ARCHIVE // CH // 2015

Switzerland

2015 Edition — sovereign

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
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)
Internet country code [time series]
.ch
Internet users [time series]
total: 7.1 million | percent of population: 88.0% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 3, FM 106 (plus many low-power stations), shortwave 3 (2008)
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 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)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 4.37 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 54 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 11.5 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
106 (2007)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Budget [time series]
revenues: $228.1 billion | expenditures: $226 billion | note: includes federal, cantonal, and municipal budgets (2014 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
0.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34
Central bank discount rate [time series]
0.5% (31 December 2010) | 0.75% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 141
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
2.7% (31 December 2014 est.) | 2.69% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 177
Current account balance [time series]
$49.53 billion (2014 est.) | $97.57 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6
Debt - external [time series]
$1.544 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) | $1.424 trillion (31 December 2011) | country comparison to the world: 12
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
28.7 (2012 est.) | 33.1 (1992) | country comparison to the world: 123
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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 Swiss exports. The global financial crisis of 2008 and resulting economic downturn in 2009 stalled demand for Swiss exports and put Switzerland into a recession. During this period, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) implemented a zero-interest rate policy to boost the economy, as well as to prevent appreciation of the franc, and Switzerland's economy began to recover in 2010. | The sovereign debt crises unfolding in neighboring euro-zone countries, however, coupled with ongoing economic instability in Russia and other eastern European economies continue to pose a significant risk to the Swiss economy, driving up demand for the Swiss franc by investors seeking a safe-haven currency. In January 2015, the SNB abandoned the Swiss franc’s peg to the Euro, roiling global currency markets and making active SNB intervention a necessary hallmark of present-day Swiss monetary policy. 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 below 2% per year from 2011-14. | In recent years, Switzerland has responded to increasing pressure from neighboring countries and trading partners to reform its banking secrecy laws, by agreeing to conform to OECD regulations on administrative assistance in tax matters, including tax evasion. The Swiss government has also renegotiated its double taxation agreements with numerous countries, including the US, to incorporate OECD standards, and is openly considering the possibility of imposing taxes on bank deposits held by foreigners.
Exchange rates [time series]
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - | 0.9121 (2014 est.) | 0.9266 (2013 est.) | 0.94 (2012 est.) | 0.8876 (2011 est.) | 1.0429 (2010 est.)
Exports [time series]
$388.9 billion (2014 est.) | $378.5 billion (2013 est.) | note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland | country comparison to the world: 17
Exports - commodities [time series]
machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners [time series]
Germany 18.3%, US 13%, France 7.3%, Italy 6.6%, UK 5%, China 4.1% (2014)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$712.1 billion (2014 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$472.8 billion (2014 est.) | $463.6 billion (2013 est.) | $454.8 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 41
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 57.2% | government consumption: 11.4% | investment in fixed capital: 21.5% | investment in inventories: -0.5% | exports of goods and services: 51.9% | imports of goods and services: -41.5% | (2014 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 0.8% | industry: 26.7% | services: 72.5% (2014 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$58,100 (2014 est.) | $57,000 (2013 est.) | $55,900 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 16
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
2% (2014 est.) | 1.9% (2013 est.) | 1.1% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176
Gross national saving [time series]
32.4% of GDP (2014 est.) | 36.6% of GDP (2013 est.) | 30% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 7.5% | highest 10%: 19% (2007)
Imports [time series]
$333.8 billion (2014 est.) | $321.1 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Imports - partners [time series]
Germany 28%, Italy 9.7%, France 8.1%, US 6.6%, China 6.5%, Austria 4.7% (2014)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
2.2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121
Industries [time series]
machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
0% (2014 est.) | -0.2% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28
Labor force [time series]
5.008 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 3.4% | industry: 23.4% | services: 73.2% (2010)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$1.079 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) | $932.2 billion (31 December 2011) | $1.229 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14
Population below poverty line [time series]
7.6% (2011 est.)
Public debt [time series]
34.7% of GDP (2014 est.) | 35.5% of GDP (2013 est.) | 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 Special Drawing Rights (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 | country comparison to the world: 113
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$536.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $535.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 5
Stock of broad money [time series]
$1.347 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.301 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]
$1.601 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.536 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 4
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$1.091 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.062 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 8
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$1.283 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.237 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$567.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $570.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 10
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
33.6% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73
Unemployment rate [time series]
3.2% (2014 est.) | 3.2% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 26
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
42.97 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 187
Crude oil - imports [time series]
69,980 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53
Crude oil - production [time series]
100 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193
Electricity - consumption [time series]
58.97 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42
Electricity - exports [time series]
31.8 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
75.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
17.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
3.5% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - imports [time series]
29.38 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
20.04 million kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40
Electricity - production [time series]
65.54 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
3.777 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186
Natural gas - imports [time series]
3.764 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37
Natural gas - production [time series]
13 million cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
263,600 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
7,585 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
176,900 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 29
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
73,160 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 41,277 sq km | land: 39,997 sq km | water: 1,280 sq km | country comparison to the world: 136
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: 2.61 cu km/yr (39%/58%/3%) | per capita: 360.3 cu m/yr (2010)
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]
550 sq km (2007)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 1,770 km | border countries (5): Austria 158 km, France 525 km, Italy 698 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 348 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 38.7% | arable land 10.2%; permanent crops 0.6%; permanent pasture 27.9% | forest: 31.5% | other: 29.8% (2011 est.)
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]
53.5 cu km (2011)
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
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, Berne/Bern, Fribourg/Freiburg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubuenden/Grigioni/Grischun, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais/Wallis, 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
Capital [time series]
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
Constitution [time series]
previous 1848, 1874 (extensive revision of 1848 version); latest adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, effective 1 January 2000; amended several times, last in 2014 (2012)
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 Suzan G. LEVINE (since 2 June 2014); 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
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin DAHINDEN (since 18 November 2014) | 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 [time series]
chief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta SOMMARUGA (since 1 January 2015); Vice President Johann N. SCHNEIDER-AMMANN (since 1 January 2015; note - the Federal Council, which is comprised of 7 federal councillors, constitutes the federal government of Switzerland; council members rotate in a 1-year term as federal president (chief of state and head of government) | head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta SOMMARUGA (since 1 January 2015); Vice President Johann N. SCHNEIDER-AMMANN (since 1 January 2015) | cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) indirectly elected usually from among its members by the Federal Assembly for a 4-year term | elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term; election last held on 3 December 2014 (next to be held in early December 2015) | election results: Simonetta SOMMARUGA elected president; Federal Assembly vote - 181 of 236; Johann N. SCHNEIDER-AMMANN elected vice president
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; 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 [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 law organization participation [time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
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), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Judicial branch [time series]
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
Legal system [time series]
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts, except for federal decrees of a general obligatory character
Legislative branch [time series]
description: 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; members in multi-seat constituencies representing cantons and single-seat constituencies representing half cantons directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat - in German, Conseil National - in French, Consiglio Nazionale - in Italian (200 seats; 195 members in cantons directly elected by proportional representation vote and 5 in half cantons directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-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 on 18 October 2015) | election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CVP 13, FDP 11, SPS 11, SVP 5, 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 6
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
the Swiss anthem has four names: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm) | lyrics/music: Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French], Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS [Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG | note: unofficially adopted 1961, officially 1981; the anthem has been popular in a number of Swiss cantons since its composition (in German) in 1841; translated into the other three official languages of the country (French, Italian, and Romansch), it is official in each of those languages
National holiday [time series]
Founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291; note - since 1 August 1891 celebrated as Swiss National Day
National symbol(s) [time series]
Swiss cross (white cross on red field, arms equal length); national colors: red, white
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
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 and Regula RYTZ] | 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] | other minor parties
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
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: 1,828,043 | females age 16-49: 1,786,552 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 1,493,509 | females age 16-49: 1,459,450 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 46,562 | female: 42,585 (2010 est.)
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe) (2013)
Military expenditures [time series]
0.64% of GDP (2014) | 0.69% of GDP (2013) | 0.76% of GDP (2012) | 0.75% of GDP (2011) | 0.76% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 117
Military service age and obligation [time series]
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)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 15.09% (male 630,944/female 594,465) | 15-24 years: 11.29% (male 468,036/female 449,309) | 25-54 years: 43.67% (male 1,780,039/female 1,766,820) | 55-64 years: 12.18% (male 494,285/female 495,107) | 65 years and over: 17.76% (male 631,204/female 811,621) (2015 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
10.5 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186
Death rate [time series]
8.13 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 48.8% | youth dependency ratio: 22% | elderly dependency ratio: 26.9% | potential support ratio: 3.7% (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
5.3% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 66
Ethnic groups [time series]
German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
0.35% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
300 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
20,200 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
11.5% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 12
Hospital bed density [time series]
5 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 3.67 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 4.03 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 3.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199
Languages [time series]
German (official) 64.9%, French (official) 22.6%, Italian (official) 8.3%, Serbo-Croatian 2.5%, Albanian 2.6%, Portuguese 3.4%, Spanish 2.2%, English 4.6%, Romansch (official) 0.5%, other 5.1% | note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national and official languages; totals more than 100% because some respondents indicated more than one main principal language (2012 est.)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 82.5 years | male: 80.22 years | female: 84.92 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9
Major urban areas - population [time series]
Zurich 1.246 million; BERN (capital) 358,000 (2015)
Median age [time series]
total: 42.1 years | male: 41.1 years | female: 43.1 years (2015 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Swiss (singular and plural) | adjective: Swiss
Net migration rate [time series]
4.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
21% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 111
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
4.05 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
Population [time series]
8,121,830 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96
Population growth rate [time series]
0.71% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic 38.2%, Protestant 26.9%, Muslim 4.9%, other Christian 5.7%, other 1.6%, none 21.4%, unspecified 1.3% (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 99.9% of population | rural: 99.8% of population | total: 99.9% of population | urban: 0.1% of population | rural: 0.2% of population | total: 0.1% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 16 years | male: 16 years | female: 16 years (2012)
Sex ratio [time series]
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: 1 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female | total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.55 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 8.4% | male: 8.8% | female: 8.1% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 73.9% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 1.08% annual rate of change (2010-15 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
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees (country of origin): 16,091 (Eritrea); 5,161 (Syria) (2014) | stateless persons: 76 (2014)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
63 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 78
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 40 | over 3,047 m: 3 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 | 914 to 1,523 m: 6 | under 914 m: 17 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 23 | 23 (2013)
Heliports [time series]
2 (2013)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 38 | by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 9, chemical tanker 5, container 4, petroleum tanker 1 | registered in other countries: 127 (Antigua and Barbuda 7, Bahamas 1, Belize 1, Cayman Islands 1, France 5, Germany 2, Hong Kong 5, Italy 13, Liberia 25, Luxembourg 1, Malta 20, Marshall Islands 12, NZ 2, Panama 15, Portugal 3, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7, Singapore 3, Spain 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 76
Pipelines [time series]
gas 1,800 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
river port(s): Basel (Rhine)
Railways [time series]
total: 5,651.5 km | standard gauge: 4,424.8 km 1.435-m gauge (3,634.1 km electrified) | narrow gauge: 2 km 1.200-m gauge (2 km electrified); 1,188.3 km 1.000-m gauge (1,167.3 km electrified); 36.4 km 0.800-m gauge (36.4 km electrified) (2014) | country comparison to the world: 37
Roadways [time series]
total: 71,464 km | paved: 71,464 km (includes 1,415 of expressways) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 65
Waterways [time series]
1,292 km (there are 1,227 km of waterways on lakes and rivers for public transport and 65 km on the Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee for commercial goods transport) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 57