A memory device includes a memory cell array including a first switch cell, a second switch cell, and a plurality of memory cells disposed between the first the second switch cells and connected to a plurality of word lines, and a control circuit configured to perform a program operation by providing a program voltage to a first word line among the plurality of word lines, a switch voltage to a second word line among the plurality of word lines, and a pass voltage to remaining word lines among the plurality of word lines, wherein the control circuit is configured to turn off the first switch cell and the second switch cell in a first section of the program operation, and configured to turn on the first switch cell and increase the switch voltage in a second section of the program operation later than the first section.