The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland’s sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland’s role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland’s ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
land: 39,997 sq km
water: 1,280 sq km
border countries (5): Austria 158 km; France 525 km; Italy 698 km; Liechtenstein 41 km; Germany 348 km
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
mean elevation: 1,350 m
arable land: 10.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 27.9% (2018 est.)
forest: 31.5% (2018 est.)
other: 29.8% (2018 est.)
8,563,760 (2023 est.)
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
adjective: Swiss
Swiss 69.2%, German 4.2%, Italian 3.2%, Portuguese 2.5%, French 2.1%, Kosovan 1.1%, Turkish 1%, other 16.7% (2020 est.)
note: data represent permanent and non-permanent resident population by country of birth
German (or Swiss German) (official) 62.1%, French (official) 22.8%, Italian (official) 8%, English 5.7%, Portuguese 3.5%, Albanian 3.3%, Serbo-Croatian 2.3%, Spanish 2.3%, Romansh (official) 0.5%, other 7.9%; note - German, French, Italian, and Romansh are all national and official languages; shares sum to more than 100% because respondents could indicate more than one main language (2019 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German)
The World Factbook, une source indispensable d’informations de base. (French)
L’Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l’indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Roman Catholic 34.4%, Protestant 22.5%, other Christian 5.7%, Muslim 5.4%, other 1.5%, none 29.4%, unspecified 1.1% (2020 est.)
0-14 years: 15.49% (male 683,053/female 643,067)
15-64 years: 65.13% (male 2,800,880/female 2,777,109)
65 years and over: 19.38% (2023 est.) (male 745,501/female 914,150)
total dependency ratio: 51.6
youth dependency ratio: 22.8
elderly dependency ratio: 28.7
potential support ratio: 3.5 (2021 est.)
total: 44 years (2023 est.)
male: 43.3 years
female: 44.8 years
0.78% (2023 est.)
10.2 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
population distribution corresponds to elevation with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement
urban population: 74.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
1.432 million Zurich, 441,000 BERN (capital) (2023)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
31.1 years (2020 est.)
7 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
total: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.6 deaths/1,000 live births
total population: 83.8 years (2023 est.)
male: 81.9 years
female: 85.8 years
1.59 children born/woman (2023 est.)
0.77 (2023 est.)
71.6% (2017)
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
11.8% of GDP (2020)
4.38 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
4.6 beds/1,000 population (2018)
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
19.5% (2016)
total: 9.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 4.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total: 25.5% (2020 est.)
male: 28.1% (2020 est.)
female: 22.9% (2020 est.)
NA
57.5% (2023 est.)
5.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 17 years (2020)
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from agricultural fertilizers; chemical contaminants and erosion damage the soil and limit productivity; loss of biodiversity
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
agricultural land: 38.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 10.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 27.9% (2018 est.)
forest: 31.5% (2018 est.)
other: 29.8% (2018 est.)
urban population: 74.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
particulate matter emissions: 8.97 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 34.48 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 4.98 megatons (2020 est.)
municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.056 million tons (2016 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1.938 million tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 32% (2015 est.)
fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Germany and Austria) - 540 sq km; Lake Geneva (shared with France) - 580 sq km
Rhein (Rhine) river source (shared with Germany, France, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km)
municipal: 970 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 640 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 160 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
53.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
high-income, non-EU European economy; renowned banking and financial hub; extremely low unemployment; highly skilled but aging workforce; key pharmaceutical and precision manufacturing exporter; fairly high public debt
$618.228 billion (2021 est.)
$593.185 billion (2020 est.)
$607.619 billion (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
4.22% (2021 est.)
-2.38% (2020 est.)
1.14% (2019 est.)
$71,000 (2021 est.)
$68,700 (2020 est.)
$70,900 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
$731.502 billion (2019 est.)
0.58% (2021 est.)
-0.73% (2020 est.)
0.36% (2019 est.)
Fitch rating: AAA (2000)
Moody’s rating: Aaa (1982)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1988)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
agriculture: 0.7% (2017 est.)
industry: 25.6% (2017 est.)
services: 73.7% (2017 est.)comparison rankings:
household consumption: 53.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 12% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 24.5% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -1.4% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 65.1% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -54% (2017 est.)
milk, sugar beet, wheat, potatoes, pork, barley, apples, maize, beef, grapes
machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals
7.91% (2021 est.)
4.963 million (2021 est.)
5.32% (2021 est.)
4.82% (2020 est.)
4.39% (2019 est.)
total: 9.1% (2021 est.)
male: 9.4%
female: 8.8%
16% (2018 est.)
33.1 (2018 est.)
on food: 9.2% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.6% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
lowest 10%: 7.5%
highest 10%: 19% (2007)
revenues: $239.767 billion (2018 est.)
expenditures: $230.383 billion (2018 est.)
note: includes federal, cantonal, and municipal budgets
1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
20.91% of GDP (2020 est.)
18.95% of GDP (2019 est.)
18.68% of GDP (2018 est.)
note: general government gross debt; gross debt consists of all liabilities that require payment or payments of interest and/or principal by the debtor to the creditor at a date or dates in the future; includes debt liabilities in the form of Special Drawing Rights, currency and deposits, debt securities, loans, insurance, pensions and standardized guarantee schemes, and other accounts payable; all liabilities in the Government Financial Systems Manual 2001 system are debt, except for equity and investment fund shares and financial derivatives and employee stock options
9.37% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
calendar year
$59.159 billion (2021 est.)
$11.067 billion (2020 est.)
$30.806 billion (2019 est.)
$571.376 billion (2021 est.) ; note - data are in current year dollars
$474.236 billion (2020 est.) ; note - data are in current year dollars
$478.505 billion (2019 est.) ; note - data are in current year dollars
note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland
Germany 16%, United States 14%, United Kingdom 8%, China 7%, France 6%, India 6%, Italy 5% (2019)
gold, packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, watches, jewelry (2019)
$480.522 billion (2021 est.) ; note - data are in current year dollars
$429.979 billion (2020 est.) ; note - data are in current year dollars
$413.404 billion (2019 est.) ; note - data are in current year dollars
Germany 21%, Italy 8%, France 6%, United States 6%, United Kingdom 5%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)
gold, packaged medicines, jewelry, cars, medical cultures/vaccines (2019)
$1.11 trillion (31 December 2021 est.)
$1.083 trillion (31 December 2020 est.)
$854.929 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
$1.909 trillion (2019 est.)
$1.931 trillion (2018 est.)
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.914 (2021 est.)
0.939 (2020 est.)
0.994 (2019 est.)
0.978 (2018 est.)
0.985 (2017 est.)
electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
installed generating capacity: 22.921 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 56.407 billion kWh (2020 est.)
exports: 32.549 billion kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 26.988 billion kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 4.19 billion kWh (2020 est.)comparison rankings:
fossil fuels: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 34.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 56.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 4.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2023)
Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 0
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 2.97GW (2023)
Percent of total electricity production: 28.8% (2021)
Percent of total energy produced: 34.2% (2021)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 1
production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 150,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 139,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
total petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 220,000 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 60,900 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
61,550 bbl/day (2017 est.)
7,345 bbl/day (2017 est.)
165,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)
production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 3,616,169,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 3,577,884,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
38.739 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 319,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 31.494 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 6.926 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
137.918 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 179
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 28,857,994 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,841,310,000 (2018) mt-km
HB
63 (2021)
40
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
23
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
2 (2021)
1,800 km gas, 94 km oil (of which 60 are inactive), 17 km refined products (2017)
total: 5,296 km (2020) 5,296 km electrified; Switzerland remains the only country with a fully electrified network
total: 71,557 km (2017)
paved: 71,557 km (2017) (includes 1,458 of expressways)
1,292 km (2010) (there are 1,227 km of waterways on lakes and rivers for public transport and 65 km on the Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee for commercial goods transport)
total: 20 (2022)
by type: bulk carrier 16, general cargo 1, other 3 (includes Liechtenstein)
river port(s): Basel (Rhine)
manyapis