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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ch

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

667,275 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

2.556 million (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: excellent domestic and international services domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

5.419 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

6.172 million (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs

Budget [time series]

revenues: $131.5 billion expenditures: $140.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Swiss franc (CHF)

Current account balance [time series]

$40.95 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$NA (2000)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

33.1 (1992)

Economic aid (Economic aid - donor) [time series]

ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Switzerland is a peaceful, 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. 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%, to 0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003, with a small rise to 1.8% in 2004. Even so, unemployment has remained at less than half the EU average.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

54.53 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports [time series]

32.3 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports [time series]

27.8 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production [time series]

63.47 billion kWh (2002)

Exchange rates [time series]

Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000)

Exports [time series]

$130.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 20.2%, US 10.5%, France 8.7%, Italy 8.3%, UK 5.1%, Spain 4% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$251.9 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $33,800 (2004 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

1.8% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 25.2% (1992)

Imports [time series]

$121.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 32.8%, Italy 11.3%, France 9.9%, US 5.2%, Netherlands 5%, Austria 4.3% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.7% (2004 est.)

Industries [time series]

machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

20.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force [time series]

3.77 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 4.6%, industry 26.3%, services 69.1% (1998)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

290,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

10,420 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

289,500 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

Public debt [time series]

57.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$69.58 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.4% (2004 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Climate [time series]

temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

47 00 N, 8 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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 [time series]

250 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 10.42% permanent crops: 0.61% other: 88.97% (2001)

Location [time series]

Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

avalanches, landslides, flash floods

Natural resources [time series]

hydropower potential, timber, salt

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

Bern

Constitution [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela P. WILLEFORD embassy: Jubilaumsstrasse 93, CH-3005 Bern mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11 FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Christian BLICKENSTORFER chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900 FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Boston

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Samuel SCHMID (since 1 January 2005); Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Samuel SCHMID (since 1 January 2005); Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2005); 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 8 December 2004 (next to be held December 2005) election results: Samuel SCHMID elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 70.7%; Moritz LEUENBERGER elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 64.8%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

Government type [time series]

formally a confederation, but similar in structure to a federal republic

Independence [time series]

1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly)

Legal system [time series]

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 [time series]

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 in most cantons 19 October 2003 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held 19 October 2003 (next to be held October 2007) election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CVP 15, FDP 14, SVP 8, SPS 6, other 3; National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 26.6%, SPS 23.3%, FDP 17.3%, CVP 14.4%, Greens 7.4%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SVP 55, SPS 54, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13, other small parties 14

National holiday [time series]

Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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]; 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) [Doris LEUTHARD, president]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Marianne KLEINER-SCHLAEPFER, 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) [Hans-Juerg FEHR, 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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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. Switzerland's sovreignty 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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 19-49: 1,707,694 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 19-49: 1,375,889 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males: 46,319 (2005 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$2.548 billion (FY01)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1% (FY01)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

the Swiss Confederation states that "every Swiss male is obligated to do military service"; every Swiss male has to serve for at least 260 days in the armed forces; 19 years of age for compulsory military service; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscripts receive 15 weeks of compulsory training, followed by 10 intermittent recalls for training over the next 22 years; women are accepted on a voluntary basis, but are not drafted (2005)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16.6% (male 643,497/female 597,565) 15-64 years: 68% (male 2,570,544/female 2,522,365) 65 years and over: 15.4% (male 472,769/female 682,630) (2005 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.77 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.48 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

13,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages [time series]

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 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000 census) note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national languages, but only the first three are official languages

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 80.39 years male: 77.58 years female: 83.36 years (2005 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 39.77 years male: 38.75 years female: 40.81 years (2005 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss

Net migration rate [time series]

3.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population [time series]

7,489,370 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.49% (2005 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 4.3%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1% (2000 census)

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.42 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

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 and Southwest Asian heroin

Transportation

Airports [time series]

65 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 42 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 16 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 23 under 914 m: 23 (2004 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 71,212 km paved: 71,212 km (including 1,706 of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 604,843 GRT/1,050,914 DWT by type: bulk carrier 12, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 3 foreign-owned: 6 (United Kingdom 6) registered in other countries: 291 (2005)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 1,831 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Basel

Railways [time series]

total: 4,527 km standard gauge: 3,232 km 1.435-m gauge (3,211 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,285 km 1.000-m gauge (1,273 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2004)

Waterways [time series]

65 km note: Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee, some canals, and 12 navigable lakes (2003)