Country explorer: Switzerland

Switzerland has sustained a robust economic performance with relatively low unemployment and inflation rates compared to its peers, signaling a resilient and stable economic environment amidst global changes.

Switzerland's significant and consistent population growth, moderate fertility rate, high net migration, and an increase in life expectancy reflect its attractiveness as a destination for immigrants and underscore its high living standards and well-managed social services, common traits shared with its high-income country peers but distinguished by its notably stable demographic trends.

Switzerland has consistently ensured virtually universal access to basic needs such as clean cooking fuels, electricity, safely managed drinking water, and sanitation facilities, placing it on par with the highest standards observed among high-income countries.

Switzerland has demonstrated substantial progress in human development, evidencing improvements in health (reduced child mortality rate), education (high literacy rate and learning-adjusted years of schooling), and living standards, placing it consistently at the forefront of global high-income countries.

Switzerland has significantly reduced its per capita CO₂ emissions, paralleled by an increase in forest area, signaling positive environmental stewardship and sustainability efforts in contrast to many of its high-income counterparts.

Switzerland has consistently demonstrated a leading position in technology and innovation among high-income countries, marked by a high internet usage rate, substantial mobile phone subscriptions, notable research and development spending as a share of GDP, and a prolific output of scientific and technical journal articles per million people.

Switzerland has experienced a significant increase in its foreign-born population, an uptrend in self-reported life satisfaction, a decrease in gender inequality, and a steady rise in the age dependency ratio, illustrating a societal evolution towards more diversity and equality, coupled with the challenges of an aging population, which collectively distinguish it within the context of high-income countries.

Switzerland has consistently exhibited strong governance indicators, showcasing its commitment to the rule of law, low corruption levels, the protection of political and civil liberties, and freedom of the press, positioning it as a paragon of stable and effective governance among high-income countries.