Statistical information Switzerland 1998

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 pageLocation: Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 8 00 E
Map reference:
EuropeAreaTotal: 41,290 km²
Land: 39,770 km²
Water: 1,520 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundariesTotal: 1,852 km
Border countries: (5) Austria 164 km;
, France 573 km;
, Italy 740 km;
, Liechtenstein 41 km;
, Germany 334 kmCoastline: 0 km (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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
Extremes highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land useArable land: 10%
Permanent crops: 2%
Permanent pastures: 28%
Forests and woodland: 32%
Other: 28% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 250 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: avalanches, landslides, flash floods
GeographyNote: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest elevations in Europe
top of pagePopulation: 7,260,357 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 0.22% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: Swiss (singular and plural)
Adjective: Swiss
Ethnic groups: total population_German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Note: Swiss nationals_German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1%
Languages: German 63.7%, French 19.2%, Italian 7.6%, Romansch 0.6%, other 8.9%
Note: figures for Swiss nationals only:German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, no religion 8.9% (1990)
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 17% (male 642,365; female 613,931)
15-64 years: 68% (male 2,506,653; female 2,415,647)
65 years and over: 15% (male 436,804; female 644,957) (July 1998 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.22% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 10.81 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 9.03 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.42 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 4.92 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 78.88 years
Male: 75.71 years
Female: 82.22 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (1998 est.)
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 expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99% (1980 est.)
Male: NA%
Female: NA%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Swiss Confederation
Conventional short form: Switzerland
Local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German), Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)
Local short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera (Italian)
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: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Flavio COTTI (since 1 January 1998); Vice President Ruth DREIFUSS (since 1 January 1998); note_the president is both the chief of state and head of government: ead of
Government: President Flavio COTTI (since 1 January 1998); Vice President Ruth DREIFUSS (since 1 January 1998); note_the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Federal Council or German_Bundesrat, French_Conseil Federal, Italian - Consiglio Federale elected by the Federal Assembly from among its own members for a four-year term
Elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-year terms that run concurrently; election last held 10 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 1998)
Election results: Flavio COTTI elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote_Flavio COTTI 90%; Ruth DREIFUSS elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - Ruth DREIFUSS 69%
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or German_Bundesversammlung, French_Assemblee Federale, Italian_Assemblea Federale consists of the Council of States or German_Standerat, French_Conseil des Etats, Italian_Consiglio degli Stati (46 seats; members are elected two from each canton and one from each half canton to serve four-year terms) and the National Council or German - Nationalrat, French_Conseil National, Italian_Consiglio Nazionale (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
Elections: Council of States_last held throughout 1997 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council_last held 20 October 1995 (next to be held probably 24 October 1999)
Election results: Council of States_percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party - FDP 17, CVP 16, SVP 5, SPS 5, LPS 2, LdU 1; National Council_percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_FDP 45, SPS 54, CVP 34, SVP 29, Greens 9, LPS 7, FPS 7, LdU 3, EVP 2, SD 3, PdAdS 3, Ticino League 1, EDU 1, FRAP 1, CSP 1
Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court, judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Alfred DEFAGO (since April 1997)
In the us chancery: 2,900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 745-7,900
In the us fax: [1] (202) 387-2,564
In the us consulates general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Madeleine May KUNIN (since 8 August 1996)
From the us embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3,005 Bern
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address
From the us telephone: [41] (31) 357 70 11
From the us fax: [41] (31) 357 73 44
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: Switzerland, a fundamentally prosperous and stable modern economy with a per capita GDP roughly 10% above that of the big West European economies, is experiencing continued economic difficulties. GDP growth was a minus 0.2% in 1996 and a weak plus 0.4% in 1997. Weak domestic consumer demand is partly at fault; stagnating real disposable income combines with a reluctance to reduce saving rates in the face of an uncertain employment outlook. Switzerland's leading sectors, including financial services, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and special-purpose machines, therefore are more reliant on export markets. Exports should lead an upturn in Swiss economic performance in 1998-99, provided the franc does not appreciate substantially as a result of Swiss monetary policy or instability in the run up to EMU.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 0.4% (1997 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $23,800 (1997 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 2.8%
Industry: 31.1%
Services: 66.1% (1995)
Agriculture products: grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Industrial production growth rate: 0% (1996)
Labor forceTotal: 3.8 million (850,000 foreign workers, mostly Italian)
By occupation services: 67%
By occupation manufacturing and construction: 29%
By occupation agriculture and forestry: 4% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 5% (1997 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $25.8 billion
Expenditures: $30.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.3 billion (1997)
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: total value:$99.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Commodoties: machinery 29%, chemicals 26%, metals 8%, agricultural products 4% (1996)
Partners: EU countries 61%, US 9%, Japan 4% (1996)
Imports: total value:$86.6 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Commodoties: machinery 22%, chemicals 20%, metals 8%, agricultural products 9% (1996)
Partners: EU 79%, US 7%, Japan 3% (1996)
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 (SFR) per US$1: 1.4757 (January 1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 14.27 million kW (1995)
Production: 55 billion kWh (1996)
Consumption per capita: 6,850 kWh (1996 est.)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 5.24 million (including 663 million car-mobile phones) (1996 est.)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international services
Domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks
International: satellite earth stations_2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $3.2 billion (1997)
Percent of gdp: 1.2% (1997)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 67 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 42
With paved runways over 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 5
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 12
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6
With paved runways under 914 m: 15 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 25
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 24 (1997 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km
RailwaysTotal: 5,249 km (1,564 km double track)
Standard gauge: 3,741 km 1.435-m gauge (3,119 km electrified; 808 km nongovernment owned)
Narrow gauge: 1,438 km 1.000-m gauge (1,088 km electrified; 1,364 km nongovernment owned)
Other gauge: 70 km 0.750-m or 0.800-m gauge (1996)
RoadwaysWaterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to Bodensee; 12 navigable lakes
Merchant marineTotal: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 424,261 GRT/733,551 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 1, chemical tanker 5, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1997 est.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: because of more stringent government regulations, significantly less used as a money-laundering center; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin