📜 A long story
Switzerland, 1800 → today
Switzerland grew from 1.75 million in 1800 to 8.87 million; a newborn can expect 43.8 more years of life than in 1876, and output per person is 26× its 1851 level, adjusted for inflation.
Told with long-run reconstructions, not the yearly series used elsewhere on the site: each chapter names its source. Scroll to move through the years.
☺ Chapter 1 · Population
How many people live there?
1800
In 1800, about 1.75 million people lived in Switzerland.
1900
3.3 million people.
1.9× the 1800 level
1950
4.69 million people.
1.4× the 1900 level
Reached twice the 1800 level in 1905.
2023
8.87 million people, the latest year in this series.
1.9× the 1950 level
Reached 5 times the 1800 level in 2022.
Long-run series: before 1950, reconstructions by HYDE and Gapminder, filled in between benchmark years by those sources. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
✚ Chapter 2 · Life expectancy
How long do people live?
1876
In 1876, a newborn in Switzerland could expect to live 40.2 years, on average.
1900
47.6 years.
+7.4 years since 1876
1950
68.9 years.
+21 years since 1900
Passed 50 years in 1902.
Passed 60 years in 1923.
The sharpest fall in the data: down 10 years between 1916 and 1918 (56.5 years → 46.3 years).
2023
84 years, the latest year in this series.
+15 years since 1950
Passed 70 years in 1954.
Passed 80 years in 2001.
Long-run series: before 1950, historical estimates (Riley, Clio Infra, Human Mortality Database), only for years they cover.
◎ Chapter 3 · GDP per person (PPP)
How much is produced per person?
1851
In 1851, Switzerland produced about Int$2,440 per person, in 2011 prices.
1900
Int$6,610.
2.7× the 1851 level
Reached twice the 1851 level in 1886.
1950
Int$11,500.
1.7× the 1900 level
The sharpest fall in the data: down 27% between 1913 and 1921 (Int$8,170 → Int$6,000).
2022
Int$63,300, the latest year in this series.
5.5× the 1950 level
Reached 5 times the 1851 level in 1953.
Reached 10 times the 1851 level in 1971.
Reached 20 times the 1851 level in 2005.
Long-run series (Maddison Project) in 2011 international dollars: adjusted for inflation, so not the same unit as today’s PPP figure. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
❦ Chapter 4 · CO₂ per person
How much CO₂ does each person emit?
1858
In 1858, fossil fuels and industry in Switzerland emitted about 0.1 t of CO₂ per person.
1900
1.7 t.
29× the 1858 level
Reached twice the 1858 level in 1860.
Reached 5 times the 1858 level in 1870.
Reached 10 times the 1858 level in 1880.
Reached 20 times the 1858 level in 1891.
1950
2.2 t.
1.3× the 1900 level
The sharpest fall in the data: down 87% between 1939 and 1945 (2.8 t → 0.4 t).
2024
3.6 t, the latest year in this series.
1.6× the 1950 level
Reached 50 times the 1858 level in 1956.
Long-run series: fossil CO₂ emitted within each country’s borders (Global Carbon Budget); early estimates are less certain. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
☕ Chapter 5 · Years of schooling
How long do people go to school?
1870
In 1870, people aged 15–64 in Switzerland had spent 4.1 years in school, on average.
1900
5.3 years.
+1.2 years since 1870
1950
9 years.
+3.7 years since 1900
Passed 6 years in 1910.
Passed 8 years in 1940.
2015
12.9 years, the latest year in this series.
+3.9 years since 1950
Passed 10 years in 1975.
Passed 12 years in 2010.
Long-run series (Lee & Lee, Barro & Lee) for people aged 15–64, every 5 years until 2015: a different age group than today’s figure (25 and older).