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Introduction - Switzerland
Background:
The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three
cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The
Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499.
A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the
confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty
and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the
country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and
economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as
Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened
Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially
become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and
international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
Geography - Switzerland
Location:
Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates:
47 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 41,277 sq km
country comparison to the world: 135
land: 39,997 sq km
water: 1,280 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,852 km
border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41
km, Germany 334 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Current Weather
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to
warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain:
mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of
rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Natural resources:
hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use:
arable land: 9.91%
permanent crops: 0.58%
other: 89.51% (2005)
Irrigated land:
250 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
53.3 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.52 cu km/yr (24%/74%/2%)
per capita: 348 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
avalanches, landslides; flash floods
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water
pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent
Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern
France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in
the Alps
People - Switzerland
Population:
7,623,438 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.4% (male 609,834/female 565,869)
15-64 years: 68% (male 2,611,848/female 2,569,383)
65 years and over: 16.6% (male 528,635/female 737,869) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.3 years
male: 40.3 years
female: 42.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.223% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Birth rate:
9.56 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Death rate:
8.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Net migration rate:
1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Urbanization:
urban population: 73% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.054 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 208
male: 4.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.97 years
country comparison to the world: 12
male: 78.14 years
female: 83.95 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.46 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
25,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Nationality:
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
adjective: Swiss
Ethnic groups:
German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Muslim 4.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, other
Christian 0.4%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1% (2000 census)
Languages:
German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official) 6.5%,
Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%,
Romansch (official) 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000 census)
note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national and official
languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.8% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 45
Government - Switzerland
Country name:
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation
conventional short form: Switzerland
local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German); Confederation Suisse
(French); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian); Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh)
local short form: Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera (Italian); Svizra
(Romansh)
Government type:
formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal republic
Capital:
name: Bern
geographic coordinates: 46 57 N, 7 26 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in
October
Administrative divisions:
26 cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian;
Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden,
Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve,
Glarus, Graubunden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen,
Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
note: 6 of the cantons - Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell-Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft,
Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden, Obwalden - are styled half cantons because they elect
only one member to the Council of States and, in popular referendums where a
majority of popular votes and a majority of cantonal votes are required, these
six cantons only have a half vote
Independence:
1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
National holiday:
Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Constitution:
revision of Constitution of 1874 approved by the Federal Parliament 18 December
1998, adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, officially entered into force 1
January 2000
Legal system:
civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative
acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Doris LEUTHARD (since 1 January 2010); Vice President
Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2010); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government representing the Federal Council; the
Federal Council is the formal chief of state and head of government whose
council members, rotating in one-year terms as federal president, represent the
Council
head of government: President Doris LEUTHARD (since 1 January 2009); Vice
President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2009)
cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French),
Consiglio Federale (in Italian) is elected by the Federal Assembly usually from
among its members for a four-year term
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from
among the members of the Federal Council for a one-year term (they may not serve
consecutive terms); election last held on 2 December 2009 (next to be held in
December 2010)
election results: Doris LEUTHARD elected president; number of Federal Assembly
votes - 158 of 183; Moritz LEUENBERGER elected vice president; number of Federal
Assembly votes - 128 of 187
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale
(in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States
or Standerat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati
(in Italian) (46 seats; membership consists of 2 representatives from each
canton and 1 from each half canton; members to serve four-year terms) and the
National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French),
Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats; members elected by popular vote on
the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons in October 2007 (each
canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last
held on 21 October 2007 (next to be held in October 2011)
election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - CVP 15, FDP 12, SVP 7, SPS 9, other 3; National Council - percent of
vote by party - SVP 29%, SPS 19.5%, FDP 15.6%, CVP 14.6%, Greens 9.6%, other
11.7%; seats by party - SVP 62, SPS 43, FDP 31, CVP 31, Green Party 20, other
small parties 13
Judicial branch:
Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal
Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Green Party (Gruene Partei der Schweiz or Gruene, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les
Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La
Verda) [Ueli LEUENBERGER]; Christian Democratic People's Party
(Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti
Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare
Svizzero or PDC, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Christophe
DARBELLAY]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der
Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio
Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Fulvio PELLI]; Social Democratic Party
(Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti Socialist Suisse or PSS,
Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or
PSS) [Christian LEVRAT]; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or
SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC,
Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Toni BRUNNER]; and other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CE,
CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNITAR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Urs ZISWILER
chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald S. BEYER, Jr.
embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11
FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Flag description:
red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not
extend to the edges of the flag; various medieval legends purport to describe
the origin of the flag; a white cross used as identification for troops of the
Swiss Confederation is first attested at the Battle of Laupen (1339)
Economy - Switzerland
Economy - overview:
Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and modern market economy with low
unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP among the
highest in the world. Switzerland's economy benefits from a highly developed
service sector, led by financial services, and a manufacturing industry that
specializes in high-technology, knowledge-based production. In recent years the
Swiss have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the
EU's, in order to enhance their international competitiveness, but some trade
protectionism remains, particularly for its small agricultural sector. The
global financial crisis and resulting economic downturn put Switzerland in a
recession in 2009 as global export demand stalled. The Swiss National Bank
during this period effectively implemented a zero-interest rate policy in a bid
to boost the economy and prevent appreciation of the franc. Switzerland's
economy will probably experience modest GDP growth in 2010, when Bern is
scheduled to implement a third fiscal stimulus program, but its prized banking
sector has recently faced significant challenges. The country's largest banks
suffered sizable losses in 2008-09, leading its largest bank to accept a
government rescue deal in late 2008. Switzerland has also come under increasing
pressure from individual neighboring countries, the EU, the US, and
international institutions to reform its banking secrecy laws. Consequently, the
government agreed to conform to OECD regulations on administrative assistance in
tax matters, including tax evasion. The government has renegotiated its double
taxation agreements with numerous countries, including the US, to incorporate
the OECD standard. Parliament will vote on the first five negotiated agreements,
including the agreement with the US, in March 2010. These agreements, if passed
by Parliament, will be subject to public referendum. In 2009, Swiss financial
regulators ordered the country's largest bank to reveal at Washington's behest
the names of US account-holders suspected of using the bank to commit tax fraud.
These steps will have a lasting impact on Switzerland's long history of bank
secrecy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$317 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$321.8 billion (2008 est.)
$316.1 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$489.8 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
1.8% (2008 est.)
3.6% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$41,700 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$42,400 (2008 est.)
$41,800 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 27.6%
services: 71% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
4.103 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 23.9%
services: 72.3% (2009)
Unemployment rate:
4.4% (February 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
2.6% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
7.4% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 7.5%
highest 10%: 19% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.7 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 93
33.1 (1992)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Budget:
revenues: $178.5 billion
expenditures: $179.5 billion
note: includes federal, cantonal, and municipal accounts (2009 est.)
Public debt:
40.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
41.3% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
2.4% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.05% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 132
2.05% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
3.34% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 152
3.15% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$275.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$213.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of quasi money:
$454.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$450.7 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$864.4 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$855.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 12
$862.7 billion (31 December 2008)
$1.275 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Industries:
machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism,
banking, and insurance
Industrial production growth rate:
-3% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Electricity - production:
59.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Electricity - consumption:
62 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Electricity - exports:
49.9 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
46.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
3,488 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Oil - consumption:
280,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Oil - exports:
10,310 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Oil - imports:
247,200 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl
country comparison to the world: 115
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Natural gas - consumption:
3.282 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Natural gas - imports:
3.282 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Natural gas - proved reserves:
NA cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
Current account balance:
$35.91 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$5.094 billion (2008 est.)
Exports:
$207 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$241.2 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners:
Germany 20.98%, US 9.09%, France 8.62%, Italy 8.08%, Austria 5.38% (2009)
Imports:
$192.1 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$227.7 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Imports - partners:
Germany 27.19%, Italy 10.42%, US 9.61%, France 7.69%, Netherlands 4.35% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$135.1 billion (31 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$74.07 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.339 trillion (30 June 2009)
country comparison to the world: 10
$1.305 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$416.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$405.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$755.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$726.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.1081 (2009), 1.0774 (2008), 1.1973 (2007),
1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005)
Communications - Switzerland
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.82 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 32
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.78 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 65
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed telecommunications infrastructure with
excellent domestic and international services
domestic: ranked among leading countries for fixed-line teledensity and
infrastructure; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 115 per 100 persons;
extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks
international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 106 (plus many low-power stations), shortwave 3 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
106 (2007)
Internet country code:
.ch
Internet hosts:
3.697 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 21
Internet users:
5.739 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 41
Transportation - Switzerland
Airports:
66 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 74
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 43
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 17 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
under 914 m: 23 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,662 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 4,888 km
country comparison to the world: 36
standard gauge: 3,397 km 1.435-m gauge (3,142 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,481 km 1.000-m gauge (1,378 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge
(10 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 71,384 km
country comparison to the world: 66
paved: 71,384 km (includes 1,793 of expressways) (2009)
Waterways:
65 km; (Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 103
Merchant marine:
total: 35
country comparison to the world: 82
by type: bulk carrier 13, cargo 9, chemical tanker 6, container 6, specialized
tanker 1
registered in other countries: 106 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Bahamas 1, France 3,
Italy 8, Liberia 13, Malta 20, Marshall Islands 12, Panama 25, Portugal 2,
Russia 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Singapore 2, Tonga 1, UK 1,
Vanuatu 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Basel
Military - Switzerland
Military branches:
Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
19 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18 years of age for
voluntary male and female military service; the Swiss Constitution states that
"every Swiss male is obliged to do military service"; every Swiss male has to
serve at least 260 days in the armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of
mandatory training, followed by seven 3-week intermittent recalls for training
during the next 10 years (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,839,382
females age 16-49: 1,797,317 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,502,736
females age 16-49: 1,468,785 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 47,043
female: 43,033 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Transnational Issues - Switzerland
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
a major international financial center vulnerable to the layering and
integration stages of money laundering; despite significant legislation and
reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist and nonresidents are permitted to
conduct business through offshore entities and various intermediaries; transit
country for and consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and
Western European synthetics; domestic cannabis cultivation and limited ecstasy
production
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