Switzerland vs Germany — Country Comparison
Switzerland
GermanySwitzerland and Germany side by side: Germany is the larger country (357,114 km² vs 41,284 km², roughly 8.7× the size), while Germany has the bigger population (83.5 million vs 9.1 million). The full comparison table below covers capitals, currencies, languages, dialling codes, timezones and more.
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
| Fact | Switzerland | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Bern | Berlin |
| Population | 9,082,848 | 83,491,249 |
| Area | 41,284 km² | 357,114 km² |
| Currency | Swiss franc | Euro |
| Languages | Swiss German, French, Italian, Romansh | German |
| Dialling code | +41 | +49 |
| Main timezone | UTC+01:00 | UTC+01:00 |
| Drives on the | Right | Right |
| Region | Western Europe | Western Europe |
| Emergency number | 112 | 112 |
Key differences: Switzerland vs Germany
- Germany has about 9.2 times the population of Switzerland.
- Germany is about 8.7 times larger by area.
- Germany is the more densely populated of the two.
- They use different currencies: CHF and EUR.
- They do not share an official language.
- They share a land border.
- Their geographic centres are about 450 km apart.
- Switzerland and Germany are in the same time zone (UTC+01:00).
Want the full picture for each country? See Switzerland and Germany, or compare their population pages: Switzerland · Germany.
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Switzerland vs Germany — FAQ
Which is bigger, Switzerland or Germany?
Germany is bigger by area: 357,114 km² vs 41,284 km², roughly 8.7× the size of Switzerland.
Is Switzerland bigger than Germany?
No — Germany is larger at 357,114 km² vs 41,284 km² for Switzerland.
Which has more people, Switzerland or Germany?
Germany has the larger population: 83,491,249 (83.5 million) vs 9,082,848 (9.1 million).
How does the size of Switzerland compare to Germany?
Germany (357,114 km²) is about 8.7× larger than Switzerland (41,284 km²).
Do Switzerland and Germany use the same currency?
No — Switzerland uses the Swiss franc and Germany uses the Euro.
Are Switzerland and Germany on the same continent?
Yes — both are in Europe.
What is the time difference between Switzerland and Germany?
Switzerland and Germany are in the same time zone (UTC+01:00).
Do Switzerland and Germany share an official language?
No — Switzerland and Germany do not share an official language.
Do Switzerland and Germany share a border?
Yes — Switzerland and Germany share a land border.
Which is more densely populated, Switzerland or Germany?
Germany is more densely populated at roughly 234 people per km², compared to 220 for Switzerland.
How far is Switzerland from Germany?
The distance between the geographic centres of Switzerland and Germany is roughly 450 km (280 miles) in a straight line. Actual travel distances between cities will differ.
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