Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
49 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
4.33 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
publicly owned Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SSR) has 8 national TV networks, 3 broadcasting in German, 3 in French, and 2 in Italian; private commercial TV stations broadcast regionally and locally; German, Italian, and French TV broadcasts widely available via multi-channel cable and satellite TV; SRG/SSR has 17 radio stations (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.ch
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
97.32% (2025 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
34 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
3.003 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
129 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
11.6 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
milk, sugar beets, wheat, potatoes, pork, apples, barley, beef, maize, grapes (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$152.488 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$153.795 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$72.585 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$54.183 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
$63.807 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$49.729 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$36.967 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$44.398 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$29.633 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$3.319 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$62.547 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$72.325 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$47.455 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$47.162 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
0.880441 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
0.926904 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
0.916151 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
0.962381 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
0.985394 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
0.984692 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
0.977892 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
0.993709 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
0.938965 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
0.913846 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
0.954832 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
0.898490 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
0.880441 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, nitrogen compounds, base metal watches (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$475.707 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$474.700 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$443.048 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$459.636 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$461.255 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$489.601 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$483.068 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$475.589 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$579.842 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$628.737 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$654.175 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$675.059 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
73.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
11.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
51.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-62% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
25.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
0.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
24.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
72% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$96,498 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$936.564 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$869.018 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
32.3 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
33.0 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
32.7 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
33.1 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
34.0 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
33.7 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
33.8 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
33.8 (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
26.6% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, cars, jewelry (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$330.730 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$370.031 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$390.368 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$398.165 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$413.214 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$412.351 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$428.063 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$480.193 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$518.002 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$556.351 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$582.554 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
1.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
-1.14% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
-0.43% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
0.53% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
0.94% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
0.36% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-0.73% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
0.58% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
2.84% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.14% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.06% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
5.153 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
15.80% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
20.22% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
20.61% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
19.38% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
20.28% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
18.68% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
18.95% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
20.85% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2021
19.94% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2022
17.59% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
19.88% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$519.300 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$540.551 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$563.951 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$576.361 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$632.275 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$630.567 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$705.081 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$726.544 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$731.508 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$741.035 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
1.64% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
2.07% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
1.36% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
2.86% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
1.14% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-2.14% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
5.56% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
3.04% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
0.68% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.30% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$63,417 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$65,265 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$67,351 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$68,194 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$73,732 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$72,998 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$81,001 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$94,421 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$95,142 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$2.694 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$2.693 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$2.750 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$3.108 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$3.214 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$602.403 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$678.910 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$811.031 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$787.021 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$854.929 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$1.083 trillion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$1.110 trillion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$923.628 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$863.892 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$909.366 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
4.39% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
4.82% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
5.01% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
4.12% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
4.04% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
4.34% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
7.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
8.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
7.9% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
126,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
156,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
4.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
53% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: nuclear
34.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
6.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
55.643 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
33.856 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
27.462 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
26.502 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
4.81 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
99.578 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
2.915 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
2.869 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors
2.97GW (2025 est.)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down
2 (2025)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Number of operational nuclear reactors
4 (2025)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Percent of total electricity production
32.4% (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
194,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
300 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
195,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
5.583 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
27.528 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
33.306 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Environment: Environmental issues
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from agricultural fertilizers; soil pollution from chemical contaminants; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity
Environment: International environmental agreements: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
37.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 10% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
32% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
32.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
53.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
160.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
642.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
930 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
85.46% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
6.08 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
30.1% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Geography: Area: land
39,997 sq km
Geography: Area: water
1,280 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Dufourspitze on Monte Rosa 4,634 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Lake Maggiore 195 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
1,350 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
47 00 N, 8 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps
Geography: Irrigated land
494 sq km (2020)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Austria 158 km; France 525 km; Italy 698 km; Liechtenstein 41 km; Germany 348 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,770 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
37.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 10% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
32% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
32.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): fresh water lake(s)
Lake Constance (shared with Germany and Austria) - 540 sq km; Lake Geneva (shared with France) - 580 sq km
Geography: Major rivers (by length in 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
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): 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)
Geography: Map references
Europe
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
avalanches, landslides; flash floods
Geography: Population distribution
population distribution corresponds to elevation, with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement
Geography: Terrain
mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Government: Administrative divisions
26 cantons ( cantons , singular - canton in French; cantoni , singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone , singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Berne/Bern, Fribourg/Freiburg, Genève (Geneva), Glarus, Graubuenden/Grigioni/Grischun, Jura, Luzern (Lucerne), Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais/Wallis, Vaud, Zug, Zuerich
Government: Capital: daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Government: Capital: etymology
the origin of the name is uncertain; it is sometimes associated with the German word Baer (bear), but a more likely origin is an Indo-European root word ber , meaning "marshy place"
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
46 55 N, 7 28 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Switzerland
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
12 years including at least 3 of the last 5 years prior to application
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the two houses of the Federal Assembly or by petition of at least one hundred thousand voters (called the "federal popular initiative"); passage of proposals requires majority vote in a referendum; following drafting of an amendment by the Assembly, its passage requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and approval by the majority of cantons
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1848, 1874; latest adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, effective 1 January 2000
Government: Country name: abbreviation
CH
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Switzerland
Government: Country name: etymology
name derives from the canton of Schwyz, one of the founding cantons of the Swiss Confederacy formed in the late 13th century
Government: Country name: local long form
Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German)/ Confederation Suisse (French)/ Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)/ Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh)
Government: Country name: local short form
Schweiz (German)/ Suisse (French)/ Svizzera (Italian)/ Svizra (Romansh)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Callista GINGRICH (since 23 October 2025) note - also accredited to Liechtenstein
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
https://ch.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[41] (031) 357-73-20
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
5110 Bern Place, Washington DC 20521-5110
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[41] (031) 357-70-11
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2900 Cathedral Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Ralph HECKNER (since 18 September 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s)
Boston
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Francisco
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
washington@eda.admin.ch https://www.eda.admin.ch/washington
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 387-2564
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 745-7900
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) indirectly elected by the Federal Assembly for a 4-year term
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President of the Swiss Confederation Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2026)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2024: Karin KELLER-SUTTER elected president for 2025; Federal Assembly vote - Karin KELLER-SUTTER (FDP.The Liberals) 168 of 203; Guy PARLEMIN (SVP) elected vice president for 2025; Federal Assembly vote - 196 of 219 2023: Viola AMHERD elected president for 2024; Federal Assembly vote - Viola AMHERD (The Center) 158 of 204; Karin KELLER-SUTTER (FDP.The Liberals) elected vice president for 2024; Federal Assembly vote - 138 of 196 2022: Alain BERSET elected president for 2023; Federal Assembly vote - Alain BERSET (SP) 140 OF 181; Viola AMHERD elected vice president; Federal assembly vote - 207 of 223
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
December 2025
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President of the Swiss Confederation Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2026)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
11 December 2024
Government: Flag
description: red square with an equal-armed white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag history: the origin of the flag is unclear, but a white cross was used to identify Swiss Confederation troops at the Battle of Laupen (1339)
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Federal Supreme Court (consists of 38 justices and 19 deputy justices organized into 7 divisions)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
judges elected by the Federal Assembly for 6-year terms; judges are affiliated with political parties and are elected according to linguistic and regional criteria in approximate proportion to party representation in the Federal Assembly
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Federal Criminal Court (established in 2004); Federal Administrative Court (established in 2007)
Government: Legal system
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts, except federal decrees of a general obligatory character
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
National Council (Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
October 2027
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
10/22/2023
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
200 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) (62); Socialist Party (SP/PS) (41); Centre Party (29); FDP/The Liberals (FDP/PLR) (28); Green Party (GPS/PES) (23); Liberal Green Party (GLP/PVL) (10); Other (7)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
39.5%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Council of States (Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: electoral system
other systems
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
October 2027
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
10/22/2023
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
46 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Centre Party (15); FDP/The Liberals (FDP/PLR) (11); Socialist Party (SP/PS) (9); Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) (6); Green Party (GPS/PES) (3); Other (2)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
33.3%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1981; all four of the versions (German, French, Italian, Romansch) are considered official
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French], Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS [Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG
Government: National color(s)
red, white
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Old City of Berne (c); Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch (n); Monte San Giorgio (n); Abbey of St Gall (c); Three Castles, Defensive Wall, and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona (c); Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Landscapes (c); La Chaux-de-Fonds/Le Locle, Watchmaking Town Planning (c); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Benedictine Convent of St John at Müstair (c); Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
13 (9 cultural, 4 natural)
Government: National holiday
Founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291
Government: National symbol(s)
Swiss cross (white cross on red field)
Government: Political parties
The Center (Die Mitte, Alleanza del Centro, Le Centre, Allianza dal Center) (merger of the Christian Democratic People's Party and the Conservative Democratic Party) Evangelical Peoples' Party or EVP/PEV Federal Democrats or EDU Geneva Citizens Movement or MCR/MCG Green Liberal Party (Gruenliberale Partei or GLP, Parti vert liberale or PVL, Partito Verde-Liberale or PVL, Partida Verde Liberale or PVL) Green Party (Gruene Partei der Schweiz or Gruene, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) The Liberals or FDP.The Liberals (FDP.Die Liberalen, PLR.Les Liberaux-Radicaux, PLR.I Liberali, Ils Liberals) Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SP, Parti Socialiste Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica di Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC)
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
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, which was modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. The major European powers have long honored Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality, and the country was not involved in either World War. 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.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Swiss military is responsible for territorial defense, limited support to international disaster response and peacekeeping, and providing support to civil authorities when their resources are not sufficient to ward off threats to internal security or provide sufficient relief during disasters; Switzerland has long maintained a policy of military neutrality but does periodically participate in EU, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and UN military and peacekeeping operations; however, Swiss units will only participate in operations under the mandate of the UN or OSCE; Switzerland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1996; it has contributed to the NATO-led force in Kosovo (KFOR) since 1999 (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Swiss Armed Forces (aka Swiss Army or Schweizer Armee); Army (aka Land Forces), Swiss Air Force (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 145,000 Swiss Armed Forces (2024)
Military and Security: Military deployments
200 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported European and US weapons systems; the Swiss defense industry produces a range of military land vehicles (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.65% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.66% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.67% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.65% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.70% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.77% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.67% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.68% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.71% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.72% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
every Swiss man 18-30 is obligated to serve in the military or the alternative civilian service; women can serve on a voluntary basis; required military service is 245 days, including 18-21 weeks of basic training generally between the ages of 19-25, followed by six three-week recalls for refresher training over the following nine years; the system offers opportunities for conscripts to train as non-commissioned and commissioned officers in the militia with longer service commitments (2026)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
15.1% (male 685,221/female 650,802)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
64.6% (male 2,887,767/female 2,834,842)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
20.3% (2024 est.) (male 830,117/female 971,825)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
3.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
1.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
9.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
4.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
10.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
11.69% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
57.5% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
8.61 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
32.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
3.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
55.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
23.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
15.4% national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.86% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.78 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
11.8% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
12.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.20% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
4.4 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
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% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Languages: 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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
86.2 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
82.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1.432 million Zurich, 441,000 BERN (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
44.9 years
People and Society: Median age: male
43.5 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
31.1 years (2020 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Swiss
People and Society: Net migration rate
5.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
19.5% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
4.48 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
9,005,582 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
population distribution corresponds to elevation, with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.72% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
4,488,883
People and Society: Population: male
4,436,858
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
17 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
17 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
17 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.85 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
20.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
25.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
22.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.29 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
85.46% (2024 est.)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
97 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
213,177 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
1,267 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
66 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
HB
Transportation: Heliports
52 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 14, general cargo 1, other 2 (includes Liechtenstein)
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
17 (2023)
Transportation: Railways: total
5,296 km (2020) 5,296 km electrified; Switzerland remains the only country with a fully electrified network
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.