Switzerland
Swiss ConfederationSchweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German); Confederation Suisse (French); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian); Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh)
formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal republic
Switzerland as the 2013 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 166 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
20 fieldsLand useshare of 41,277 sq km
Climate
- temperate, but varies with altitude;
- cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters;
- cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain
mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 2.61 cu km/yr (39%/58%/3%)
- per capita:
- 360.3 cu m/yr (2010)
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
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 and Society
34 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2013 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2013 est.)
Male · female
Religions(2000 census)
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
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.99 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.76 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.97 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Government
Formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal republic; President of the Swiss Confederation Ueli MAURER; President of the Swiss Confederation Ueli MAURER (since 1 January 2013)
21 fieldsCouncil of States, 200 seats, elected in most cantons on 23 October 2011one dot, one seat
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)
Capital
- name:
- Bern
- geographic coordinates:
- 46 55 N, 7 28 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
Administrative divisions
- 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German);
- Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubuenden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zuerich
note: 6 of the cantons - Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden, Obwalden - are referred to as 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
Constitution
- previous 1848, 1874 (extensive revision of 1848 version);
- latest adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, effective 1 January 2000;
- amended several times, last in 2012 (2012)
Legal system
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts, except for federal decrees of a general obligatory character
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President of the Swiss Confederation Ueli MAURER;
- Vice President Didier BURKHALTER;
- note - the Federal Council, which is comprised of seven federal councillors, constitutes the federal government of Switzerland;
- council members rotate in one-year terms as federal president (chief of state and head of government)
- head of government:
- President of the Swiss Confederation Ueli MAURER (since 1 January 2013); Vice President Didier BURKHALTER (since 1 January 2013)
- 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 theWorld Leaders website)
- 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 5 December 2012 (next to be held in early December 2013)
- election results:
- Ueli MAURER elected president;
- number of Federal Assembly votes - 148 of 202;
- Didier BURKHALTER elected vice president
Legislative branch
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or Staenderat (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)
- elections:
- Council of States - last held in most cantons on 23 October 2011 (each canton determines when the next election will be held);
- National Council - last held on 23 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2015)
- election results:
- Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - CVP 13, FDP 11, SVP 5, SPS 11, other 6;
- National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 26.6%, SPS 18.7%, FDP 15.1%, CVP 12.3%, Green Party 8.4%, GLP 5.4%, BDP 5.4%, other 8.1%;
- seats by party - SVP 54, SPS 46, FDP 30, CVP 28, Green Party 15, GLP 12, BDP 9, other small parties 6
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Federal Supreme Court (consists of 38 judges and 31 substitutes and organized into 5 sections)
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges elected by the Federal Assembly for 6-year terms;
- note - judges are affiliated with political parties and are elected according to linguistic and regional criteria in approximate proportion to the level of party representation in the Federal Assembly
- subordinate courts:
- Federal Criminal Court (began in 2004);
- Federal Administrative Court (began in 2007);
- note - each of Switzerland's 26 cantons has its own courts
Political parties and leaders
Christian Democratic People's Party (Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito Popolare Democratico Svizzero or PPD, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Christophe DARBELLAY]
Conservative Democratic Party (Buergerlich-Demokratische Partei Schweiz or BDP, Parti Bourgeois Democratique Suisse or PBD, Partito Borghese Democratico Svizzero or PBD, Partido burgais democratica Svizera or PBD) [Martin LANDOLT]
Free Democratic Party or FDP.The Liberals (FDP.Die Liberalen, PLR.Les Liberaux-Radicaux, PLR.I Liberali, Ils Liberals) [Philipp MUELLER]
Green Liberal Party (Grunliberale or GLP, Parti vert liberale or PVL, Partito Verde-Liberale or PVL, Partida Verde Liberale or PVL) [Martin BAEUMLE]
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) [Adele THORENS]
Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti Socialiste 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 di Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Toni BRUNNER]
and other minor parties
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Manuel SAGER (since 1 November 2010)
- 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
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant);
- Charge d'Affaires Jeffrey R. CELLARS (since 22 July 2013);
- note - also accredited to Liechtenstein
- embassy:
- Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern
- mailing address:
- use embassy street address
- telephone:
- [41] (031) 357-70-11
- FAX:
- [41] (031) 357-73-44
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)
National anthem
name: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm)
Economy
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.
41 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2012 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
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.
Its economic and political stability, transparent legal system, exceptional infrastructure, efficient capital markets, and low corporate tax rates also make Switzerland one of the world's most competitive economies. The Swiss 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.
The fate of the Swiss economy is tightly linked to that of its neighbors in the euro zone, which purchases half of all Swiss exports. The global financial crisis of 2008 and resulting economic downturn in 2009 stalled export demand and put Switzerland in a recession. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) during this period effectively implemented a zero-interest rate policy to boost the economy as well as prevent appreciation of the franc, and Switzerland's economy recovered in 2010 with 3.0% growth.
The sovereign debt crises currently unfolding in neighboring euro-zone countries pose a significant risk to Switzerland's financial stability and are driving up demand for the Swiss franc by investors seeking a safe-haven currency. The independent SNB has upheld its zero-interest rate policy and conducted major market interventions to prevent further appreciation of the Swiss franc, but parliamentarians have urged it to do more to weaken the currency.
The franc's strength has made Swiss exports less competitive and weakened the country's growth outlook; GDP growth fell to 1.9% in 2011 and 0.8% in 2012. 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 is considering the possibility of imposing taxes on bank deposits held by foreigners. These steps will have a lasting impact on Switzerland's long history of bank secrecy.
Gross national saving
31.5% of GDP (2012 est.) · 27.3% of GDP (2011 est.) · 34.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
Industries
machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, and insurance
Distribution of family income - Gini index
29.6 (2010) · 33.1 (1992) country comparison to the world: 117
Public debt
52.4% of GDP (2011 est.) · 54.5% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 57 note: general government gross debt; gross debt consists of all liabilities that require payment or payments of interest and/or principal by the debtor to the creditor at a date or dates in the future; includes debt liabilities in the form of SDRs, currency and deposits, debt securities, loans, insurance, pensions and standardized guarantee schemes, and other accounts payable; all liabilities in the GFSM 2001 system are debt, except for equity and investment fund shares and financial derivatives and employee stock options
Central bank discount rate
0.5% (31 December 2010 est.) · 0.75% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Commercial bank prime lending rate
2.69% (31 December 2012 est.) · 2.72% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 178
Stock of narrow money
$534.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $464.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 11
Stock of broad money
$1.166 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) · $1.05 trillion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
Stock of domestic credit
$1.247 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) · $1.159 trillion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
Current account balance
$63.82 billion (2012 est.) · $39.6 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Exports
$332.1 billion (2012 est.) · $345.6 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$531.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $331.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 6
Debt - external
$1.563 trillion (31 December 2012) · $1.424 trillion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 12
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$955.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $925 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$1.381 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) · $1.307 trillion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 5
Exchange rates
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 0.94 (2012 est.) · 0.89 (2011 est.) · 1.04 (2010 est.) · 1.09 (2009) · 1.08 (2008)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 18.07 million kW(2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels
3.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
18% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
65.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28
Electricity - from other renewable sources
3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
43.36 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone 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 125 per 100 persons;
- extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks
- international:
- country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) (2011)
Broadcast media
- the publicly owned radio and TV broadcaster, Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SSR), operates 7 national TV networks, 3 broadcasting in German, 2 in Italian, and 2 in French;
- private commercial TV stations broadcast regionally and locally;
- TV broadcasts from stations in Germany, Italy, and France are widely available via multi-channel cable and satellite TV services;
- SRG/SSR operates 18 radio stations that, along with private broadcasters, provide national to local coverage (2009)
Transportation
10 fieldsMerchant marine, 38 ships by typeone square, one ship
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 4,876 km
country comparison to the world: 37
- standard gauge:
- 3,846 km 1.435-m gauge (3,591 km electrified)
- narrow gauge:
- 1,020 km 1.000-m gauge (1,013 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways
- total:
- 71,464 km
country comparison to the world: 66
- paved:
- 71,464 km (includes 1,415 of expressways) (2011)
Waterways
1,292 km (there are 1,227 km of waterways on lakes and rivers for public transport and another 65 km on the Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee used for the transport of commercial goods) (2010) country comparison to the world: 58
Military
Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe) (2013)
6 fieldsMilitary 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 (2012)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 1,828,043
- females age 16-49:
- 1,786,552 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsRefugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees (country of origin):
- 10,981 (Eritrea) (2012)
- stateless persons:
- 69 (2012)
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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Switzerland.” The World Factbook 2013. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/switzerland/2013.