Europe

Switzerland
Last reviewed: 25 January 2012

Country information

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Map of Switzerland

Area: 41,293 sq km (16,000 sq mi)
Population: 7.8 million (2010)
Capital City: Berne
People: German (64%), French (20%), Italian (6.5%), Rumantsch (0.5%), Other (9%)
Languages: Swiss German, French, Italian, Rhaeto-Rumantsch
Religion(s): Roman Catholic (46.1%), Protestant (40%), Muslim (4.3%)
Currency: Swiss franc (SFr)
Major political parties: Radicals (FDP – [party president] Fulvio Pelli), Christian Democrats (CVP - Christophe Darbellay), Social Democrats (SP - Hans-Juerg Fehr), People's Party (SVP - Toni Brunner)
Government: Seven member Federal Council
Political system: Federal Republic with strong local governments (cantons)
Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs: Johann Schneider-Ammann
President of the Confederation 2010 and Foreign Minister: Micheline Calmy-Rey (since 2003)
Membership of international groupings/organisations: Council of Europe, EAPC/PfP, EBRD, EFTA, IBRD, IMF, OECD, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, UNHCR, WTO, Schengen

DID YOU KNOW

Zurich, Berne and Geneva are all ranked in the top ten cities of the world according to the Mercer Human Resources Consulting Quality of Living survey 2011.
Nestlé is the largest company in Switzerland, yet more than 98% of its revenue comes from outside the country.
Swiss Guards still protect the Pope at the Vatican. The Red Cross was started in 1864 by Henri Dunant in Geneva.
The symbol of the Red Cross is based on a reversed Swiss flag.
Switzerland manages about a third of all private and institutional offshore funds.
Switzerland is responsible for around half the value of the world’s watch production.
Switzerland has the densest rail network in Europe - 121.9 km of rail per 1000 km2, more than 2.5 times the European average.
Switzerland has the steepest funicular railway in the world: the Gelmerbahn at the foot of the Grimsel Pass, which reaches 106% gradient in places.
Switzerland is the second most densely forested country in Europe (30%).