Switzerland

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)

Internet country code

.ch

Internet users

3.85 million (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

7.1 million (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: 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

1.967 million (1999)

Television broadcast stations

115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

3.31 million (1997)

Agriculture - products

grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs

Budget

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

Currency

Swiss franc (CHF)

Currency code

CHF

Debt - external

$NA

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33 (1992)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $1.1 billion (1995) (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. Although the Swiss are not pursuing full EU membership in the near term, in 1999 Bern and Brussels signed agreements to further liberalize trade ties. They continue to discuss further areas for cooperation. 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% and to about 0% in 2002.

Electricity - consumption

52.62 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

31.4 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

24.33 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

64.182 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 4% hydro: 57% other: 2% (2000) nuclear: 37%

Exchange rates

Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.6668 (January 2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997)

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

Exports - partners

EU 61% (Germany 22.2%, France 9%, Italy 8%, UK 5.3%), US 10.6%, Japan 3.9% (2001)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $231 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2% industry: 34% services: 64% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $31,700 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 25% (1992)

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

EU 79.9% (Germany 32.2%, France 11%, Italy 10.2%, Netherlands 5.9%, UK 4.6%), US 5.1% (2001)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2001)

Industries

machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.5% (2002 est.)

Labor force

4 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

services 69%, industry 26%, agriculture 5% (1998)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

1.9% (2002 est.)

Area

total: 41,290 sq km water: 1,520 sq km land: 39,770 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

lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 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

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 (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,852 km border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km

Land use

arable land: 10.57% permanent crops: 0.61% other: 88.82% (1998 est.)

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

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

Capital

Bern

Constitution

29 May 1874

Country name

conventional long form: Swiss Confederation conventional short form: Switzerland local short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera (Italian) local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German), Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Mercer REYNOLDS III embassy: Jubilaeumsstrasse 93, 3001 Bern mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11 FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44

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 FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564 telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900 chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch

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 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 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 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) election results: Pascal COUCHEPIN elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - NA%; Ruth METZLER elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - NA%

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 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation)

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, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, 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 the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Council of States - last held NA 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) 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 - 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, Green Party 9, other small parties 18

National holiday

Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)

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) [Gerold BUEHRER, 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Military branches

Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2.548 billion (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,841,867 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,561,689 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 42,597 (2002 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.8% (male 629,513; female 597,472) 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 2,512,273; female 2,433,396) 65 years and over: 15.5% (male 461,722; female 667,618) (2002 est.)

Birth rate

9.84 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

8.79 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.46% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

150 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

17,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

4.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.86 years female: 82.89 years (2002 est.) male: 76.98 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1980 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality

noun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss

Net migration rate

1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population

7,301,994 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

0.24% (2002 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: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.47 children born/woman (2002 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

Airports

66 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 41 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 14 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 25 under 914 m: 24 (2002)

Heliports

1 (2002)

Highways

total: 71,059 km (including 1,638 km of expressways) paved: 71,059 km unpaved: 0 km (1999)

Merchant marine

total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 509,943 GRT/896,309 DWT ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 6, chemical tanker 4, petroleum tanker 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience:, United Kingdom 6, United States 1 (2002 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km

Ports and harbors

Basel

Railways

total: 4,406 km standard gauge: 3,440 km 1.435-m gauge dual gauge: 56 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (3 rail system) note: Swiss railways are virtually all electrified (2001) narrow gauge: 900 km 1.000-m gauge; 10 km 0.800-m gauge

Waterways

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