2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

26 cantons (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

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.6% (male 623,428; female 591,709) 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 2,519,302; female 2,439,560) 65 years and over: 15.6% (male 470,257; female 674,382) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs

Airports

66 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 9

total

41

under 914 m

14 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

25 1524 to 2437 m: 1

under 914 m

24 (2002)

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

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, 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

Birth rate

9.59 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

revenues

$30 billion

Capital

Bern

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

18 December 1998

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)

Currency

Swiss franc (CHF)

Currency code

CHF

Death rate

8.82 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$NA

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Mercer REYNOLDS III

embassy

Jubilaeumsstrasse 93, 3005 Bern

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[41] (031) 357 70 11

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Christian BLICKENSTORFER

consulate(s)

Boston

consulate(s) general

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

Disputes - international

none

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33.1 (1992)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)

Economy - overview

Switzerland is a prosperous and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big western European economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. Switzerland remains 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. Reflecting the anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 to about 0.8%, to 0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003.

Electricity - consumption

53.43 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

34.54 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

24.1 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

68.68 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

1.3%

hydro

59.5%

nuclear

37.1%

other

2% (2001)

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-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.56 (2002), 1.69 (2001), 1.69 (2000), 1.5 (1999), 1.45 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Pascal COUCHEPIN elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - NA%; Ruth METZLER 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 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003)

head of government

President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$100.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

Exports - partners

Germany 19.2%, US 10.2%, Italy 9.6%, France 8.9%, UK 7.7% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 387-2564

[41] (031) 357 73 44

chancery

2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 745-7900

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Switzerland

Flag description

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $233.4 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2%

industry

34%

services

64% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $32,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.1% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

47 00 N, 8 00 E

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

Government type

federal republic

Heliports

1 (2002) Military Switzerland

Highways

paved

71,011 km (including 1,638 of expressways)

total

71,011 km

unpaved

0 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

19,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25.2% (1992)

lowest 10%

2.6%

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 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$94.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 27.4%, France 11.4%, Italy 9.7%, US 8.5%, Russia 5.8%, UK 5.4%, Austria 4.6%, Netherlands 4.1% (2002)

Independence

1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2001)

Industries

machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments

Infant mortality rate

female

4.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

4.47 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.36 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.5% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.ch

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)

Internet users

3.85 million (2002) Transportation Switzerland

Irrigated land

250 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

4 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

services 69.1%, industry 26.3%, agriculture 4.6% (1998)

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

10.57%

other

88.82% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.61%

Languages

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

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 the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

election results

Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FDP 18, CVP 15, SVP 7, SPS 6; National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 27.7%, SPS 24.2%, FDP 16%, CVP 12.9%, Greens 7.7%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SVP 55, SPS 52, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13, other small parties 16

elections

Council of States - last held NA 1999 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held 19 October 2003 (next to be held NA October 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.02 years (2003 est.)

male

77.11 years

total population

79.99 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

total population

99% (1980 est.) male: female: Government Switzerland

Location

Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

41.2 years (2002)

male

39.3 years

total

40.2 years

Merchant marine

convenience

UK 6, US 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 16, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, specialized tanker 1

total

29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 597,049 GRT/1,051,380 DWT

Military branches

Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2.548 billion (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (FY01) Transnational Issues Switzerland

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

1,834,638 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

1,552,728 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

42,761 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)

Nationality

adjective

Swiss

noun

Swiss (singular and plural)

Natural gas - consumption

3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural hazards

avalanches, landslides, flash floods

Natural resources

hydropower potential, timber, salt

Net migration rate

1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

290,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

10,420 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

289,500 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

gas 1,831 km; oil 212 km; refined products 7 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

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) [Philipp STAEHELIN, president]; 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) [Ruth GENNER and Patrice MUGNY, co-presidents]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Christiane LANGENBERGER, 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) [Christiane BRUNNER, president]; 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) [Ueli MAURER, president]; and other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

7,318,638 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.21% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Basel

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

7.1 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

982 km 1.000-m gauge (975 km electrified); 46 km 0.800-m gauge (46 km electrified) (2002)

standard gauge

3,483 km 1.435-m gauge (3,472 km electrified)

total

4,511 km

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks

general assessment

excellent domestic and international services

international

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

Telephones - main lines in use

4.82 million (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.967 million (1999)

Television broadcast stations

115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

3.31 million (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.48 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

1.9% (2002 est.)

Waterways

65 km

note

The Rhine carries heavy traffic on the Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee stretches; there are also 12 navigable lakes