Updated
Overview
Switzerland has about 50% more people than Singapore: 9.09 million against 6.11 million (2025).
Switzerland's economy is about 75% larger than Singapore's, at $1.04T versus $603.87B.
Per person, Switzerland is the wealthier of the two: $114,769 against $98,814 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Switzerland | Singapore | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.04T | $603.87B | 2025 | $936.56B / $547.39B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $114,769 | $98,814 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.3% | Higher: 5.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.2% | 0.9% | 2025 | 1.1% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | 4.9% | Lower: 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 112 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $7,309 | $3,483 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $4,784 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $9.04 | $5.77 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 9.09 million | 6.11 million | 2025 | 8.93 million / 6.08 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.9 yrs | 36.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.44 | 0.96 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.4 yrs | 83.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 86% | 100% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 97% | 94% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 41,284 km² | 719 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 220.2/km² | 8499.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 32 Mt | 54 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.6 t | 9.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.72B | $15.06B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 2.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 20,000 | 59,000 | 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
Singapore is growing much faster: 5.0% annual GDP growth versus 1.3%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 0.2% in Switzerland and 0.9% in Singapore.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Singapore: a price level of 60 versus 112 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Switzerland: $7,309 against $3,483 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Singapore is the younger society: median age 36.2 versus 42.9 years.
Life expectancy is 1.1 years longer in Switzerland (84.4 vs 83.3).
Singapore is considerably more urbanized: 100% of people live in cities, against 86%.
Geography
By land area, Switzerland is 57 times the size of Singapore: 41,284 km² versus 719 km².
Singapore is far more densely settled: 8500 people per km² against 220.
Military
Singapore spends 2.2 times as much on defence as Switzerland: $15.06B versus $6.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Singapore carries the heavier military burden: 2.8% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Singapore fields the larger armed forces: 59,000 personnel against 20,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Switzerland bigger than Singapore?
- Switzerland is larger by land area. Switzerland covers 41,284 km² while Singapore covers 719 km², so Switzerland is 57 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Switzerland or Singapore?
- Switzerland has the larger population: 9.09 million versus 6.11 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Switzerland richer than Singapore?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Switzerland is richer: $114,769 against $98,814. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.04T for Switzerland versus $603.87B for Singapore.
- Who spends more on their military, Switzerland or Singapore?
- Singapore spends more: $15.06B versus $6.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).