2005 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 643,497/female 597,565) 15-64 years: 68% (male 2,570,544/female 2,522,365) 65 years and over: 15.4% (male 472,769/female 682,630) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs

Airports

65 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

42 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 16 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

23 under 914 m: 23 (2004 est.)

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

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. Switzerland's sovreignty 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

Birth rate

9.77 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$140.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

revenues

$131.5 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

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

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 (code)

Swiss franc (CHF)

Currency code

CHF

Current account balance

$40.95 billion (2004 est.)

Death rate

8.48 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$NA (2000)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Pamela P. WILLEFORD

embassy

Jubilaumsstrasse 93, CH-3005 Bern

FAX

[41] (031) 357 73 44

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[41] (031) 357 70 11

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Christian BLICKENSTORFER

consulate(s)

Boston

consulate(s) general

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

FAX

[1] (202) 387-2564

telephone

[1] (202) 745-7900

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 peaceful, 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, with a small rise to 1.8% in 2004. Even so, unemployment has remained at less than half the EU average.

Electricity - consumption

54.53 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

32.3 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

27.8 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

63.47 billion kWh (2002)

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-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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000)

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 Samuel SCHMID (since 1 January 2005); Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Samuel SCHMID elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 70.7%; Moritz LEUENBERGER elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 64.8%

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 8 December 2004 (next to be held December 2005)

head of government

President Samuel SCHMID (since 1 January 2005); Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$130.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

Exports - partners

Germany 20.2%, US 10.5%, France 8.7%, Italy 8.3%, UK 5.1%, Spain 4% (2004)

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

1.5%

industry

34%

services

64.5% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $33,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.8% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$251.9 billion (2004 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

formally a confederation, but similar in structure to a federal republic

Heliports

2 (2004 est.) Military Switzerland

Highways

paved

71,212 km (including 1,706 of expressways)

total

71,212 km

unpaved

0 km (2002)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

13,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 25.2% (1992)

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 and Southwest Asian heroin This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$121.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 32.8%, Italy 11.3%, France 9.9%, US 5.2%, Netherlands 5%, Austria 4.3% (2004)

Independence

1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)

Industrial production growth rate

4.7% (2004 est.)

Industries

machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments

Infant mortality rate

female

3.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

4.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.39 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.9% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, 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), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Internet country code

.ch

Internet hosts

667,275 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)

Internet users

2.556 million (2002) Transportation Switzerland

Investment (gross fixed)

20.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

250 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

3.77 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

10.42%

other

88.97% (2001)

permanent crops

0.61%

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 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000 census) note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national languages, but only the first three are official languages

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 - CVP 15, FDP 14, SVP 8, SPS 6, other 3; National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 26.6%, SPS 23.3%, FDP 17.3%, CVP 14.4%, Greens 7.4%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SVP 55, SPS 54, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13, other small parties 14

elections

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.36 years (2005 est.)

male

77.58 years

total population

80.39 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA% Government Switzerland

male

NA%

total population

99% (1980 est.)

Location

Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Manpower available for military service

males age 19-49: 1,707,694 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 19-49: 1,375,889 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

46,319 (2005 est.)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

40.81 years (2005 est.)

male

38.75 years

total

39.77 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 12, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 3

foreign-owned

6 (United Kingdom 6)

registered in other countries

291 (2005)

total

23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 604,843 GRT/1,050,914 DWT

Military branches

Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2.548 billion (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (FY01) Transnational Issues Switzerland

Military service age and obligation

the Swiss Confederation states that "every Swiss male is obligated to do military service"; every Swiss male has to serve for at least 260 days in the armed forces; 19 years of age for compulsory military service; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscripts receive 15 weeks of compulsory training, followed by 10 intermittent recalls for training over the next 22 years; women are accepted on a voluntary basis, but are not drafted (2005)

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

3.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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 94 km; refined products 7 km (2004)

Political parties and leaders

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]; 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) [Doris LEUTHARD, president]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Marianne KLEINER-SCHLAEPFER, 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) [Hans-Juerg FEHR, 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

7,489,370 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Population growth rate

0.49% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Basel

Public debt

57.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

7.1 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

1,285 km 1.000-m gauge (1,273 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2004)

standard gauge

3,232 km 1.435-m gauge (3,211 km electrified)

total

4,527 km

Religions

Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 4.3%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1% (2000 census)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$69.58 billion (2003)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks

general assessment

excellent domestic and international services

international

country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

5.419 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

6.172 million (2003)

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

1.42 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.4% (2004 est.)

Waterways

65 km note: Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee, some canals, and 12 navigable lakes (2003)