Singapore vs Switzerland
Side-by-side economic and demographic comparison · 2026 data · Source: IMF & World Bank
Singapore and Switzerland are two of the world's wealthiest small nations, both serving as global financial centers and wealth management hubs. Switzerland's economy is roughly five times larger, but Singapore's GDP per capita is comparable or higher. Both are trade-dependent, politically stable, and attract global talent through favorable business environments. Switzerland's economy is built on finance, pharmaceuticals (Roche, Novartis), precision manufacturing (watches, machinery), and food (Nestlé). Singapore dominates Asian trade finance, semiconductor logistics, and serves as the gateway to Southeast Asian markets.
Singapore has a GDP of $659.57B compared to Switzerland's $1.15T, making it 1.7x smaller. Singapore's population is 6.1M vs Switzerland's 9.1M. Across 12 key indicators, Switzerland leads in 8 categories. All data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.
| Indicator | ||
|---|---|---|
| GDP (USD) | $659.57B | $1.15T✓ |
| GDP per Capita | $107,758 | $126,177✓ |
| GDP Growth (%) | 3.5%✓ | 1.3% |
| GDP per Capita (PPP) | $173,708✓ | $105,680 |
| Population | 6.1M | 9.1M✓ |
| Life Expectancy | 83.3 years | 84.4 years✓ |
| Inflation (%) | 2.3% | 0.5%✓ |
| Unemployment (%) | 2.0%✓ | 3.0% |
| Govt Debt (% GDP) | 171.9% | 38.5%✓ |
| Fertility Rate | 1 | 1.3✓ |
| Gini Index | N/A | 33.8 |
| CO₂ per Capita (t) | 9.8 | 3.7✓ |
Summary
Singapore has a GDP of $659.57B compared to Switzerland's $1.15T, making the latter economy 1.7x larger. In terms of population, Singapore has 6.1M people while Switzerland has 9.1M. Across the 12 indicators compared, Singapore leads in 3 and Switzerland leads in 8.
Why sources report different numbers
The IMF, World Bank and United Nations each publish these series on their own release schedule. Where their figures differ, the reason is usually visible in the reference year rather than in the methodology.
| Source | Singapore | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| IMF | $659.57B2026 | $1.15T2026 |
| World Bank | $603.87B2025 | $1.04T2025 |
| United Nations | $547.39B2024 | $936.56B2024 |
These are not the same reference year. IMF publishes 2026 and United Nations publishes 2024 — each is the latest that publisher has released, on its own schedule. A figure for a year still in progress is a projection rather than an outturn. Singapore spans about 20% across 2 years; Switzerland spans about 22% across 2 years.
| Source | Singapore | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| IMF | $107,7582026 | $126,1772026 |
| World Bank | $98,8142025 | $114,7692025 |
| United Nations | $93,8532024 | $104,9732024 |
These are not the same reference year. IMF publishes 2026 and United Nations publishes 2024 — each is the latest that publisher has released, on its own schedule. A figure for a year still in progress is a projection rather than an outturn. Singapore spans about 15% across 2 years; Switzerland spans about 20% across 2 years.
Figures are reproduced as published by each source, converted to a common unit, with each publisher's own reference year shown. Differences are described, not adjudicated — no source is presented as more correct than another.