Fun figures statistics and information on Switzerland

General information on Switzerland and an overview

The independence and neutrality of Switzerland has long been respected, and Switzerland did not participate in any of the two World Wars.

However over the last 50 years the country has always been actively involved in the political and economic European matters, as well as in most of UN and international organizations.

... even if it did wait to 2002 to enter the UN given their keenness on maintaining their neutral status.

Geographic information on Switzerland

Centre of Europe, neighbouring Italy, France, Germany, Austria.
Geographic latitude and longitude of its map reference. 48 degrees 00’ North, 9 degrees 00’ East. total land area : 41,000 square kilometres Land boundaries: 1,800 kilometers Coastline: 0 kilometers (landlocked)

Climate

Temperate climate, but varies with altitude;

Terrain information on Switzerland

Mountainous alpine country with a large and important plateau in the centre. Many alpine lakes. Highest and lowest elevations: Lowest elevation: Lake Maggiore 190 meters highest elevation: Dufourspitze 4,630 meters
Natural resources: hydro electrical power, wood, salt. Being fairly limited in natural resources Switzerland has leveraged the use of its intellectual properties and developed highly specialised high-value-added industries to build it into a very prosperous and modern nation.

Land use: ploughable land: 10 percent permanent crops: 1 percent other: 89 percent (1998 estimate) Irrigated land: 200 square kilometers (1998 estimate) Natural hazards: mountain areas are subject to avalanches and landslides, certain low lying areas are subject to flooding. Geography point of interest– International meeting point between the north and the south of Europe; is the most elevated country in Europe.

People information on Switzerland:

Population: 7,320,000 (July 2003 estimate) Age structure: below 15 years: 16 percent From 15 to 65 years: 68 percent Over 65 years: 16 percent Median age: total: 40 years male: 39 years female: 41 years (2002) Population growth rate: 0.3 percent (2003 estimate) Birth rate: 10 births per thousand population (2003 estimate) Death rate: 9 deaths per thousand population (2003 estimate) Migration rate: 1.4 migrant(s) per thousand population (2003 estimate) Infant mortality rate: total: 4 deaths per thousand live births female: 4 deaths per thousand live births (2003 estimate) Life expectancy at birth: 80 years male: 77 years female: 83 years (2003 estimate) Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (2003 estimate)

Nationality

Swiss

Ethnicities

German 66 percent, French 15 percent, Italian 12 percent, Romanisch 2 percent, other 5 percent

Religious information on Switzerland

Roman Catholic 45 percent, Protestant 41 percent, other 14 percent.

Languages:

German 64 percent Schwietzerduutsch, French 19 percent, Italian 7 percent, Romanisch 0.5 percent, other 9.5 percent.

Literacy:

Total population: 98 percent of population over the age of 15 years can read and write.

Government information on Switzerland

Official name: Swiss Confederation
Capital city: Bern
Independence: 1 August 1291
National holiday: 1 August
Constitution: 18 December 1998
Legal system: Swiss Civil Law system with certain influences of customary law. Voting system: 18 years of age; universal.

Executive branch

Head of state: President
Chief of government: President

Legislative branch:

Bicameral Federal Assembly Council of States and the National Council

Judicial branch:

Federal Supreme Group.

Economy of Switzerland

The economy of Switzerland is based on a wealthy and stable modern market economy with low unemployment that can rely on a highly skilled labour force, and one of the highest GDP per head of population in the world.

Also the country has adopted the EU’s economic rules to maintain its competitiveness at a high level while it is still a neutral.

Nevertheless as well as in many of the developed countries, GDP growth dropped in recent years.

Gross Domestic Product

$235 billion (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product - real growth rate: 0.2 percent (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product- per capita: $30,000 (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product- composition by sector: agriculture: 3 percent industry: 35 percent services: 62 percent (2002 estimate)

Rate of Inflation rate: 0.7 percent (2002 estimate) Labour force: 5 million (2001) Labour force - by occupation: services: 70 percent, industry: 26 percent, agriculture: 4 percent (1998)
Rate of Unemployment: 2 percent (2002 estimate)

Budget

revenues: $35 billion
Spending: $35 billion, Industries: plant, chemicals, apparel, precision instruments
Industrial production growth rate: 3 percent (2001) Agriculture - products: cereals, fruits, vegetables; meat.

Exports & Imports Switzerland

Exports: $100 billion Exports - commodities: plant, chemicals, metals, precision instrumentation, fruits, vegetables and meat.
Exports - partners: Germany 19 percent, US 10 percent, Italy 10 percent, France 9 percent, UK 8 percent (2002) Imports: $94 billion Imports - commodities: plant, chemicals, cars, metals; fruit, vegetable, meat, clothes Imports - partners: Germany 27 percent, France 11 percent, Italy 10 percent, US 8 percent, Russia 6 percent, UK 6 percent, Austria 5 percent, Netherlands 4 percent (2002) Currency: Swiss franc Currency code: CHF

Communications - Switzerland

Telephones: 5 million Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 115 , shortwave 1
Television broadcast stations: 120
Internet country code: .ch

Transportation - Switzerland

Railways: total: 4,500 kilometers
Highways: total: 71,000 kilometers
Waterways: 70 kilometers Pipelines: gas 1,800 km; oil 200 km; refined products 10 kilometers (2003) Airports: 60

Military information on Switzerland

Military branches: Swiss Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards.
Military spending -: $2.500 billion
Military spending - percent of GDP: 2 percent

Check out the historical information on French speaking countries now that you are an expert in teh general information on Switzerland

More information on Switzerland, a French-speaking nation
History of French speaking countries | Flag of Switzerland | Map of Switzerland | Learn French in Switzerland |

Facts & Information on Switzerland
Learn French Help – A Resource for the those Learning to speak French
32 Alverton, Great Linford, Milton Keynes, MK14 5EF, United Kingdom

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