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Switzerland
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.
Location :
Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Geographic Coordinates Center :
47 00 N, 8 00 E (Latitude, Longtitude)
Geographic Coordinates Rectangle :
| West | 5.96 |
| North | 47.81 |
| East | 10.49 |
| South | 45.83 |
Map references :
Europe
Area :
| total | 41 277 | square km |
| land | 39 997 | square km |
| water | 1 280 | square km |
Land boundaries :
| total | 1 852 | km |
| Austria (at) | 164 | km |
| France (fr) | 573 | km |
| Italy (it) | 740 | km |
| Liechtenstein (li) | 41 | km |
| Germany (de) | 334 | km |
Coastline :
0.00 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
Elevation extremes :
| lowest point | 195 | metres |
| highest point | 4 634 | metres |
Natural resources :
| hydropower potential | salt |
| timber |
Land use :
| arable land | 9.91 | % |
| permanent crops | 0.58 | % |
| other | 89.51 | % |
Irrigated land :
250 square km
Total renewable water resources :
53 cubic km
Natural hazards :
| avalanches | floods |
| lides |
current issues :
air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
international agreements :
| 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 |
| Law of the Sea | Marine Dumping |
| Marine Life Conservation | Ozone Layer Protection |
| Ship Pollution | Tropical Timber 83 |
| Tropical Timber 94 | Wetlands |
| Whaling |
Population :
7 604 467
Indicators :
| Growth rate | 0.28 | % |
| Birth rate | 9.59 | births/1,000 population |
| Total fertility rate | 1.45 | children born/woman |
| Death rate | 8.59 | deaths/1,000 population |
| Net migration rate | 1.76 | migrant(s)/1,000 population |
Age structure :
| 0-14 years | 15.60 | % |
| 15-64 years | 68.10 | % |
| 65 years and over | 16.30 | % |
Median age :
| total | 41.00 | years |
| male | 40.00 | years |
| female | 42.00 | years |
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 |
Health :
| Infant mortality rate | 4.18 | deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth - total population | 80.85 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - male | 78.03 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - female | 83.83 | years |
| HIV-AIDS adult prevalence rate | 0.60 | % |
| HIV-AIDS people living with HIV-AIDS | 25 000 | |
| HIV-AIDS deaths | 500 |
Religions :
| Roman Catholic | 41.80 | % |
| Protestant | 35.30 | % |
| Muslim | 4.30 | % |
| Orthodox | 1.80 | % |
| other Christian | 0.40 | % |
| other | 1.00 | % |
| unspecified | 4.30 | % |
| none | 11.10 | % |
Languages :
| German | 63.70 | % |
| French | 20.40 | % |
| Italian | 6.50 | % |
| Serbo-Croatian | 1.50 | % |
| Albanian | 1.30 | % |
| Portuguese | 1.20 | % |
| Spanish | 1.10 | % |
| English | 1.00 | % |
| Romansch | 0.50 | % |
Literacy :
| total population | 99.00 | % |
| male | 99.00 | % |
| female | 99.00 | % |
Country name :
| conventional long form | Swiss Confederation |
| conventional short form | Switzerland |
| local long form | Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft |
Country Codes :
| ISO 3166 | CH |
| ISO Numeric | 756 |
| ISO3 | CHE |
| FIPS | SZ |
| ccTLD | ch |
| English | Switzerland |
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|
Capital :
| name | Bern |
| geographic coordinates | 46 57 N, 7 26 E |
| time difference | 1.00 |
| daylight saving time | 1 |
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 | IOC |
| IOM | IPU |
| ISO | ITSO |
| ITU | ITUC |
| Interpol | LAIA (observer) |
| MIGA | MONUC |
| NEA | NSG |
| OAS (observer) | OECD |
| OIF | OPCW |
| OSCE | PCA |
| PFP | Paris Club |
| UN | UNCTAD |
| UNESCO | UNHCR |
| UNIDO | UNITAR |
| UNRWA | UNTSO |
| UNWTO | UPU |
| WCO | WFTU |
| WHO | WIPO |
| WMO | WTO |
| ZC |
Independence :
1291-08-01
National holiday :
Foundation Day
1291-08-01
Executive branch :
| President Doris LEUTHARD |
Legislative branch :
| SVP | 29.00 | % |
| SPS | 19.50 | % |
| FDP | 15.60 | % |
| CVP | 14.60 | % |
| Greens | 9.60 | % |
| other | 11.70 | % |
GDP - Gross Domestic product :
| PPP - Purchasing Power Parity | 316 100 000 000 | $ |
| Official Exchange Rate | 484 100 000 000 | |
| RGR - Real Growth rate | -1.80 | % |
| PPP - per capita | 41 600 | $ |
GDP Composition by sector :
| agriculture | 1.50 | % |
| industry | 34.00 | % |
| services | 64.50 | % |
Labor force - by occupation :
| agriculture | 3.90 | % |
| industry | 22.80 | % |
| services | 73.20 | % |
Other Indicators :
| Labor force | 4 080 000 | people |
| Unemployment rate | 3.70 | % |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 33.70 | |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | -0.60 | % |
| Investment (gross fixed) | 21.10 | % of GDP |
| Current account balance | 79 180 000 000 | $ |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 74 070 000 000 | $ |
| Debt external | 1 339 000 000 000 | $ |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | 731 600 000 000 | $ |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | 395 600 000 000 | $ |
| Market value of publicly traded shares | 1 275 000 000 000 | $ |
| Military expenditures | 1.00 | % of GDP |
| Public debt | 43.50 | % of GDP |
Household income or consumption by percentage share :
| lowest 10% | 2.90 | % |
| highest 10% | 25.90 | % |
Budget :
| revenues | 166 400 000 000 | $ |
| expenditures | 172 600 000 000 | $ |
Agriculture - products :
| eggs | fruits |
| grain | meat |
| vegetables |
Industries :
| banking | chemicals |
| insurance | machinery |
| precision instruments | textiles |
| tourism | watches |
Energy :
| Electricity Production | 63 930 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Consumption | 57 620 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Exports | 32 740 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Imports | 31 600 000 000 | kWh |
| Oil Production | 3 244 | bbl/day |
| Oil Consumption | 275 600 | bbl/day |
| Oil Exports | 10 310 | bbl/day |
| Oil Imports | 247 200 | bbl/day |
| Natural gas Consumption | 3 429 000 000 | cubic metres |
| Natural gas Imports | 3 429 000 000 | cubic metres |
Value :
190 100 000 000 $
Partners :
| Germany (de) | 19.70 | % |
| United States (us) | 9.60 | % |
| Italy (it) | 8.70 | % |
| France (fr) | 8.60 | % |
| United Kingdom (gb) | 5.20 | % |
Commodities :
| agricultural products | chemicals |
| machinery | metals |
| watches |
Value :
177 200 000 000 $
Partners :
| Germany (de) | 33.30 | % |
| Italy (it) | 11.00 | % |
| France (fr) | 9.40 | % |
| United States (us) | 5.80 | % |
| Netherlands (nl) | 4.50 | % |
Commodities :
| agricultural products | chemicals |
| machinery | metals |
| textiles | vehicles |
Currency-code :
CHF
Currency-name :
Swiss franc
Communications :
| Telephons Main lines in use | 4 820 000 | |
| Telephons Mobile, Cellular | 8 780 000 | |
| FM Radio broadcast stations | 106 | |
| Television broadcast stations | 106 | |
| Internet Country code (ccTLD) | ch | |
| Internet Hosts | 3 697 000 | |
| Internet Users | 5 739 000 |
Transportation :
| Airports with paved runways | 43 | |
| Heliports | 1 | |
| Pipelines - gas | 1 662 | km |
| Pipelines - oil | 94 | km |
| Pipelines - refined products | 7 | km |
| Roadways - total | 71 298 | km |
| Roadways - paved | 71 298 | km |
| Railways | 4 888 | km |
| Waterways | 65 | km |
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