Global Network Switzerland

President: Christoph Cnaef, sextant.cnaef@bluewin.ch

About Switzerland

National name: Schweiz/ Suisse/ Svizzera/ Svizra

 Language: German, French, Italian, Romansch

Capital: Bern

Government type: formally a confederation, but similar in structure to a federal republic

National holiday: Founding of the Swiss Conferation, 1 August (1291)

Currency: Swiss franc

Area: 15,942 sq. mile (41,290 sq. km)

Population: (2005 est.) 7,489,370

Population density: per sq. mile: 470

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.6%
15-64 years: 68%
65 years and older: 15.4%

Median age:
total: 39.77 years
male: 38.75 years
female: 40.81 years (2005 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2004 est.): $251.9 billion; per capita $33,800

Labor force: 3.77 million; services 69%, industry 26%, agriculture 5% (1998)

Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt

Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments

Exports: $130.7 billion f.o.b. ( 2004 est.)

Exports commodities: machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

Imports: $121.1 billion f.o.b.(2004 est.)

Imports commodities: machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles