Statistical information Switzerland 1992
Switzerland in the World
Switzerland - Introduction 1992
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.
Switzerland - Geography 1992
top of pageLocation
Geographic coordinates
Map reference
Area
Total: 41,290 km²
Land: 39,770 km²
Comparative: slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries: 1,852 km total; Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Coastline: none - landlocked
Maritime claims: none - landlocked
Disputes: none
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
Elevation
Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use
Land use: arable land: 10%; permanent crops: 1%; meadows and pastures 40%; forest and woodland 26%; other 23%; includes irrigated 1%
Irrigated land
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
Natural hazards
Geography
Switzerland - People 1992
top of pagePopulation: 6,828,023 (July 1992), growth rate 0.6% (1992)
Nationality: noun - Swiss (singular and plural; adjective - Swiss
Ethnic groups:
total population - German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%; Swiss nationals - German 74%, French 20%,
Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1%
Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1%
Languages:
total population - German 65%, French 18%, Italian 12%,
Romansch 1%, other 4%; Swiss nationals - German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%,
Romansch 1%, other 1%
Romansch 1%, other 4%; Swiss nationals - German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%,
Romansch 1%, other 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 47.6%, Protestant 44.3%, other 8.1% (1980)
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
Dependency ratios
Median age
Population growth rate
Birth rate: 12 births/1000 population (1992)
Death rate: 9 deaths/1000 population (1992)
Net migration rate: 3 migrants/1000 population (1992)
Population distribution
Urbanization
Major urban areas
Environment
Current issues: dominated by Alps
Current issues note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe
Air pollutants
Sex ratio
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth: 76 years male, 83 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1992)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
Drinking water source
Current health expenditure
Physicians density
Hospital bed density
Sanitation facility access
Hiv/Aids
Major infectious diseases
Obesity adult prevalence rate
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
Education expenditures
Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Youth unemployment
Switzerland - Government 1992
top 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
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 areas
Independence: 1 August 1291
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss
Confederation, 1 August (1291)
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 participation
Citizenship
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Council of States:
last held throughout 1991 (next to be held NA 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (46 total) FDP 18, CVP 16,
SVP 4, SPS 3, LPS 3, LdU 1, Ticino League 1
SVP 4, SPS 3, LPS 3, LdU 1, Ticino League 1
National Council:
last held 20 October 1991 (next to be held NA October 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (200 total) FDP 44,
SPS 42, CVP 37, SVP 25, GPS 14, LPS 10, AP 8, LdU 6, SD 5, EVP 3, PdA 2,
Ticino League 2, other 2
SPS 42, CVP 37, SVP 25, GPS 14, LPS 10, AP 8, LdU 6, SD 5, EVP 3, PdA 2,
Ticino League 2, other 2
Communists: 4,500 members (est.)
Executive branch:
president, vice president, Federal Council (German -
Bundesrat, French - Conseil Federal, Italian - Consiglio Federale)
Bundesrat, French - Conseil Federal, Italian - Consiglio Federale)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly (German -
Bundesversammlung, French - Assemblee Federale, Italian - Assemblea
Federale) consists of an upper council or Council of States (German -
Standerat, French - Conseil des Etats, Italian - Consiglio degli Stati) and a lower council or National Council (German - Nationalrat, French - Conseil
National, Italian - Consiglio Nazionale)
Bundesversammlung, French - Assemblee Federale, Italian - Assemblea
Federale) consists of an upper council or Council of States (German -
Standerat, French - Conseil des Etats, Italian - Consiglio degli Stati) and a lower council or National Council (German - Nationalrat, French - Conseil
National, Italian - Consiglio Nazionale)
Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders
International organization participation:
AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, CSCE, EBRD,
ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IEA,
IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LORCS, NAM (guest), NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN (observer), UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IEA,
IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LORCS, NAM (guest), NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN (observer), UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
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
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 Joseph B. GILDENHORN; Embassy at Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3,005 Bern; telephone 41 (31) 437-011; FAX 41 (31) 437-344; there is a
Branch Office of the Embassy in Geneva and a Consulate General in Zurich
Branch Office of the Embassy in Geneva and a Consulate General in Zurich
Diplomatic representation
Flag description
: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flagNational symbols
National anthem
National heritage
Switzerland - Economy 1992
top of pageEconomy overview:
Switzerland's economic success is matched in few other nations. Per capita output, general living standards, education and science, health care, and diet are unsurpassed in Europe. Economic stability helps promote the important banking and tourist sectors. Since World War II,
Switzerland's economy has adjusted smoothly to the great changes in output and trade patterns in Europe and presumably can adjust to the challenges of the 1990s, particularly to the further economic integration of Western
Europe and the amazingly rapid changes in East European political and economic prospects. After 8 years of growth, the economy experienced a mild recession in 1991 because monetary policy was tightened to combat inflation and because of the weak international economy. In the second half of 1992, however, Switzerland is expected to resume growth, despite inflation and unemployment problems. GDP growth for 1992 may be just under 1%, inflation should drop from 5.9% to 3.5%, and the trade deficit will continue to decline after dropping by over 15% to $5 billion, due to increased exports to Germany. Unemployment, however, is forecast to rise to 1.6% in 1992, up from 1.3% in 1991 and 0.5% in 1990.
Switzerland's economy has adjusted smoothly to the great changes in output and trade patterns in Europe and presumably can adjust to the challenges of the 1990s, particularly to the further economic integration of Western
Europe and the amazingly rapid changes in East European political and economic prospects. After 8 years of growth, the economy experienced a mild recession in 1991 because monetary policy was tightened to combat inflation and because of the weak international economy. In the second half of 1992, however, Switzerland is expected to resume growth, despite inflation and unemployment problems. GDP growth for 1992 may be just under 1%, inflation should drop from 5.9% to 3.5%, and the trade deficit will continue to decline after dropping by over 15% to $5 billion, due to increased exports to Germany. Unemployment, however, is forecast to rise to 1.6% in 1992, up from 1.3% in 1991 and 0.5% in 1990.
GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $147.4 billion, per capita $21,700; real growth rate -0.2% (1991 est.)
Real gdp purchasing power parity
Real gdp growth rate
Real gdp per capita
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture 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: growth rate 0.4% (1991 est.)
Labor force: 3,310,000; 904,095 foreign workers, mostly Italian; services 50%, industry and crafts 33%, government 10%, agriculture and forestry 6%, other 1% (1989)
Organized labor: 20% of labor force
Labor force
Unemployment rate: 1.3% (1991)
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Distribution of family income gini index
Budget: revenues $24.0 billion; expenditures $23.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990)
Taxes and other revenues
Public debt
Revenue
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices
Central bank discount rate
Commercial bank prime lending rate
Stock of narrow money
Stock of broad money
Stock of domestic credit
Market value of publicly traded shares
Current account balance
Exports: $62.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
Commodoties: machinery and equipment, precision instruments, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles and clothing
Partners: Western Europe 64% (EC 56%, other 8%), US 9%, Japan 4%
Imports: $68.5 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
Commodoties: agricultural products, machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, textiles, construction materials
Partners: Western Europe 78% (EC 71%, other 7%), US 6%
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt external
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.4037 (January 1992), 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990), 1.6359 (1989), 1.4633 (1988), 1.4912 (1987)
Switzerland - Energy 1992
top of pageElectricity
Production: 17,710,000 kW capacity; 59,070 million kWh produced, 8,930 kWh per capita (1991)
Coal
Petroleum
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Natural gas
Carbon dioxide emissions
Energy consumption per capita
Switzerland - Communication 1992
top of pageTelephones
Telephone system
Broadcast media
Internet
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Switzerland - Military 1992
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Percent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $4.6 billion, about 2% of GDP (1990)
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation
Space program
Terrorist groups
Switzerland - Transportation 1992
top of pageNational air transport system
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Airports:
66 total, 65 usable; 42 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 5
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 18
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 18
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Heliports
Pipelines: crude oil 314 km, natural gas 1,506 km
Railways
Roadways
Waterways:
65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to
Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes
Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes
Merchant marine:
22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 325,234
GRT/576,953 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 chemical tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 9 bulk, 1 petroleum tanker
GRT/576,953 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 chemical tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 9 bulk, 1 petroleum tanker
Civil air: 89 major transport aircraft
Ports and terminals
Switzerland - Transnational issues 1992
top of pageDisputes international
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs