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $7,309 | $5,760 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $4,784 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $9.04 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 9.09 million | 5.65 million | 2025 | 8.93 million / 5.55 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.9 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.44 | 1.30 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.4 yrs | 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 86% | 75% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 97% | 94% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 41,284 km² | 338,424 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 220.2/km² | 16.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 32 Mt | Lower: 30 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.6 t | 5.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.72B | $6.99B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 20,000 | 22,000 | 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 0.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.2% in Switzerland and 0.3% in Finland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Finland: a price level of 85 versus 112 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Switzerland: $7,309 against $5,760 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 42.9 (Switzerland) and 43.2 (Finland).
Life expectancy is 2.1 years longer in Switzerland (84.4 vs 82.3).
Switzerland is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 75%.
Geography
By land area, Switzerland is 88% smaller than Finland: 41,284 km² versus 338,424 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 17.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $6.72B (Switzerland) and $6.99B (Finland).
Relative to its economy, Finland carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Finland fields the larger armed forces: 22,000 personnel against 20,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Switzerland bigger than Finland?
- Finland is larger by land area. Switzerland covers 41,284 km² while Finland covers 338,424 km², so Finland is 8.2 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Switzerland or Finland?
- Switzerland has the larger population: 9.09 million versus 5.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Switzerland richer than Finland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Switzerland is richer: $114,769 against $56,149. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.04T for Switzerland versus $317.04B for Finland.
- Who spends more on their military, Switzerland or Finland?
- Finland spends more: $6.99B versus $6.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).