Switzerland Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 25, 2020

Switzerland, Central European State;41 290 km², 8.5 million residents (2019).Switzerland, mainly occupied by the Alps, borders Germany and France in the north, Austria and Liechtenstein in the east, Italy in the south and France in the west. The capital is Bern (128,800 residents, 2014).

Country facts

Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German)
Confederation Suisse (French)
Confederazione Svizzera (Italian) /
Swiss Confederation
Country abbreviation: CH
Area: 41 290 km²
Population (2019): 8.5 million residents
Capital: Bern
Main languages: German, French, Italian
State: Republic
Head of state and head of government: the title of president rotates within the government
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 82,839
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 83,580
Currency unit: 1 Swiss franc = 100 centimes (French), Rappen (German)
Currency code: CHF
Country number (telephony): 41
Internet domain name: ch
Time difference compared to Sweden: 0
National Day: August 1 (Formation of the Swedish Confederation, 1291)

Nature

Land use: forest (32%), agricultural land (11%), other (57%)
Highest mountain: Dufour peak (4,634 m asl)
Largest lake: Lake Geneva (582 km² )

Population

Population density (2019): 206 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 0.2%; birth rate 10 ‰, death rate 8 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (15%), 15-64 (67%), 65- (18%)
Average life expectancy (2019): men 81 years, women 85 years
Infant mortality (2019): 3 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 10 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.944 (place 2 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 85%
Most populous cities (2014): Zurich (384,800 residents), Geneva (191,600), Basel (167,400)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (1%), industry (26%), service (74%)
Exports (2017): US $ 313,500 million
Main export products: machinery, chemical products, watches
Main exporting countries: Germany, USA, China
Imports (2017): US $ 264,500 million
Main import products: machinery, chemical raw materials, means of transport
Main importing countries: Germany, USA, Italy
Railway network (2015): 5,700 km

Switzerland is a mountainous country with the Jura mountains in the northwest and the Alps in the south and east. To the north is a large plateau between Lake Geneva and Lake Constance. The country has a transitional climate that is affected by Atlantic air masses from the west, continental from the east, Mediterranean air from the south and central Europe’s low pressure from the north. This makes the climate very variable.

At the federal level, the legislative power is held by a two-chamber parliament with standing councils and national councils; the latter is elected in general elections for a four-year term. The executive is exercised by a government. The country has no prime minister, but the ministers sit for one year at a time on the post of honorary president.

Switzerland is a poor commodity country whose business sector is characterized by a highly specialized manufacturing industry and a significant service sector, especially in banking and finance. The tourism industry is also important. The commodity shortage and the geographical location in central Europe have made the country heavily dependent on foreign trade. The international contacts and the good economic development combined with an efficient banking secrecy have helped to make Switzerland one of the world’s leading banking centers.