Switzerland

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

115 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

7.1 million (1997)

Telephone system

excellent domestic and international services domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

4.82 million (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

810,170 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

108 (1997)

Televisions

3.31 million (1997)

Agriculture - products

grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs

Budget

revenues: $32.66 billion expenditures: $34.89 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.3 billion (1998 est.)

Currency

1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SFR) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)

Economy - overview

Switzerland, a prosperous and stable modern market economy with a per capita GDP 20% above that of the big western European economies, experienced slower growth in 1999, because of weak foreign and domestic demand. Growth, however, is expected to rebound to over 2% in 2000. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. Although the Swiss are not pursuing EU membership in the near term, in 1999 Bern and Brussels signed agreements to further liberalize trade ties. These agreements still have to pass a Swiss referendum in spring 2000, however. Switzerland is still considered 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.

Electricity - consumption

50.8 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

29.6 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

23.6 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

61.076 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 3.74% hydro: 54.29% nuclear: 40.18% other: 1.79% (1998)

Exchange rates

Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SFR) per US$1 - 1.5878 (January 2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995)

Exports

$98.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

Exports - partners

EU 62% (Germany 24%, France 10%, Italy 8%, UK 6%, Austria 3%), US 10%, Japan 4% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $197 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.8% industry: 31.1% services: 66.1% (1995)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $27,100 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.4% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 28.6% (1982)

Imports

$99 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

EU 80% (Germany 33%, France 12%, Italy 10%, Netherlands 5%, UK 5%), US 6%, Japan 3% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

3.3% (1999 est.)

Industries

machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (1999 est.)

Labor force

3.8 million (956,000 foreign workers, mostly Italian) (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

services 67%, industry 28%, agriculture and forestry 5% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

2.8% (1999 est.)

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates

47 00 N, 8 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest elevations in Europe

Irrigated land

250 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 10% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 28% forests and woodland: 32% other: 28% (1993 est.)

Location

Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

avalanches, landslides, flash floods

Natural resources

hydropower potential, timber, salt

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich

Capital

Bern

Constitution

29 May 1874

Country name

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)

Data code

SZ

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador J. Richard FREDERICKS embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [41] (31) 357 70 11 FAX: [41] (31) 357 73 44

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Alfred DEFAGO 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

chief of state: President Adolf OGI (since 1 January 2000); Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Adolf OGI (since 1 January 2000); Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2000); 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 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 NA December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: Adolf OGI elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - Adolf OGI 71.8%; Moritz LEUENBERGER elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - NA

Flag description

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

Government type

federal republic

Independence

1 August 1291

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

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 a basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Council of States - last held in 1999 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2003) election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FDP 12, CVP 11, SVP 6, SPS 4, other 1; note - as of 1 January 2000, 12 seats were up for runoff elections; National Council - percent of vote by party - SPS 22.5%, SVP 22.6%, FDP 19.9%, CVP 15.8%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SPS 51, SVP 44, FDP 43, CVP 35, Greens 9, other small parties 18

National holiday

Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance of Independents' Party (Landesring der Unabhaengigen or LdU, Alliance des Independants or AdI) [Anton SCHALLER, president]; 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) [Adalbert DURRER, president]; Freedom Party or FPS [Roland BORER]; 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) [Hanspetev THUER, president]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Franz STEINEGGER, 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) [Ursula HAFNER, 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) [Christoph BLOCHER, president]; Ticino League (Lega dei Ticinesi) [leader NA]; and other minor parties including Swiss Democratic Party (Schweizer Demokraten or SD, Democrates Suisses or DS, Democratici Svizzeri or DS), Liberal Party (Liberale Partei der Schweiz or LPS, Parti Liberal Suisse or PLS, Partito Liberale Svizzero or PLS), Workers' Party (Parti Suisse du Travail or PST, Partei der Arbeit der Schweiz or PdAdS, Partito Svizzero del Lavoro or PSdL), Evangelical People's Party (Evangelische Volkspartei der Schweiz or EVP, Parti Evangelique Suisse or PEV, Partito Evangelico Svizzero or PEV), and the Union of Federal Democrats (Eidgenossisch-Demokratische Union or EDU, Union Democratique Federale or UDF, Unione Democratica Federale or UDF)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers and Switzerland 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, may be rendering obsolete the country's concern for neutrality.

Military branches

Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$3.1 billion (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.2% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,855,808 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,579,921 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 42,169 (2000 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 17% (male 637,782; female 605,626) 15-64 years: 68% (male 2,498,540; female 2,421,802) 65 years and over: 15% (male 444,627; female 653,995) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

10.4 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

8.75 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

4.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch 0.6%, other 8.9%

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.6 years male: 76.73 years female: 82.63 years (2000 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss

Net migration rate

1.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

7,262,372 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.3% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.47 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

because of more stringent government regulations, used significantly less as a money-laundering center; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports

67 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 42 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 15 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 25 under 914 m: 25 (1999 est.)

Highways

total: 71,059 km (including 1,638 km of expressways) (1998 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Merchant marine

total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 429,998 GRT/771,227 DWT ships by type: bulk 12, cargo 5, chemical tanker 5, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km

Ports and harbors

Basel

Railways

total: 4,492 km (1,564 km double track) standard gauge: 3,317 km 1.435-m gauge (3,288 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,165 km 1.000-m gauge (1,165 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (1998)

Waterways

65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes