Switzerland | Facts & Information

Updated September 9, 2022 | Infoplease Staff
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Facts & Figures

  • President: Johann Schneider-Ammann (2016)

    Land area: 15,355 sq mi (39,769 sq km); total area: 15,942 sq mi (41,290 sq km)

    Population (2014 est.): 8,061,516 (growth rate: 0.78%); birth rate: 10.48/1000; infant mortality rate: 3.73/1000; life expectancy: 82.39

    Capital (2011 est.): Bern, 353,000

    Largest cities: Zurich, 1.194 million

    Monetary unit: Swiss franc

    National name: Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera/Svizra

    Current government officials

    Languages: 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% (2012 est.)

    Ethnicity/race: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%

    Religions: 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.)

    Literacy rate: 99% (2003 est.)

    Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2013 est.): $371.2 billion; per capita $54,800. Real growth rate: 2%. Inflation: -0.4%. Unemployment: 3.2%. Arable land: 9.8%. Agriculture: grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs. Labor force: 4.976 million (2013); services 73.2%, industry 23.4%, agriculture 3.4% (2010). Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance. Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt. Exports: $229.2 billion (2013 est.): machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products. Imports: $200.5 billion (2013 est.): machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles. Major trading partners: Germany, U.S., France, Italy, UK, China, Austria (2013).

    Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 4.382 million (2012); mobile cellular: 10.46 million (2012). Broadcast media: 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 5.301 million (2012). Internet users: 6.152 million (2009).

    Transportation: Railways: total: 4,876 km (2008). Highways: total: 71,464 km; paved: 71,464 km (including 1,415 km of expressways); unpaved: 0 km (2011). Waterways: 1,292 km (2010) Ports and harbors: Basel. Airports: 63 (2013).

    International disputes: none.

    Major sources and definitions

See also: