Page last updated on January 31, 2014
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.
Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
total: 41,277 sq km
country comparison to the world: 136
land: 39,997 sq km
water: 1,280 sq km
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
total: 1,852 km
border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
hydropower potential, timber, salt
arable land: 9.8%
permanent crops: 0.57%
other: 89.63% (2011)
total: 2.61 cu km/yr (39%/58%/3%)
per capita: 360.3 cu m/yr (2010)
avalanches, landslides; flash floods
air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
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
landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
adjective: Swiss
German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
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
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)
7,996,026 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
0-14 years: 15.2% (male 624,601/female 588,725)
15-24 years: 11.6% (male 471,401/female 453,568)
25-54 years: 44% (male 1,766,228/female 1,749,672)
55-64 years: 12% (male 476,495/female 479,642)
65 years and over: 17.3% (male 600,754/female 784,940) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 48.1 %
youth dependency ratio: 21.9 %
elderly dependency ratio: 26.2 %
potential support ratio: 3.8 (2013)
total: 41.8 years
male: 40.8 years
female: 42.7 years (2013 est.)
0.85% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
10.45 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
8.08 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
6.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
urban population: 74% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Zurich 1.143 million; BERN (capital) 346,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
8 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 160
total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 202
male: 4.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 82.28 years
country comparison to the world: 8
male: 79.99 years
female: 84.71 years (2013 est.)
1.53 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
82%
note: percent of women aged 20-49 (1994/95)
10.9% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 15
4.08 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
5 beds/1,000 population (2010)
0.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
18,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
17.5% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 111
5.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 61
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 16 years (2011)
total: 8.4%
country comparison to the world: 119
male: 8.8%
female: 8.1% (2012)
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)
formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal republic
name: Bern
geographic coordinates: 46 55 N, 7 28 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
26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubuenden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zuerich
note: 6 of the cantons - Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden, Obwalden - are referred to as 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
1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
previous 1848, 1874 (extensive revision of 1848 version); latest adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, effective 1 January 2000; amended several times, last in 2012 (2012)
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts, except for federal decrees of a general obligatory character
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation Didier BURKHALTER (since 1 January 2014; Vice President Simonetta SOMMARUGA (since 1 January 2014; note - the Federal Council, which is comprised of seven federal councillors, constitutes the federal government of Switzerland; council members rotate in one-year terms as federal president (chief of state and head of government)
head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Didier BURKHALTER (since 1 January 2014); Vice President Simonetta SOMMARUGA (since 1 January 2014)
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
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 5 December 2012 (next to be held in early December 2013)
election results: Ueli MAURER elected president; number of Federal Assembly votes - 148 of 202; Didier BURKHALTER elected vice president
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or Staenderat (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 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 serve four-year terms)
elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons on 23 October 2011 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held on 23 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2015)
election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CVP 13, FDP 11, SVP 5, SPS 11, other 6; National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 26.6%, SPS 18.7%, FDP 15.1%, CVP 12.3%, Green Party 8.4%, GLP 5.4%, BDP 5.4%, other 8.1%; seats by party - SVP 54, SPS 46, FDP 30, CVP 28, Green Party 15, GLP 12, BDP 9, other small parties 6
highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of 38 judges and 31 substitutes and organized into 5 sections)
judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Federal Assembly for 6-year terms; note - judges are affiliated with political parties and are elected according to linguistic and regional criteria in approximate proportion to the level of party representation in the Federal Assembly
subordinate courts: Federal Criminal Court (began in 2004); Federal Administrative Court (began in 2007); note - each of Switzerland's 26 cantons has its own courts
Christian Democratic People's Party (Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito Popolare Democratico Svizzero or PPD, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Christophe DARBELLAY]
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
chief of mission: Ambassador Manuel SAGER (since 1 November 2010)
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
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jeffrey R. CELLARS (since 22 July 2013); note - also accredited to Liechtenstein
embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [41] (031) 357-70-11
FAX: [41] (031) 357-73-44
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)
Swiss cross (white cross on red field; arms equal length)
name: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm)
lyrics/music: Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French], Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS [Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG
note: unofficially adopted 1961, official adoption 1981; the anthem has been popular in a number of Swiss cantons since its composition (in German) in 1841; translated into the other three official languages of the country (French, Italian, and Romansch), it is official in each of those languages
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. Its economic and political stability, transparent legal system, exceptional infrastructure, efficient capital markets, and low corporate tax rates also make Switzerland one of the world's most competitive economies. The Swiss have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness, but some trade protectionism remains, particularly for its small agricultural sector. The fate of the Swiss economy is tightly linked to that of its neighbors in the euro zone, which purchases half of all Swiss exports. The global financial crisis of 2008 and resulting economic downturn in 2009 stalled export demand and put Switzerland in a recession. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) during this period effectively implemented a zero-interest rate policy to boost the economy as well as prevent appreciation of the franc, and Switzerland's economy recovered in 2010 with 3.0% growth. The sovereign debt crises currently unfolding in neighboring euro-zone countries pose a significant risk to Switzerland's financial stability and are driving up demand for the Swiss franc by investors seeking a safe-haven currency. The independent SNB has upheld its zero-interest rate policy and conducted major market interventions to prevent further appreciation of the Swiss franc, but parliamentarians have urged it to do more to weaken the currency. The franc's strength has made Swiss exports less competitive and weakened the country's growth outlook; GDP growth fell to 1.9% in 2011 and 0.8% in 2012. 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, and is considering the possibility of imposing taxes on bank deposits held by foreigners. These steps will have a lasting impact on Switzerland's long history of bank secrecy.
$359 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$622.6 billion (2012 est.)
1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
$44,900 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
31.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
household consumption: 57.4%
government consumption: 11.2%
investment in fixed capital: 20.1%
investment in inventories: 0.9%
exports of goods and services: 52.3%
imports of goods and services: -41.9%
agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 26.8%
services: 72.5% (2012 est.)
grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, and insurance
1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
4.954 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
agriculture: 3.4%
industry: 23.4%
services: 73.2% (2010)
2.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
lowest 10%: 7.5%
highest 10%: 19% (2007)
29.6 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 117
revenues: $212.9 billion
expenditures: $212.1 billion
note: includes federal, cantonal, and municipal accounts (2012 est.)
34.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
0.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
52.4% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
note: general government gross debt; gross debt consists of all liabilities that require payment or payments of interest and/or principal by the debtor to the creditor at a date or dates in the future; includes debt liabilities in the form of SDRs, currency and deposits, debt securities, loans, insurance, pensions and standardized guarantee schemes, and other accounts payable; all liabilities in the GFSM 2001 system are debt, except for equity and investment fund shares and financial derivatives and employee stock options
-0.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
0.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
2.69% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
$534.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$1.166 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$1.247 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$932.2 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 12
$63.82 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$332.1 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland
machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Germany 19.8%, US 11.1%, Italy 7.2%, France 7.1%, UK 5.4% (2012)
$296.2 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Germany 29.7%, Italy 10.2%, France 8.4%, US 5.6%, China 5.6%, Austria 4.2% (2012)
$531.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$1.563 trillion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 12
$955.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$1.381 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -
60.18 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
60.42 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
34.57 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
32.25 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
18.07 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
3.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
18% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
65.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
3,613 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
0 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
258,200 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 189
96,710 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
258,200 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
7,585 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
157,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
3.682 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
8.494 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
11.77 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
0 cu m (1 January 2011 es)
country comparison to the world: 195
43.36 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
4.382 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 38
10.46 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 77
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 125 per 100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks
international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) (2011)
the publicly owned radio and TV broadcaster, Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SSR), operates 7 national TV networks, 3 broadcasting in German, 2 in Italian, and 2 in French; private commercial TV stations broadcast regionally and locally; TV broadcasts from stations in Germany, Italy, and France are widely available via multi-channel cable and satellite TV services; SRG/SSR operates 18 radio stations that, along with private broadcasters, provide national to local coverage (2009)
5.301 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 20
6.152 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 42
63 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 78
total: 40
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 17 (2013)
gas 1,800 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2013)
total: 4,876 km
country comparison to the world: 37
standard gauge: 3,846 km 1.435-m gauge (3,591 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,020 km 1.000-m gauge (1,013 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2008)
total: 71,464 km
country comparison to the world: 66
paved: 71,464 km (includes 1,415 of expressways) (2011)
1,292 km (there are 1,227 km of waterways on lakes and rivers for public transport and another 65 km on the Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee used for the transport of commercial goods) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 58
total: 38
country comparison to the world: 78
by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 9, chemical tanker 5, container 4, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 127 (Antigua and Barbuda 7, Bahamas 1, Belize 1, Cayman Islands 1, France 5, Germany 2, Hong Kong 5, Italy 13, Liberia 25, Luxembourg 1, Malta 20, Marshall Islands 12, NZ 2, Panama 15, Portugal 3, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7, Singapore 3, Spain 1) (2010)
river port(s): Basel (Rhine)
Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe) (2013)
19-26 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary male and female 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 (2012)
males age 16-49: 1,828,043
females age 16-49: 1,786,552 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 1,493,509
females age 16-49: 1,459,450 (2010 est.)
male: 46,562
female: 42,585 (2010 est.)
0.76% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 352
refugees (country of origin): 10,981 (Eritrea) (2012)
stateless persons: 69 (2012)
