2000 Edition

Background

Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers and Switzerland 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, may be rendering obsolete the country's concern for neutrality.

Area

land

39,770 sq km

total

41,290 sq km

water

1,520 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Climate

temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Dufourspitze 4,634 m

lowest point

Lake Maggiore 195 m

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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates

47 00 N, 8 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest elevations in Europe

Irrigated land

250 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km

total

1,852 km

Land use

arable land

10%

forests and woodland

32%

other

28% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

2%

permanent pastures

28%

Location

Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

avalanches, landslides, flash floods

Natural resources

hydropower potential, timber, salt

Terrain

mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes

Age structure

0-14 years: 17% (male 637,782; female 605,626) 15-64 years: 68% (male 2,498,540; female 2,421,802) 65 years and over: 15% (male 444,627; female 653,995) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

10.4 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

8.75 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%

Infant mortality rate

4.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch 0.6%, other 8.9%

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.63 years (2000 est.)

male

76.73 years

total population

79.6 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA%

male

NA%

total population

99% (1980 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Swiss

noun

Swiss (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

1.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

7,262,372 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.3% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.47 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich

Capital

Bern

Constitution

29 May 1874

Country name

conventional long form

Swiss Confederation

conventional short form

Switzerland

local long form

Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German), Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)

local short form

Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera (Italian)

Data code

SZ

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador J. Richard FREDERICKS

embassy

Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

(31) 357 70 11

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Alfred DEFAGO

telephone

(202) 745-7900

Executive branch

cabinet

Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal Assembly from among its own members for a four-year term

chief of state

President Adolf OGI (since 1 January 2000); Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Adolf OGI elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - Adolf OGI 71.8%; Moritz LEUENBERGER elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - NA

elections

president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-year terms that run concurrently; election last held NA December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2000)

head of government

President Adolf OGI (since 1 January 2000); Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

FAX

(202) 387-2564

(31) 357 73 44

consulate(s)

Boston

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco

Flag description

red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

Government type

federal republic

Independence

1 August 1291

International organization participation

ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch

Federal Supreme Court, judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly

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

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 - members serve four-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats - members are elected by popular vote on a basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

election results

Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FDP 12, CVP 11, SVP 6, SPS 4, other 1; note - as of 1 January 2000, 12 seats were up for runoff elections; National Council - percent of vote by party - SPS 22.5%, SVP 22.6%, FDP 19.9%, CVP 15.8%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SPS 51, SVP 44, FDP 43, CVP 35, Greens 9, other small parties 18

elections

Council of States - last held in 1999 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2003)

National holiday

Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance of Independents' Party (Landesring der Unabhaengigen or LdU, Alliance des Independants or AdI) ; Christian Democratic People's Party (Christichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) ; Freedom Party or FPS [Roland BORER]; Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Hanspetev THUER, president]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Franz STEINEGGER, president]; 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) ; 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) ; Ticino League (Lega dei Ticinesi) ; and other minor parties including Swiss Democratic Party (Schweizer Demokraten or SD, Democrates Suisses or DS, Democratici Svizzeri or DS), Liberal Party (Liberale Partei der Schweiz or LPS, Parti Liberal Suisse or PLS, Partito Liberale Svizzero or PLS), Workers' Party (Parti Suisse du Travail or PST, Partei der Arbeit der Schweiz or PdAdS, Partito Svizzero del Lavoro or PSdL), Evangelical People's Party (Evangelische Volkspartei der Schweiz or EVP, Parti Evangelique Suisse or PEV, Partito Evangelico Svizzero or PEV), and the Union of Federal Democrats (Eidgenossisch-Demokratische Union or EDU, Union Democratique Federale or UDF, Unione Democratica Federale or UDF)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs

Budget

expenditures

$34.89 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.3 billion (1998 est.)

revenues

$32.66 billion

Currency

1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SFR) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)

Economy - overview

Switzerland, a prosperous and stable modern market economy with a per capita GDP 20% above that of the big western European economies, experienced slower growth in 1999, because of weak foreign and domestic demand. Growth, however, is expected to rebound to over 2% in 2000. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. Although the Swiss are not pursuing EU membership in the near term, in 1999 Bern and Brussels signed agreements to further liberalize trade ties. These agreements still have to pass a Swiss referendum in spring 2000, however. Switzerland is still considered a safe haven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value.

Electricity - consumption

50.8 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

29.6 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

23.6 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

61.076 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

3.74%

hydro

54.29%

nuclear

40.18%

other

1.79% (1998)

Exchange rates

Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SFR) per US$1 - 1.5878 (January 2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995)

Exports

$98.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

Exports - partners

EU 62% (Germany 24%, France 10%, Italy 8%, UK 6%, Austria 3%), US 10%, Japan 4% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $197 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2.8%

industry

31.1%

services

66.1% (1995)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $27,100 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.4% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 28.6% (1982)

Imports

$99 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities

machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles

Imports - partners

EU 80% (Germany 33%, France 12%, Italy 10%, Netherlands 5%, UK 5%), US 6%, Japan 3% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

3.3% (1999 est.)

Industries

machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (1999 est.)

Labor force

3.8 million (956,000 foreign workers, mostly Italian) (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

services 67%, industry 28%, agriculture and forestry 5% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

2.8% (1999 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

115 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

7.1 million (1997)

Telephone system

excellent domestic and international services

domestic

extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

4.82 million (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

810,170 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

108 (1997)

Televisions

3.31 million (1997)

Airports

67 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

42 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 15 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

25 under 914 m: 25 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

NA km

total

71,059 km (including 1,638 km of expressways) (1998 est.)

unpaved

NA km

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 12, cargo 5, chemical tanker 5, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)

total

23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 429,998 GRT/771,227 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km

Ports and harbors

Basel

Railways

narrow gauge

1,165 km 1.000-m gauge (1,165 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (1998)

standard gauge

3,317 km 1.435-m gauge (3,288 km electrified)

total

4,492 km (1,564 km double track)

Waterways

65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes

Military branches

Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$3.1 billion (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.2% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,855,808 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,579,921 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

42,169 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

because of more stringent government regulations, used significantly less as a money-laundering center; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin

SYRIA