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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 3.85 million (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2017 est.)

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 17 radio stations that, along with private broadcasters, provide national to local coverage (2015)

Internet country code [time series]

.ch

Internet users [time series]

total: 7,312,744 (July 2016 est.) | percent of population: 89.4% (July 2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: highly developed telecommunications infrastructure with excellent domestic and international services (2016) | domestic: ranked among leading countries for fixed-line teledensity and infrastructure; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 140 per 100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks (2016) | international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 3,672,500 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2017 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 11.292 million (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2017 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs, dairy products

Budget [time series]

revenues: 242.1 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 234.4 billion (2017 est.) | note: includes federal, cantonal, and municipal budgets

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

0.5% (31 December 2016) | 0.75% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

2.6% (31 December 2017 est.) | 2.65% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$66.55 billion (2017 est.) | $63.16 billion (2016 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.664 trillion (31 March 2016 est.) | $1.663 trillion (31 March 2015 est.)

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

29.5 (2014 est.) | 33.1 (1992)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Switzerland, a country that espouses neutrality, is a 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 gain access to the Union’s Single Market and enhance the country’s international competitiveness. Some trade protectionism remains, however, 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 economic instability in Russia and other Eastern European economies drove up demand for the Swiss franc by investors seeking a safehaven 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 through 2017. 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.

Exchange rates [time series]

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - | 0.9875 (2017 est.) | 0.9852 (2016 est.) | 0.9852 (2015 est.) | 0.9627 (2014 est.) | 0.9152 (2013 est.)

Exports [time series]

$313.5 billion (2017 est.) | $318.1 billion (2016 est.) | note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 15.2%, US 12.3%, China 8.2%, India 6.7%, France 5.7%, UK 5.7%, Hong Kong 5.4%, Italy 5.3% (2017)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$679 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

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

$523.1 billion (2017 est.) | $514.5 billion (2016 est.) | $506.5 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 53.7% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 12% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 24.5% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: -1.4% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 65.1% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -54% (2017 est.)

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

agriculture: 0.7% (2017 est.) | industry: 25.6% (2017 est.) | services: 73.7% (2017 est.)

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

$62,100 (2017 est.) | $61,800 (2016 est.) | $61,500 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

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

1.7% (2017 est.) | 1.6% (2016 est.) | 1.3% (2015 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

33.8% of GDP (2017 est.) | 32.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | 33.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 19% (2007) | highest 10%: 19% (2007)

Imports [time series]

$264.5 billion (2017 est.) | $266.3 billion (2016 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 20.9%, US 7.9%, Italy 7.6%, UK 7.3%, France 6.8%, China 5% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.4% (2017 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.5% (2017 est.) | -0.4% (2016 est.)

Labor force [time series]

5.159 million (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 3.3% | industry: 19.8% | services: 76.9% (2015)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$1.519 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) | $1.495 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.541 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

6.6% (2014 est.)

Public debt [time series]

41.8% of GDP (2017 est.) | 41.8% of GDP (2016 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 (Government Financial Systems Manual) 2001 system are debt, except for equity and investment fund shares and financial derivatives and employee stock options

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$811.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $679.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$621.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $555.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$1.701 trillion (31 December 2017 est.) | $1.528 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

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

$1.489 trillion (31 December 2017 est.) | $1.217 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$1.253 trillion (31 December 2017 est.) | $1.166 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$621.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $555.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

35.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.2% (2017 est.) | 3.3% (2016 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

38.95 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

57,400 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

58.46 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

30.17 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

3% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

67% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

18% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

34.1 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

20.84 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

59.01 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

3.709 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

3.681 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

NA cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

223,900 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

7,345 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

165,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

61,550 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 41,277 sq km | land: 39,997 sq km | water: 1,280 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 [time series]

mean elevation: 1,350 m | elevation extremes: 195 m lowest point: Lake Maggiore | 4634 highest point: Dufourspitze

Environment - current issues [time series]

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from agricultural fertilizers; chemical contaminants and erosion damage the soil and limit productivity; 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]

630 sq km (2012)

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% (2011 est.) | arable land: 10.2% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0.6% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 27.9% (2011 est.) | forest: 31.5% (2011 est.) | 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

Population distribution [time series]

population distribution corresponds to elevation with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement

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 Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Berne/Bern, Fribourg/Freiburg, Geneve (Geneva), 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 (instead of two) to the Council of States and, in popular referendums where a majority of popular votes and a majority of cantonal votes are required, these 6 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

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Switzerland | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 12 years including at least 3 of the last 5 years prior to application

Constitution [time series]

history: previous 1848, 1874; latest adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, effective 1 January 2000 (2016) | amendments: proposed by the two houses of the Federal Assembly or by petition of at least one million voters (called the "federal popular initiative"); passage of proposals requires majority vote in a referendum; following drafting of an amendment by the Assembly, its passage requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and approval by the majority of cantons; amended many times, last in 2016 (2016)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Swiss Confederation | conventional short form: Switzerland | local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German) | local short form: Schweiz (German) | abbreviation: CH | etymology: name derives from the canton of Schwyz, one of the founding cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy that formed in the 14th century | Confederation Suisse (French) Confederazione Svizzera (Italian) Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh) Suisse (French) Svizzera (Italian) Svizra (Romansh)

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Edward "Ed" MCMULLEN (since 21 November 2017) 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) 357-73-20

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Martin Werner 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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation Ueli MAURER (since 1 January 2019); Vice President Simonetta SOMMARUGA (since 1 January 2019); note - the Federal Council, which is comprised of 7 federal councillors, constitutes the federal government of Switzerland; council members rotate the 1-year term of federal president (chief of state and head of government) | head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Ueli MAURER (since 1 January 2019); Vice President Simonetta SOMMARUGA (since 1 January 2018) | 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 elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term; election last held on 5 December 2018 (next to be held in December 2019) | election results: Ueli MAURER elected president; Federal Assembly vote - 201 of 209; Simonetta SOMMARUGA elected vice president; Federal Assembly vote - 196 of 216

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]

federal republic (formally a confederation)

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 courts: Federal Supreme Court (consists of 38 justices and 19 deputy justices organized into 7 divisions) | 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 (established in 2004); Federal Administrative Court (established 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: 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 except Jura and Neuchatel cantons which use proportional representation vote; member term governed by conatonal law) 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 6 in half cantons directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons on 18 October 2015 (each canton determines when the next election will be held) National Council - last held on 18 October 2015 (next to be held in October 2019) | election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CVP 13, FDP 13, SDP 12, SVP 5, other 3; composition - men 39, women 7, percent of women 15.2% National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 29.4%, SPS 18.8%, FDP 16.4%, CVP 11.6%, Green Party 7.1%, GLP 4.6%, BDP 4.1%, other 8%; seats by party - SVP 68, SPS 43, FDP 33, CVP 30, Green Party 12, GLP 7, BDP 7; composition - men 136, women 64, percent of women 32%; note - total Assembly percent of women 28.9%

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French], Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS [Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG | the Swiss anthem has four names: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm) 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) [Gerhard PFISTER] 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) [Petra GOESSI] Green Liberal Party (Grunliberale or GLP, Parti vert liberale or PVL, Partito Verde-Liberale or PVL, Partida Verde Liberale or PVL) [Jurge GROSSEN] 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) [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) [Albert ROESTI] other minor parties

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. | SWITZERLAND SUMMARY: PDF

Military and Security

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

Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe) (2013)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.71% of GDP (2016) | 0.67% of GDP (2015) | 0.66% of GDP (2014) | 0.73% of GDP (2013) | 0.69% of GDP (2012)

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: 15.23% (male 650,151 /female 612,479) | 15-24 years: 10.69% (male 453,003 /female 433,101) | 25-54 years: 42.88% (male 1,781,425 /female 1,774,124) | 55-64 years: 12.88% (male 535,457 /female 532,454) | 65 years and over: 18.34% (male 672,024 /female 848,591) (2018 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: Switzerland Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Switzerland. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

10.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

72.9% (2012)

Death rate [time series]

8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 48.8 (2015 est.) | youth dependency ratio: 22 (2015 est.) | elderly dependency ratio: 26.8 (2015 est.) | potential support ratio: 3.7 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.1% of GDP (2014)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Swiss 70.3%, German 4.2%, Italian 3.2%, Portuguese 2.6%, French 2%, Kosovar 1%, other 18.7% (2017 est.) | note: data represent permanent resident population by country of birth

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

11.7% of GDP (2014)

Hospital bed density [time series]

4.7 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | female: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages [time series]

German (or Swiss German) (official) 62.8%, French (official) 22.9%, Italian (official) 8.2%, English 5.1%, Portuguese 3.7%, Albanian 3.1%, Serbo-Croatian 2.4%, Spanish 2.3%, Romansch (official) 0.5%, other 7.5% (2016 est.) | note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national and official languages; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 82.7 years (2018 est.) | male: 80.4 years (2018 est.) | female: 85.2 years (2018 est.)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

1.371 million Zurich, 422,000 BERN (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 42.5 years | male: 41.5 years | female: 43.5 years (2018 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

30.7 years (2014 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Swiss (singular and plural) | adjective: Swiss

Net migration rate [time series]

4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

19.5% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

4.25 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population [time series]

8,292,809 (July 2018 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

population distribution corresponds to elevation with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement

Population growth rate [time series]

0.68% (2018 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 36.5%, Protestant 24.5%, other Christian 5.9%, Muslim 5.2%, other 1.4%, Jewish 0.3%, none 24.9%, unspecified 1.3% (2015 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 99.9% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 99.8% of population (2015 est.) | total: 99.9% of population (2015 est.) | unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 0.2% of population (2015 est.) | total: 0.1% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 16 years (2014) | male: 16 years (2014) | female: 16 years (2014)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.56 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 8.1% (2017 est.) | male: 8.1% (2017 est.) | female: 8% (2017 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 73.8% of total population (2018) | rate of urbanization: 0.88% annual rate of change (2015-20 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): 30,935 (Eritrea), 13,639 (Syria), 8,151 (Afghanistan), 5,581 (Sri Lanka) (2017) | stateless persons: 62 (2017)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

63 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 40 (2013) | over 3,047 m: 3 (2013) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2013) | under 914 m: 17 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 23 (2013) | under 914 m: 23 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

HB (2016)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 51 (2017) | by type: bulk carrier 30, general cargo 12, oil tanker 1, other 8 (2017)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 12 (2015) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 163 (2015) | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 26,843,991 (2015) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,322,379,468 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines [time series]

1800 km gas, 94 km oil, 7 km refined products (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

river port(s): Basel (Rhine)

Railways [time series]

total: 5,652 km (2014) | standard gauge: 4,424.8 km 1.435-m gauge (3,634.1 km electrified) (2014) | narrow gauge: 2 km 1.200-m gauge (2 km electrified) (2014) | 1188.3 1.000-m gauge (1,167.3 km electrified) 36.4 0.800-m gauge (36.4 km electrified)

Roadways [time series]

total: 71,464 km (2011) | paved: 71,464 km (includes 1,415 of expressways) (2011)

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)