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Switzerland Country Guide
Explore Switzerland in Europe
The topography includes mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes. The average density of population is approximately 184 per km². The notable climate conditions in Switzerland can be described as temperate, but varies with altitude with cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters and cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers. Possible natural disasters include avalanches, landslides or flash floods.
To reach someone in Switzerland dial +41 prior to a number. There are 4,650,000 installed telephones. And there are 9,255,000 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of 900/1800 MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".ch". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of 230V - 50Hz.
About the flag and history of Switzerland
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).
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.
Geography Quick-Facts
| Summary | Continent: Europe Neighbours: Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, France, Austria Capital: Berne |
| Size | 41,290 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 15,942 square miles (mi² or sqmi) slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey |
| Population | 7,581,000 |
| Currency | Name Franc, Currency Code:CHF |
| Country Top Level Domain (cTLD) | .ch |
| Telephone Country Prefix | +41 |
| Mobile Phone Connections | 9,255,000 |
| Landline Phone Connections | 4,650,000 |
Country Position in World Rankings
Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).
Geography
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 41,277 (sq km) | 136 |
People and Society
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,996,026 | 95 |
| Population growth rate | 0.85 (%) | 128 |
| Birth rate | 10.45 (births/1,000 population) | 183 |
| Death rate | 8.08 (deaths/1,000 population) | 94 |
| Net migration rate | 6.14 (migrant(s)/1,000 population) | 18 |
| Maternal mortality rate | 8.00 (deaths/100,000 live births) | 160 |
| Infant mortality rate | 3.80 (deaths/1,000 live births) | 202 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 82.28 (years) | 8 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.53 (children born/woman) | 187 |
| Health expenditures | 11.50 (% of GDP) | 13 |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.40 (%) | 72 |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 18,000 | 81 |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | 100 | 116 |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 17.50 (%) | 111 |
| Education expenditures | 5.40 (% of GDP) | 61 |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | 7.70 (%) | 120 |
Economy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | 369,400,000,000 | 37 |
| GDP - real growth rate | 1.00 (%) | 162 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | 46,200 | 16 |
| Labor force | 4,910,000 | 79 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.90 (%) | 23 |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 29.60 | 117 |
| Investment (gross fixed) | 20.60 (% of GDP) | 88 |
| Taxes and other revenues | 33.60 (% of GDP) | 73 |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | 0.30 (% of GDP) | 37 |
| Public debt | 52.40 (% of GDP) | 57 |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | -0.70 (%) | 3 |
| Central bank discount rate | 0.75 (%) | 132 |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate | 2.72 (%) | 179 |
| Stock of narrow money | 484,400,000,000 | 11 |
| Stock of broad money | 1,166,000,000,000 | 15 |
| Stock of domestic credit | 1,286,000,000,000 | 16 |
| Market value of publicly traded shares | 1,229,000,000,000 | 12 |
| Industrial production growth rate | 0.80 (%) | 136 |
| Current account balance | 66,500,000,000 | 9 |
| Exports | 300,400,000,000 | 22 |
| Imports | 287,700,000,000 | 19 |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 331,900,000,000 | 8 |
| Debt - external | 1,563,000,000,000 | 12 |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | 634,300,000,000 | 9 |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | 1,063,000,000,000 | 6 |
Energy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 62,880,000,000 (kWh) | 43 |
| Electricity - consumption | 60,420,000,000 (kWh) | 42 |
| Electricity - exports | 80,710,000,000 (kWh) | 2 |
| Electricity - imports | 83,300,000,000 (kWh) | 2 |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 17,700,000 (kW) | 40 |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 2.50 (% of total installed capacity) | 202 |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 16.60 (% of total installed capacity) | 15 |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 69.20 (% of total installed capacity) | 23 |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 2.50 (% of total installed capacity) | 52 |
| Crude oil - imports | 258,200 (bbl/day) | 28 |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 103,500 (bbl/day) | 75 |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 258,200 (bbl/day) | 51 |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 9,851 (bbl/day) | 86 |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 176,500 (bbl/day) | 31 |
| Natural gas - consumption | 3,681,000,000 (cu m) | 68 |
| Natural gas - imports | 3,681,000,000 (cu m) | 38 |
| Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy | 45,550,000 (Mt) | 65 |
Communications
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | 4,613,000 | 34 |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | 10,122,000 | 75 |
| Internet hosts | 5,301,000 | 20 |
| Internet users | 6,152,000 | 42 |
Transportation
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Airports | 64 | 79 |
| Railways | 4,876 (km) | 37 |
| Roadways | 71,454 (km) | 64 |
| Waterways | 1,292 (km) | 58 |
| Merchant marine | 38 | 77 |
Military
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Military expenditures | 1.00 (% of GDP) | 127 |
Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases
List of current world heritage sites
| Name | Since |
|---|---|
| Abbey of St Gall The Convent of St Gall, a perfect example of a great Carolingian monastery, was, from the 8th century to its secularization in 1805, one of the most important in Europe. Its library is one of the richest and oldest in the world and contains precious ... | 1983 |
| Benedictine Convent of St John at Müstair The Convent of Müstair, which stands in a valley in the Grisons, is a good example of Christian monastic renovation during the Carolingian period. It has Switzerland's greatest series of figurative murals, painted c. A.D. 800, along with Romanesque f ... | 1983 |
| La Chaux-de-Fonds / Le Locle, Watchmaking Town Planning The site of La Chaux-de-Fonds / Le Locle watchmaking town-planning consists of two towns situated close to one another in a remote environment in the Swiss Jura mountains, on land ill-suited to farming. Their planning and buildings reflect watchmaker ... | 2009 |
| Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces The Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, stretching for about 30 km along the south-facing northern shores of Lake Geneva from the Chateau de Chillon to the eastern outskirts of Lausanne in the Vaud region, cover the lower slopes of the mountainside between the ... | 2007 |
| Old City of Berne Founded in the 12th century on a hill site surrounded by the Aare River, Berne developed over the centuries in line with a an exceptionally coherent planning concept. The buildings in the Old City, dating from a variety of periods, include 15th-centu ... | 1983 |
| Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch The extension of the natural World Heritage property of Jungfrau - Aletsch - Bietschhorn (first inscribed in 2001), expands the site to the east and west, bringing its surface area up to 82,400 ha., up from 53,900. The site provides an outstanding ex ... | 2001 |
| Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona The Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona in the north-eastern part of the country covers a mountainous area of 32,850 ha which features seven peaks that rise above 3,000 m. The area displays an exceptional example of mountain building through continental col ... | 2008 |
| Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona The Bellinzona site consists of a group of fortifications grouped around the castle of Castelgrande, which stands on a rocky peak looking out over the entire Ticino valley. Running from the castle, a series of fortified walls protect the ancient town ... | 2000 |