Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world by per capita Gross Domestic Product. It is a federal republic consisting of 26 states called cantons. It is bordered by the countries like Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. Most of Switzerland is composed of a mountainous plateau bordered by the great bulk of the Alps on the south and by the Jura Mountains on the northwest. The country's largest lakes are Geneva, Constance (Bodensee), and Maggiore; straddle the French, German-Austrian, and Italian borders, respectively. The Rhine, navigable from Basel to the North Sea, is the principal inland waterway.
HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND
Switzerland has a long history of neutrality; it has not been at war since 1815 and hosts many of international organizations, including the Red Cross, the World Trade Organization and one of the U.N.'s two European offices. However, it is not a member of the European Union. Switzerland is multilingual and has four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. The country's formal name is Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft in German, Confédération suisse in French, Confederazione Svizzera in Italian and Confederaziun svizra in Romansh. The establishment of Switzerland is traditionally dated to 1 August 1291 and the first of August is the national holiday.
Switzerland in 1291 was a league of cantons in the Holy Roman Empire. In 1648 the Treaty of Westphalia gave Switzerland its independence from the Holy Roman Empire. In 1798 French revolutionary troops occupied the country and named it the Helvetic Republic, but in 1803 Napoléon restored its federal government. In 1815, the Congress of Vienna guaranteed the neutrality and recognized the independence of Switzerland. The federal constitution of 1874 established a strong central government while giving large powers of control to each canton. Surprisingly, women were not given the right to vote or to hold office until 1971. Switzerland's first woman president-as well as the first Jew to assume the position-was Ruth Dreifuss in 1999.
In Sept. 2000, the Swiss voted against a plan to cut the number of foreigners in the country to 18% of the population.
Land area:
15,355 sq mi (39,769 sq km)
Total area:
15,942 sq mi (41,290 sq km), Water only 4.2 %
Population (2007 est.):
7,554,661 (growth rate: 0.4%);
Birth rate: 9.7/1000;
Infant mortality rate: 4.3/1000;
Life expectancy: 80.6;
Density per sq mi: 492
Capital (2003 est.)
Berne, (122,700)
Berne the federal capital of Switzerland is one of the most politically nimble of the cities. Being a home to many outstanding personalities the city is scattered with a host of famous museums. Apart from its semi puritanic culture it has strikingly contrasting nightlife that is extremely enticing and full of life. Some places to be visited without fail are:
. Federal Building
. Bern Historical Museum
. St. Vincent
. Einstein Museum
Monetary unit (Currency):
Swiss franc
Languages:
German 64%, French 20%, Italian 7% (all official); Romansch 0.5% (national)
Ethnicity/race:
German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 35%, Orthodox 2%, Muslim 4%, none 11% (2000)
Country Dialing Code:
+41
Literacy rate:
99% (1980 est.)
Economic summary:
. GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $264.1 billion; per capita $35,300.
. Real growth rate: 1.8%.
. Inflation: 1.2%.
. Unemployment: 3.8%.
. Arable land: 10%.
. Agriculture: Grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs.
. Labor force: 3.8 million; services 69%, industry 26%, agriculture 5% (1998).
. Industries: Machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments.
. Natural resources: Hydropower potential, timber, salt.
. Exports: $148.6 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products.
. Imports: $135 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles.
. Major trading partners: Germany, U.S., France, Italy, UK, Spain, Netherlands, Austria (2004).
Communications:
- Telephones: Main lines in use: 4.82 million (1998); mobile cellular: 1.967 million (1999).
- Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998).
- Radios: 7.1 million (1997).
- Television broadcast stations: 115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995).
- Televisions: 3.31 million (1997).
- Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000).
- Internet users: 3.85 million (2002).
Transportation:
. Railways: Total: 4,511 km (2002).
. Highways: Total: 71,011 km; paved: 71,011 km (including 1,638 km of expressways); unpaved: 0 km (2000).
. Waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes.
. Ports and harbors: Basel.
. Airports: 66 (2002).
International disputes:
None.
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