Switzerland

Federal Republic (Formally A Confederation)Pop9.1MGDP (PPP)$741.0BCI87Beta CP0.0→Beta

Some figures reconciled across multiple sources via Civica's methodology (v0.2 BETA). Methodology →

Switzerland

⌘K

Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land: 39,997 sq km
Water: 1,280 sq km
Total: 41,277 sq km

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

Land Use

Other: 32.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 32% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 37.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.)

Location: Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

Lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
Highest point: Dufourspitze on Monte Rosa 4,634 m
Mean elevation: 1,350 m

Irrigated land: 494 sq km (2020)
Map references: Europe

Land Boundaries

Total: 1,770 km
Border countries: Austria 158 km; France 525 km; Italy 698 km; Liechtenstein 41 km; Germany 348 km

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Natural hazards: avalanches, landslides; flash floods
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
Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt
Area comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 8 00 E
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

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

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)

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

People & Society

Languages

Note: note: shares sum to more than 100% because respondents could indicate more than one main language
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.)
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.

Religions: 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.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 10.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.61 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 43.5 years
Total: 44.4 years (2025 est.)
Female: 44.9 years

Population

Male: 4,436,858
Total: 8,925,741 (2025 est.)
Female: 4,488,883

Nationality

Noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
Adjective: Swiss

Tobacco Use

Male: 25.5% (2025 est.)
Total: 22.8% (2025 est.)
Female: 20.1% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 74.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 15.1% (male 685,221/female 650,802)
15 64 years: 64.6% (male 2,887,767/female 2,834,842)
65 years and over: 20.3% (2024 est.) (male 830,117/female 971,825)

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.)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 55.8 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 23.5 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 32.3 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 4.48 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 11.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 12.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: 5.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 4.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.4% national budget (2022 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 0.72% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.78 (2025 est.)
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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 82 years
Female: 85.8 years
Total population: 83.9 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 3.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 4.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 9.41 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.)

Major urban areas population: 1.432 million Zurich, 441,000 BERN (capital) (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 19.5% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.1 years (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 57.5% (2022 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 17 years (2023 est.)
Total: 17 years (2023 est.)
Female: 17 years (2023 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

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)

Capital

Name: Bern
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"
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Geographic coordinates: 46 55 N, 7 28 E

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Citizenship BY birth: no
Citizenship BY descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Switzerland
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 12 years including at least 3 of the last 5 years prior to application

Constitution

History: previous 1848, 1874; latest adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, effective 1 January 2000
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

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
Abbreviation: CH
Local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German)/ Confederation Suisse (French)/ Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)/ Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh)
Local short form: Schweiz (German)/ Suisse (French)/ Svizzera (Italian)/ Svizra (Romansh)
Conventional long form: Swiss Confederation
Conventional short form: Switzerland

Independence: 1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts, except federal decrees of a general obligatory character
Government type: federal republic (formally a confederation)

Judicial Branch

Note: note: each of Switzerland's 26 cantons has its own courts
Highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of 38 justices and 19 deputy justices organized into 7 divisions)
Subordinate courts: Federal Criminal Court (established in 2004); Federal Administrative Court (established in 2007)
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

Executive Branch

Note: note: the Federal Council, composed of 7 federal councilors, constitutes the federal government of Switzerland; council members rotate the 1-year term of federal president
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
Chief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2026)
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
Head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2026)
Most recent election date: 11 December 2024
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
Expected date of next election: December 2025

National holiday: Founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291
National color(s): red, white

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites: 13 (9 cultural, 4 natural)
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)

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)

Legislative Branch

Legislature name: Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale)
Legislative structure: bicameral

National Anthem(s)

Title: the Swiss anthem has four names: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm)
History: adopted 1981; all four of the versions (German, French, Italian, Romansch) are considered official
Lyrics/music: Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French], Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS [Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG

National symbol(s): Swiss cross (white cross on red field)
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

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Chamber name: National Council (Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale)
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 200 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 10/22/2023
Expected date of next election: October 2027
Percentage of women in chamber: 39.5%
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)

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Chamber name: Council of States (Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati)
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 46 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: other systems
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 10/22/2023
Expected date of next election: October 2027
Percentage of women in chamber: 33.3%
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)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 387-2564
Chancery: 2900 Cathedral Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
Consulate(s): Boston
Chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph HECKNER (since 18 September 2024)
Consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Francisco
Email address and website: washington@eda.admin.ch

https://www.eda.admin.ch/washington

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [41] (031) 357-73-20
Embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern
Telephone: [41] (031) 357-70-11
Mailing address: 5110 Bern Place, Washington DC  20521-5110
Chief of mission: Ambassador Callista GINGRICH (since 23 October 2025) note - also accredited to Liechtenstein
Email address and website: https://ch.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: 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
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

SWITZERLAND · LOWER HOUSE

National Council

200 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

200

Majority line

101

Largest party

Free Democratic Party of Switzerland

Parties

All political parties16 parties · 200 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Upper house

SWITZERLAND · UPPER HOUSE

Council of States

46 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

Free Democratic Party of Switzerland

Parties

All political parties11 parties · 46 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

SC
Swiss Federal Council
- Head of StateDate unknown
- Head of GovernmentDate unknown

Economy

Budget

Note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $153.795 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $152.488 billion (2023 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $675.8B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022: $628.737 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $654.175 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $675.059 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $580.1B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2022: $518.002 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $556.351 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $582.554 billion (2024 est.)

Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals
Labor force: 5.153 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 23.1%

Note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2023: 19.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 0.939 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 0.914 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 0.955 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 0.898 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 0.88 (2024 est.)

Economic overview: high-income, non-EU European economy; top ten in GDP per capita; renowned banking and financial hub; low unemployment and inflation; slowed GDP growth post-pandemic; highly skilled but aging workforce; key pharmaceutical and precision manufacturing exporter; leader in innovation and competitiveness indices

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 4.9%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 4.2% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: Germany 14%, China 12%, USA 11%, Italy 5%, Turkey 5% (2023)
Imports partners: Germany 17%, USA 9%, Italy 8%, France 6%, China 5% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $96,498

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $82,800 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $82,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $82,000 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 1.3%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.3% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: milk, sugar beets, wheat, potatoes, pork, apples, barley, beef, maize, grapes (2023)
Exports commodities: gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, nitrogen compounds, base metal watches (2023)
Imports commodities: gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, cars, jewelry (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): $86.2B

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2022: $72.325 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $47.455 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: $47.162 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $936.564 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 51.1% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 11.3% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 25.8% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 73.3% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -62% (2023 est.)

Population below poverty line: 15.8% (2021 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

On food: 9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 0.1%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.1% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: 1.7% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $741.035 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $726.544 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $731.508 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $741.035 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 8.3% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 7.9% (2024 est.)
Female: 7.5% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $923.628 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $863.892 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $909.366 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 24.7% (2024 est.)
Services: 72% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 0.6% (2024 est.)

Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%: 3% (2021 est.)
Highest 10%: 26.6% (2021 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2021: 33.8 (2021 est.)

Energy

Coal

Exports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 156,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 126,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Total petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 194,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Electricity

Exports: 33.856 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 27.462 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Consumption: 55.643 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 26.502 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 4.81 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Imports: 2.869 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 2.915 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Nuclear Energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025)
Percent of total electricity production: 32.4% (2023 est.)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 2.97GW (2025 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 2 (2025)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 99.578 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Solar: 6.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear: 34.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 53% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Biomass and waste: 4.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)

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)
Internet country code: .ch

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 3.003 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2023 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 11.6 million (2024 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2024 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 4.33 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2023 est.)

Transport

Airports: 66 (2025)

Railways

Total: 5,296 km (2020) 5,296 km electrified; Switzerland remains the only country with a fully electrified network

Heliports: 52 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 17 (2023)
BY type: bulk carrier 14, general cargo 1, other 2 (includes Liechtenstein)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HB

Environment

Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers

Land Use

Other: 32.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 32% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 37.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 74.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.08 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 30.1% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from agricultural fertilizers; soil pollution from chemical contaminants; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 930 million cubic meters (2022)
Industrial: 642.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 160.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 33.306 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 5.583 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 195,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 27.528 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 53.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Military & 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 deployments: 200 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025)

Military Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 0.7%

Military expenditures 2020: 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures 2021: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military and security forces: Swiss Armed Forces (aka Swiss Army or Schweizer Armee); Army (aka Land Forces), Swiss Air Force (2025)
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)
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 service personnel strengths: approximately 145,000 Swiss Armed Forces (2024)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps: 97 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 213,177 (2024 est.)
Stateless persons: 1,267 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index87.0 / 100as of 2024-Q44 / 190−1.02024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.85as of 2024-Q43 / 170−0.002024-Q4

Freedom House StatusFree (100/100)as of 2024-Q4—−1.02024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Free press (85/100)as of 2024—2024

Human Development Index0.967as of 2022—2022

Corruption Perceptions Index82 / 100as of 20236 / 1802023

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Switzerland — vintage 2026-Q1: Switzerland factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/switzerland

Download as JSON

Sources: Eurostat, FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), OECD.Stat, UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Switzerland

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Major Lakes (Area Sq Km)

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

Languages

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco Use

Urbanization

Age Structure

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Education Expenditure

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

National Heritage

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

National Council

Council of States

Current

Swiss Federal Council

Budget

Exports

Imports

Public Debt

Remittances

Exchange Rates

Unemployment Rate

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

Current Account Balance

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Average Household Expenditures

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Household Income or Consumption BY Percentage Share

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Natural Gas

Nuclear Energy

Electricity Access

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Electricity Generation Sources

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Railways

Merchant Marine

Land Use

Urbanization

Waste and Recycling

Total Water Withdrawal

Carbon Dioxide Emissions