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
Location
Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates
47 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total : 41,277 sq km
land: 39,997 sq km
water: 1,280 sq km
comparison ranking: total 135
Area – comparative
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 1,770 km
border countries (5): Austria 158 km; France 525 km; Italy 698 km; Liechtenstein 41 km; Germany 348 km
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain
mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Elevation
highest point: Dufourspitze on Monte Rosa 4,634 m
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
mean elevation: 1,350 m
Natural resources
hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use
agricultural land: 37.9% (2022 est.)
arable land: 10% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.6% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 27.2% (2022 est.)
forest: 32.3% (2022 est.)
other: 29.8% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
494 sq km (2020)
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 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
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)
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
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
People and Society
Population
total: 8,860,574 (2024 est.)
male: 4,403,105
female: 4,457,469
comparison rankings: total 102; female 101; male 100
Nationality
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
adjective: Swiss
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.)
note: data represent permanent and non-permanent resident population by country of birth
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.
note: shares sum to more than 100% because respondents could indicate more than one main language
German audio sample:
French audio sample:
Italian audio sample:
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.)
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)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 54.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 23.3 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 31.5 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.2 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 44.2 years (2024 est.)
male: 43.5 years
female: 44.9 years
comparison ranking: total 32
Population growth rate
0.75% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 117
Birth rate
10.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 185
Death rate
8.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 73
Net migration rate
5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 14
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
Urbanization
urban population: 74.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
1.432 million Zurich, 441,000 BERN (capital) (2023)
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
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
31.1 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
7 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 154
Infant mortality rate
total: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 209
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 83.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 82 years
female: 85.8 years
comparison ranking: total population 9
Total fertility rate
1.59 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 187
Gross reproduction rate
0.77 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
71.6% (2017)
Drinking water source
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.)
Health expenditure
11.8% of GDP (2021)
12.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
4.48 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density
4.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
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.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
19.5% (2016)
comparison ranking: 112
Alcohol consumption per capita
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.)
comparison ranking: total 30
Tobacco use
total: 22.8% (2025 est.)
male: 25.5% (2025 est.)
female: 20.1% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 49
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
57.5% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure
5.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
15.9% national budget (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 57
Literacy
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 17 years (2020)
Environment
Environment – current issues
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from agricultural fertilizers; soil pollution from chemical contaminants; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity
Environment – international 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
Climate
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Land use
agricultural land: 37.9% (2022 est.)
arable land: 10% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 0.6% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 27.2% (2022 est.)
forest: 32.3% (2022 est.)
other: 29.8% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 74.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
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.)
Waste and recycling
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.)
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 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
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)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 970 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 640 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 160 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
53.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation
conventional short form: Switzerland
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)
abbreviation: CH
etymology: name derives from the canton of Schwyz, one of the founding cantons of the Swiss Confederacy formed in the late 13th century
Government type
federal republic (formally a confederation)
Capital
name: Bern
geographic coordinates: 46 55 N, 7 28 E
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
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”
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
note 1: the names listed above are in the canton’s official language(s), with conventional names in parentheses
note 2: 6 of the cantons — Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden, Obwalden — are referred to as half cantons because they elect only one member (instead of two) to the Council of States, and in popular referendums where a majority of popular votes and cantonal votes are required, these 6 cantons have a half vote
Legal system
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts, except federal decrees of a general obligatory character
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation Karin KELLER-SUTTER (since 1 January 2025)
head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Karin KELLER-SUTTER (since 1 January 2025)
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
elections/appointments: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term; election last held on 13 December 2023 (next to be held in December 2024)
election results:
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
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
Legislative branch
legislature name: Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung – Assemblée fédérale – Assemblea federale)
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch – lower chamber
chamber name: National Council (Nationalrat – Conseil national – Consiglio nazionale)
number of seats: 200 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 10/22/2023
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)
percentage of women in chamber: 39%
expected date of next election: October 2027
Legislative branch – upper chamber
chamber name: Council of States (Ständerat – Conseil des Etats – Consiglio degli Stati)
number of seats: 46 (all directly elected)
electoral system: other systems
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 10/22/2023
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)
percentage of women in chamber: 33.3%
expected date of next election: October 2027
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of 38 justices and 19 deputy justices organized into 7 divisions)
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
subordinate courts: Federal Criminal Court (established in 2004); Federal Administrative Court (established in 2007)
note: each of Switzerland’s 26 cantons has its own courts
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)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph HECKNER (since 18 September 2024)
chancery: 2900 Cathedral Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://www.eda.admin.ch/washington
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Francisco
consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Bradford BELL (since January 2025) note – also accredited to Liechtenstein
embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern
mailing address: 5110 Bern Place, Washington DC 20521-5110
telephone: [41] (031) 357-70-11
FAX: [41] (031) 357-73-20
email address and website:
https://ch.usembassy.gov/
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
Independence
1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
National holiday
Founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291; note – since 1 August 1891 celebrated as Swiss National Day
Flag description
red square with an equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag; the origin of the flag is unclear, but a white cross was used to identify Swiss Confederation troops at the Battle of Laupen (1339)
note: in 1863, the newly formed International Red Cross chose the inverse of the Swiss flag — a red cross on a white field — as its symbol
National symbol(s)
Swiss cross (white cross on red field)
National colors
red, white
National anthem
name: the Swiss anthem has four names: “Schweizerpsalm” [German] “Cantique Suisse” [French] “Salmo svizzero,” [Italian] “Psalm svizzer” [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm)
lyrics/music: Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French], Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS [Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG
note: unofficially adopted 1961, officially 1981; the anthem has been popular in a number of Swiss cantons since its composition (in German) in 1841; translated into the other three official languages of the country (French, Italian, and Romansch), it is official in each of those languages
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)
Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$733.779 billion (2023 est.)
$728.562 billion (2022 est.)
$710.319 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 37
Real GDP growth rate
0.72% (2023 est.)
2.57% (2022 est.)
5.39% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 175
Real GDP per capita
$82,600 (2023 est.)
$83,000 (2022 est.)
$81,600 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 10
GDP (official exchange rate)
$884.94 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.1% (2024 est.)
2.1% (2023 est.)
2.8% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 29
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 0.6% (2023 est.)
industry: 24.9% (2023 est.)
services: 71.9% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 32; industry 95; agriculture 195
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 51.6% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 11.4% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 25.9% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: -1.4% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 75.3% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -62.9% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
milk, sugar beets, wheat, potatoes, pork, apples, barley, beef, maize, grapes (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate
-1.66% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 175
Labor force
5.095 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 85
Unemployment rate
4.1% (2024 est.)
4% (2023 est.)
4.1% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 71
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 7.9% (2024 est.)
male: 8.3% (2024 est.)
female: 7.5% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 147
Population below poverty line
15.8% (2021 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
33.7 (2020 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 95
Average household expenditures
on food: 9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3% (2020 est.)
highest 10%: 26.4% (2020 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
0.39% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.39% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $143.411 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $136.348 billion (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
20.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 185
Taxes and other revenues
9.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 181
Current account balance
$47.455 billion (2023 est.)
$72.325 billion (2022 est.)
$57.536 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 11
Exports
$654.175 billion (2023 est.)
$628.737 billion (2022 est.)
$578.938 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 15
Exports – partners
Germany 14%, China 12%, USA 11%, Italy 5%, Turkey 5% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, nitrogen compounds, base metal watches (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$556.351 billion (2023 est.)
$518.002 billion (2022 est.)
$481.607 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 16
Imports – partners
Germany 17%, USA 9%, Italy 8%, France 6%, China 5% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, cars, jewelry (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$822.13 billion (2024 est.)
$863.892 billion (2023 est.)
$923.628 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 3
Exchange rates
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
0.88 (2024 est.)
0.898 (2023 est.)
0.955 (2022 est.)
0.914 (2021 est.)
0.939 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 26.502 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 55.643 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 33.856 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 27.462 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 4.81 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 160; imports 6; exports 6; consumption 50; installed generating capacity 42
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear: 34.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 6.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 0.3% 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.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 2.97GW (2025 est.)
Percent of total electricity production: 32.4% (2023 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 2 (2025)
Coal
consumption: 126,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 156,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 194,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas
consumption: 2.915 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 2.869 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
33.306 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.)
from consumed natural gas: 5.583 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 72
Energy consumption per capita
99.578 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 50
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 3.003 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 36
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 10.9 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 92
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
Internet users
percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 4.33 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 40
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
HB
Airports
66 (2025)
comparison ranking: 74
Heliports
52 (2025)
comparison ranking: 39
Railways
total: 5,296 km (2020) 5,296 km electrified; Switzerland remains the only country with a fully electrified network
Merchant marine
total: 17 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 14, general cargo 1, other 2 (includes Liechtenstein)
comparison ranking: total 149
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Swiss Armed Forces (aka Swiss Army or Schweizer Armee); Army (aka Land Forces), Swiss Air Force (2025)
note: the federal police maintain internal security and report to the Federal Department of Justice and Police
Military expenditures
0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 145,000 Swiss Armed Forces (2024)
note: the strength figures include professional cadre (approximately 20,000 personnel), people awaiting or participating in mandatory annual training, and people who have already completed their training service obligation
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 (2024)
Military service age and obligation
18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; every Swiss male has to serve at least 245 days in the armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatory training, followed by six 19-day intermittent recalls for training during the next 10 years (2024)
note: conscientious objectors can choose 390 days of community service instead of military service; as of 2023, women comprised about 1% of the active Swiss military
Military deployments
175 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2024)
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)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 14,726 (Eritrea), 11,441 (Afghanistan), 8,039 (Syria), (mid-year 2022); 65,615 (Ukraine) (as of 5 March 2024)
stateless persons: 891 (2022)
Illicit drugs
major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics; a significant importer and exporter of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine;
