Switzerland's productivity is well above the international average and its GDP is one of the highest worldwide. Although GDP per capita has seen only modest growth in recent decades, the average Swiss citizen still enjoys a considerably higher standard of living than the residents of the eurozone or the United States.
Workforce productivity, BFS
Switzerland's gross domestic product (GDP) amounted to approximately CHF 781 billion in 2022, equivalent to around CHF 88,700 per capita. This makes Switzerland one of the countries with the highest GDP in the world.
Although GDP per capita has seen only modest growth in recent decades, the average Swiss citizen still enjoys a considerably higher standard of living than the residents of the eurozone, the United States or the United Kingdom. In terms of purchasing power, Swiss GDP per capita is one and a half times higher than the EU average. Between 2010 and 2022, Switzerland's GDP rose by an average of 0.9%, while the growth rate in EU countries (EU-27) was 1.2%. Overall economic labour productivity in Switzerland rose by an average of around 1% per year between 2000 and 2022; in the primary and secondary sectors, however, it was markedly above 1%. Labour productivity in the EU and the OECD region rose by a similar rate of 1.1% during this period.
The difference in GDP per capita between Switzerland and the OECD country average was around 43% in 1980, and had increased to around 62% by 2022.Compared to the EU, Switzerland's GDP per capita was about 58% higher in 2022.
Among the reasons for the modest productivity growth over the past decade are the ageing of the Swiss population and the broader economic situation. The Federal Council therefore periodically adopts measures to strengthen Switzerland as a business location.