2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

39,997 sq km

total

41,277 sq km

water

1,280 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-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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

348 cu m/yr (2002)

total

2.52 cu km/yr (24%/74%/2%)

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

Irrigated land

250 sq km (2003)

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

9.91%

other

89.51% (2005)

permanent crops

0.58%

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

Total renewable water resources

53.3 cu km (2005)

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.6% (male 616,561/female 571,610) 15-64 years: 68.1% (male 2,609,673/female 2,567,245) 65 years and over: 16.3% (male 514,761/female 724,617) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

9.56 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

8.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

25,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

4.58 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.12 deaths/1,000 live births

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.95 years (2010 est.)

male

78.14 years

total population

80.97 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (2003 est.)

male

99%

total population

99%

Median age

female

42.4 years (2010 est.)

male

40.3 years

total

41.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Swiss

noun

Swiss (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

7,623,438 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.223% (2010 est.)

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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2008)

male

16 years

total

16 years

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.)

Total fertility rate

1.46 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

73% of total population (2008)

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

46 57 N, 7 26 E

name

Bern

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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); Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh)

local short form

Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera (Italian); Svizra (Romansh)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Donald S. BEYER, Jr.

embassy

Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 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 Manuel SAGER

consulate(s)

Boston

consulate(s) general

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

FAX

[1] (202) 387-2564

telephone

[1] (202) 745-7900

Executive branch

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 )

chief of state

President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline CALMY-REY (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Eveline WIDMER-SCHLUMPF (since 1 January 2011); 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

election results

Micheline CALMY-REY elected president; number of Federal Assembly votes - 106 of 189; Eveline WIDMER-SCHLUMPF elected vice president; current Vice President Eveline WIDMER-SCHLUMPF is slated to become president on 1 January 2012

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 8 December 2010 (next to be held in early December 2011)

head of government

President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline CALMY-REY (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Eveline WIDMER-SCHLUMPF (since 1 January 2011)

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)

Government type

formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal republic

Independence

1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)

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, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, 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; 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)

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

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)

National anthem

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

name

"Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm)

National holiday

Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)

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]; Free Democratic Party or FDP.The Liberals (FDP.Die Liberalen, PLR.Les Liberaux-Radicaux, PLR.I Liberali) [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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs

Central bank discount rate

0.05% (31 December 2009) 0.05% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

2.75% (31 December 2009 est.) 3.34% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$49.35 billion (2010 est.) $54.01 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$1.19 trillion (30 June 2010) $1.305 trillion (31 December 2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33.7 (2008) 33.1 (1992)

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. 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 grew 2.8% in 2010, when Bern implemented 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, and it is working with Germany and the UK to resolve outsanding issues, particularly the possibility of imposing taxes on bank deposits held by foreigners. Parliament passed the first five double-taxation agreements, including that with the US, in March 2010, but the agreements are 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.

Electricity - consumption

62 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

49.9 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

46.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

59.1 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.0723 (2010), 1.0881 (2009), 1.0774 (2008), 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006)

Exports

$235.2 billion (2010 est.) $208.5 billion (2009 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)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1.3%

industry

27.5%

services

71.2% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$42,900 (2010 est.) $41,800 (2009 est.) $42,800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.8% (2010 est.) -1.9% (2009 est.) 1.9% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$522.4 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$326.9 billion (2010 est.) $318 billion (2009 est.) $324.1 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 7.5% highest 10%: 19% (2007)

Imports

$220.4 billion (2010 est.) $192.8 billion (2009 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)

Industrial production growth rate

2.7% (2010 est.)

Industries

machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, and insurance

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.7% (2010 est.) -0.5% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.9% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

4.13 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

3.8%

industry

23.9%

services

72.3% (2009)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.071 trillion (31 December 2009) $862.7 billion (31 December 2008) $1.275 trillion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

3.282 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

3.282 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

NA cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

Oil - consumption

280,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

12,230 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - imports

269,400 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - production

3,488 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

7.4% (2009)

Public debt

39.6% of GDP (2010 est.) 40.5% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$NA (31 December 2010 est.) $135.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$834.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $764.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$814.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $806.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$514 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $496.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$992.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $923.1 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of narrow money

$384.2 billion (31 December 2010 est) $334.9 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

3.9% (2010 est.) 3.7% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

the publicly-owned radio and television broadcaster, Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SSR), operates 7 national television networks, 3 broadcasting in German, 2 in Italian, and 2 in French; private commercial television stations broadcast regionally and locally; television broadcasts from stations in Germany, Italy, and France are widely accessed using multi-channel cable and satellite TV services; SRG/SSR operates 18 radio stations that, along with private broadcasters, provide national to local coverage (2008)

Internet country code

.ch

Internet hosts

4.816 million (2010)

Internet users

6.152 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

ranked among leading countries for fixed-line teledensity and infrastructure; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 120 per 100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks

general assessment

highly developed telecommunications infrastructure with excellent domestic and international services

international

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

Telephones - main lines in use

4.65 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

9.255 million (2009)

Airports

65 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

42 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 17 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

23 under 914 m: 23 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 15, cargo 9, chemical tanker 6, container 4, petroleum tanker 1

registered in other countries

109 (Antigua and Barbuda 7, Bahamas 2, Cayman Islands 1, France 5, Germany 1, Italy 6, Liberia 17, Luxembourg 1, Malta 14, Marshall Islands 12, NZ 2, Panama 22, Portugal 3, Russia 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 4, Spain 1, Tonga 1, Tuvalu 1) (2010)

total

35

Pipelines

gas 1,662 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Basel

Railways

narrow gauge

1,481 km 1.000-m gauge (1,378 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2008)

standard gauge

3,397 km 1.435-m gauge (3,142 km electrified)

total

4,888 km

Roadways

paved

71,384 km (includes 1,793 of expressways) (2009)

total

71,384 km

Waterways

65 km; (Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee) (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

female

43,033 (2010 est.)

male

47,043

Military branches

Swiss Armed Forces

Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe) (2010)

Military expenditures

1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

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 (2010)

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 page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================