Statistical information Switzerland 1989

Switzerland in the World
top of pageBackground: Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers and Switzerland did not participate in either World War I or II. The political and economic integration of Europe since World War II may be rendering obsolete Switzerland's concern for neutrality.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: 1,852 km total; Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, FRG 334 km
Coastline: none - landlocked
Maritime claims: none - landlocked
Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
ElevationNatural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use: 10% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 40% meadows and pastures; 26% forest and woodland; 23% other; includes 1% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe geoad0.gif" border="0" geoad1
top of pagePopulation: 6,611,019 (July 1989), growth rate 0.3% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Swiss (sing. & pl.; adjective - Swiss
Ethnic groups: total population - 65% German, 18% French, 10% Italian, 1% Romansch, 6% other; Swiss nationals - 74% German, 20% French, 4% Italian, 1% Romansch, 1% other
Languages: total population - 65% German, 18% French, 12% Italian, 1% Romansch, 4% other; Swiss nationals - 74% German, 20% French, 4% Italian, 1% Romansch, 1% other
Religions: 49% Roman Catholic, 48% Protestant, 0.3% Jewish
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 12 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 10 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: dominated by Alps
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 82 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 99%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Swiss Confederation
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Bern
Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German; Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
Dependent areasIndependence: 1 August 1291
National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Constitution: 29 May 1874
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal over age 20
Executive branchLegislative branch: Army, Air Force
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ADB, CCC, Council of Europe, DAC, EFTA, ESA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, ICAC, ICAO, ICO, IDB - Inter-American Development Bank, IEA, IFAD, ILO, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, IWC - International Wheat Council, OECD, UNESCO, UPU, World Confederation of Labor, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG, WTO; permanent observer status at the UN
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Edouard BRUNNER; Chancery at 2,900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 745-7,900; there are Swiss Consulates General in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco; US - Ambassador Philip D. WINN; Embassy at Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3,005 Bern; telephone Õ41å (31) 437,011; there is Branch Office of the Embassy in Geneva and a Consulate General in Zurich
Flag description
: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Expanding industrial production combined with low inflation and unemployment gives Switzerland one of the world's most prosperous economies, despite its having few natural resources. The nation's success can be interpreted as a product of sound economic policies. Management-labor relations are harmonious with few disputes. By sticking to a consistent anti-inflationary policy based on a slow and steady growth in the money supply and a balanced budget, the government has set a steady course for continued growth.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: dairy farming predominates; less than 50% self-sufficient; food shortages - fish, refined sugar, fats and oils (other than butter), grains, eggs, fruits, vegetables, meat
Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Industrial production growth rate: 2.0% (1987)
Labor force:
3,050,000; 822,746 foreign workers, mostly Italian; 42%
services, 39%
industry and crafts, 11% government, 7% agriculture and forestry, 1% other (1987)
Unemployment rate: 0.7% (1988 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $16.2 billion; expenditures $16.1 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (1987)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $45.5 billion (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: machinery and equipment, precision instruments, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles and clothing
Partners: Europe 64% (EC 56%, other 8%), US 9%, Japan 4%
Imports: $50.7 billion (c.i.f., 1987)
Commodities: agricultural products, machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, textiles, construction materials
Partners: Europe 79% (EC 72%, other 7%), US 5%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.5590 (January 1989), 1.4633 (1988), 1.4912 (1987), 1.7989 (1986), 2.4571 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 17,708,000 kW capacity; 58,485 million kWh produced, 8,870 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $3.222 billion, 19.0% of central government budget (1987 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 72 total, 70 usable; 42 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 16 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelines: 314 km crude oil; 1,506 km natural gas
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to Bodensee; 12 navigable lakes
Merchant marine: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 257,043 GRT/438,796 DWT; includes 4 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 4 chemical tanker, 3 specialized liquid cargo, 10 bulk
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs