Switzerland

Internet country code

.ch

Internet hosts

3.697 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 21

Internet users

5.739 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 41

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 106 (plus many low-power stations), shortwave 3 (2008)

Telephone system

general assessment: highly developed telecommunications infrastructure with excellent domestic and international services domestic: ranked among leading countries for fixed-line teledensity and infrastructure; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 115 per 100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

4.82 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 32

Telephones - mobile cellular

8.78 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 65

Television broadcast stations

106 (2007)

Agriculture - products

grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs

Budget

revenues: $189.8 billion expenditures: $185.2 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.05% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 133 2.05% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.34% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 142 3.15% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

$41.21 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $43.95 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$1.305 trillion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 12 $1.565 trillion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33.7 (2008) country comparison to the world: 93 33.1 (1992)

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 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 in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness, but some trade protectionism remains, particularly for its small agricultural sector. Switzerland remains a safehaven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value. The global financial crisis and resulting economic downturn could, however, put Switzerland in a recession in 2009, particularly as global export demand stalls. Switzerland's largest banks suffered significant losses in 2008 and the country's largest bank accepted a government rescue deal in late 2008. The Swiss National Bank, beginning in October 2008, cut interest rates on several consecutive occasions, effectively instituting a zero-rate policy in a bid to boost the economy.

Electricity - consumption

57.62 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Electricity - exports

32.74 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

31.6 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

63.93 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Exchange rates

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.0774 (2008 est.), 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004)

Exports

$241.3 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $200.5 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

Exports - partners

Germany 19.8%, US 9.6%, Italy 8.7%, France 8.6%, UK 5.2% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$500.3 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$318.1 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 $312.4 billion (2007 est.) $301.6 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1.5% industry: 34% services: 64.5% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$42,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 $41,400 (2007 est.) $40,100 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 3.6% (2007 est.) 3.6% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25.9% (2000)

Imports

$227.4 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $187.7 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 33.3%, Italy 11%, France 9.4%, US 5.8%, Netherlands 4.6%, Austria 4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 0.7% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

21.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Labor force

4.053 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 3.9% industry: 22.8% services: 73.2% (2005)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 14 $1.275 trillion (31 December 2007) $1.213 trillion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

3.429 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas - imports

3.429 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Oil - consumption

275,600 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Oil - exports

10,310 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Oil - imports

247,200 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Oil - production

3,244 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl country comparison to the world: 128

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

40.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 57.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$74.07 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $75.37 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$726.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $659.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$405.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $365.8 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$864.4 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $855.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$207 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $213.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of quasi money

$477.6 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $450.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

2.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 2.8% (2007 est.)

Area

total: 41,277 sq km country comparison to the world: 135 land: 39,997 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

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-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)

total: 2.52 cu km/yr (24%/74%/2%) per capita: 348 cu m/yr (2002)

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

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: 9.91% permanent crops: 0.58% other: 89.51% (2005)

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)

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

name: Bern geographic coordinates: 46 57 N, 7 26 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Leigh CARTER embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 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 Urs ZISWILER chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900 FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco consulate(s): Boston

Executive branch

chief of state: President Hans-Rudolf MERZ (since 1 January 2009); Vice President Doris LEUTHARD (since 1 January 2009); 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 head of government: President Hans-Rudolf MERZ (since 1 January 2009); Vice President Doris LEUTHARD (since 1 January 2009); cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal Assembly usually from among its 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 a one-year term (they may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 10 December 2008 (next to be held in December 2009) election results: Hans-Rudolf MERZ elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 88.5%; Doris LEUTHARD elected vice president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 87.4%

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, 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, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, 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; to 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 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) 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

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]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [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

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,852,580 females age 16-49: 1,807,667 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,510,259 females age 16-49: 1,475,993 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 48,076 female: 44,049 (2009 est.)

Military branches

Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe) (2009)

Military expenditures

1% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Military service age and obligation

19 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; the Swiss Constitution states that "every Swiss male is obliged to do 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 (2008)

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) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

9.59 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Death rate

8.59 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Education expenditures

5.8% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 45

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

25,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.18 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 209 male: 4.64 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

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

total population: 80.85 years country comparison to the world: 11 male: 78.03 years female: 83.83 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 41 years male: 40 years female: 42 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss

Net migration rate

1.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Population

7,604,467 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Population growth rate

0.276% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

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)

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2006)

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: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.45 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Urbanization

urban population: 73% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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

Airports

66 (2009) country comparison to the world: 74

Airports - with paved runways

total: 43 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 17 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 23 under 914 m: 23 (2009)

Heliports

1 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 35 country comparison to the world: 82 by type: bulk carrier 13, cargo 9, chemical tanker 6, container 6, specialized tanker 1 registered in other countries: 106 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Bahamas 1, France 3, Italy 8, Liberia 13, Malta 20, Marshall Islands 12, Panama 25, Portugal 2, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Singapore 2, Tonga 1, UK 1, Vanuatu 1) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 1,662 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Basel

Railways

total: 4,888 km country comparison to the world: 36 standard gauge: 3,397 km 1.435-m gauge (3,142 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,481 km 1.000-m gauge (1,378 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways

total: 71,298 km country comparison to the world: 66 paved: 71,298 km (includes 1,758 of expressways) (2006)

Waterways

65 km (Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee) (2008) country comparison to the world: 103