Updated
Overview
Switzerland has about 65% more people than Ireland: 9.09 million against 5.48 million (2025).
Switzerland's economy is about 45% larger than Ireland's, at $1.04T versus $721.70B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Switzerland | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.04T | $721.70B | 2025 | $936.56B / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $114,769 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.3% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.2% | 2.2% | 2025 | 1.1% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | 4.9% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 112 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $7,309 | $5,697 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $4,784 | $2,579 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $9.04 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 9.09 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 8.93 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.9 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.44 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.4 yrs | 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 86% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 97% | 97% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 41,284 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 220.2/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 32 Mt | 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.6 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.72B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 20,000 | 9,000 | 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
Ireland is growing much faster: 12.3% annual GDP growth versus 1.3%.
Ireland runs the hotter price environment: 2.2% inflation versus 0.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Ireland: a price level of 85 versus 112 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Switzerland: $7,309 against $5,697 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Ireland is the younger society: median age 39.0 versus 42.9 years.
Life expectancy is 1.4 years longer in Switzerland (84.4 vs 83.0).
Switzerland is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 65%.
Geography
By land area, Switzerland is 41% smaller than Ireland: 41,284 km² versus 70,273 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 78.
Military
Switzerland spends 5.1 times as much on defence as Ireland: $6.72B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Switzerland fields the larger armed forces: 20,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Switzerland bigger than Ireland?
- Ireland is larger by land area. Switzerland covers 41,284 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Ireland is 70% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Switzerland or Ireland?
- Switzerland has the larger population: 9.09 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Switzerland richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $114,769. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.04T for Switzerland versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, Switzerland or Ireland?
- Switzerland spends more: $6.72B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).