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Europe & Central Asia

Living in Switzerland

Among the 116 countries we cover, Switzerland stands out most for healthcare and governance. Its weakest dimension is affordability.

Capital
Bern
Population
9.1M (2025)
World Bank income group
High income

Key figures

Price level (US = 100)
112Lower means cheaper than the US · 2025
Life expectancy (years)
84.4At birth · 2024
Homicides per 100,000 people
0.6Per 100,000 people per year · 2023
People using the internet
97.3%Share of the population · 2025

Scores by dimension

0–100, relative to the 116 countries we cover (100 = best in our set).

Affordability
3 / 100
Safety
87 / 100
Healthcare
92 / 100
Governance
93 / 100
Civil freedoms
92 / 100
Digital access
96 / 100
Economy
91 / 100
  • Affordability#113 of 116
  • Safety#6 of 116
  • Healthcare#2 of 116
  • Governance#3 of 116
  • Civil freedoms#9 of 116
  • Digital access#13 of 116
  • Economy#7 of 116

The underlying data

Indicators for Switzerland, with the year each value refers to
IndicatorValueYear
Price level (US = 100)WDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.CD / NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD1122025
GDP per personWDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.CDUS$114,7692025
GDP per person, adjusted for prices (PPP)WDI · NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CDInt$102,5132025
Unemployment rateWDI · SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS4.9%2025
Inflation (consumer prices)WDI · FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG0.2%2025
Life expectancy (years)WDI · SP.DYN.LE00.IN84.42024
Doctors per 1,000 peopleWDI · SH.MED.PHYS.ZS4.52022
Health spending per personWDI · SH.XPD.CHEX.PC.CDUS$11,7842023
Homicides per 100,000 peopleWDI · VC.IHR.PSRC.P50.62023
People using the internetWDI · IT.NET.USER.ZS97.3%2025
Political stability (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_PV.SC852025
Rule of law (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_RL.SC872025
Government effectiveness (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_GE.SC932025
Control of corruption (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_CC.SC882025
Voice and accountability (0–100)WGI · GOV_WGI_VA.SC862025
PopulationWDI · SP.POP.TOTL9.1M2025

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators (updated July 13, 2026) and Worldwide Governance Indicators (updated September 25, 2026), CC BY 4.0. We show the most recent year available for each figure. How we score

Switzerland: common questions

Is Switzerland expensive to live in?

The World Bank price level for Switzerland is 112 (US = 100) in 2025, which places it #113 of 116 countries for affordability in our data. This is a national average. Big cities, housing and imported goods can cost much more.

How safe is Switzerland?

Switzerland recorded 0.6 intentional homicides per 100,000 people (2023). Its World Bank political stability score is 85 out of 100 (2025). National figures hide local differences, so check your government's current travel advice for specific areas.

What is healthcare like in Switzerland?

Life expectancy at birth in Switzerland is 84.4 years (2024). There are 4.5 doctors per 1,000 people (2022). Access for foreign residents depends on your visa, residency status and insurance, so confirm what coverage you'd be entitled to.

Do I need a visa to move to Switzerland?

It depends on your citizenship, purpose and length of stay, and the rules change often. We don't give visa advice. Check the official immigration authority or embassy of Switzerland for the current requirements.