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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ch

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

3.437 million (2008)

Internet users [time series]

4.61 million (2007)

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

5 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

8.096 million (2007)

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: $150.6 billion expenditures: $141.5 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

2.05% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

3.15% (31 December 2007)

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

Swiss franc (CHF)

Current account balance [time series]

$72.35 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.34 trillion (30 June 2007)

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

33.7 (2000)

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 safehaven 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 stagnated during the 2001-03 period, improved during 2004-05, and jumped to 2.9% in 2006, and 2.6% in 2007. Unemployment has remained at less than half the EU average.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

58.77 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

36.88 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

34.82 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

64.56 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$200.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 20.3%, US 9.7%, Italy 8.7%, France 8.4%, UK 5.1% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$423.9 billion (2007 est.)

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

$303.2 billion (2007 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 (PPP)) [time series]

$40,100 (2007 est.)

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

3.1% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$187.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 32.6%, Italy 10.8%, France 9.5%, US 5.8%, Netherlands 4.6%, Austria 4.2%, UK 4.2% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6.5% (2006 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.7% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

21.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force [time series]

3.954 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$938.6 billion (2005)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

3.232 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

3.232 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

244,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

9,370 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

274,900 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

3,202 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

Public debt [time series]

44.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$75.37 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$605.6 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$306.4 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$855.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$213.9 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$450.7 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

2.8% (2007 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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

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

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 (2003)

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

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

53.3 cu km (2005)

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]

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 [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); Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh) local short form: Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera (Italian); Svizra (Romansh)

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter R. CONEWAY 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 [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2008); Vice President Hans-Rudolf MERZ (since 1 January 2008); 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 Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2008); Vice President Hans-Rudolf MERZ (since 1 January 2008) 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 12 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2008) election results: Pascal COUCHEPIN elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 80.0%; Hans-Rudolf MERZ elected vice president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 86.5%

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]

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), 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 [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; 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 on 19 October 2003 (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 14, SVP 8, SPS 6, 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; note - seating for the Council of States as of December 2007 is CVP 16, FDP 12, SVP 7, SPS 9, other 2

National holiday [time series]

Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)

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

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) [Ruth GENNER]; 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) [Hans-Juerg FEHR]; 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]; 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. 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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

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

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,513,984 females age 16-49: 1,478,761 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 49,205 female: 45,220 (2008 est.)

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

Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe) (2007)

Military expenditures [time series]

1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 15.8% (male 623,213/female 577,430) 15-64 years: 68.2% (male 2,605,044/female 2,562,354) 65 years and over: 16% (male 501,699/female 711,780) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.54 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.8% of GDP (2005)

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]

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

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

13,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 4.23 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.71 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 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 (official) 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000 census) note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national and official languages

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 80.74 years male: 77.91 years female: 83.71 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 40.7 years male: 39.6 years female: 41.7 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss

Net migration rate [time series]

2.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

7,581,520 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.329% (2008 est.)

Religions [time series]

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) [time series]

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

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: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.44 children born/woman (2008 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, Southwest Asian heroin, and Western European synthetics; domestic cannabis cultivation and limited ecstasy production

Transportation

Airports [time series]

65 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 42 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 16 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 23 under 914 m: 23 (2007)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 35 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 [time series]

gas 1,781 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Basel

Railways [time series]

total: 4,839 km standard gauge: 3,561 km 1.435-m gauge (3,195 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,268 km 1.000-m gauge (1,274 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 71,298 km paved: 71,298 km (includes 1,758 of expressways) (2006)

Waterways [time series]

65 km (Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee) (2003)