Swiss Confederation
National name: Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera/Svizra
President: Pascal Couchepin (2003)
Area: 15,942 sq mi (41,290 sq km)
Population (2003 est.): 7,318,638 (growth rate: 0.1%); birth rate:
9.6/1000; infant mortality rate: 4.4/1000; density per sq mi: 459
Capital(1994): Bern, 129,423
Largest cities: Zurich, 343,045; Basel, 176,220; Geneva, 171,744;
Lausanne, 117,153
Monetary unit: Swiss franc
Languages: German, French, Italian (all official),
Romansch
Ethnicity/race: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%,
Romansch 1%, other 6%
Religions: Roman Catholic 49%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, no
religion 8.3%
Literacy rate: 99% (1980)
Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2001 est.): $226 billion; per capita
$31,100. Real growth rate: 2%. Inflation: 1%. Unemployment:
2%. Arable land: 10.57%. Agriculture: grains, fruits,
vegetables; meat, eggs. Labor force: 4 million; services 69%, industry
26%, agriculture 5% (1998). Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches,
textiles, precision instruments. Natural resources: hydropower potential,
timber, salt. Exports: $91.4 billion (f.o.b., 2001): machinery,
chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products. Imports: $91.4 billion
(f.o.b., 2001): machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products,
textiles. Major trading partners: EU, U.S., Japan.
Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 4.82 million (1998);
mobile cellular: 1.967 million (1999). Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM
113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998). Radios: 7.1
million (1997). Television broadcast stations: 115 (plus 1,919 repeaters)
(1995). Televisions: 3.31 million (1997). Internet Service Providers
(ISPs): 44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000). Internet users:
3.85 million (2002).
Transportation: Railways: total: 4,406 km (2001). Highways:
total: 71,059 km (1999); paved: 71,059 km (including 1,638 km of expressways);
unpaved: 0 km (1999). Waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden,
Schaffhausen to Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes. Ports and harbors: Basel.
Airports: 66 (2001).
International disputes: none.
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