Switzerland Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Bern

Population

8,925,741 (2025 est.)

Area

41,277 sq km

Location

Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

🧭 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

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

Area — land

39,997 sq km

Area — water

1,280 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries — total

1,770 km

Land boundaries — border countries

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

Elevation — lowest point

Lake Maggiore 195 m

Elevation — mean elevation

1,350 m

Natural resources

Hydropower potential, timber, salt

Land use — agricultural land

37.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 10% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

32% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

32.6% (2023 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⬆️ Top

Population — total

8,925,741 (2025 est.)

Population — male

4,436,858

Population — female

4,488,883

Nationality — noun

Swiss (singular and plural)

Nationality — 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.)

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.)

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.

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)

Age structure — 15-64 years

64.6% (male 2,887,767/female 2,834,842)

Age structure — 65 years and over

20.3% (2024 est.) (male 830,117/female 971,825)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

55.8 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

23.5 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

32.3 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

3.1 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

44.4 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

43.5 years

Median age — female

44.9 years

Population growth rate

0.72% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

10.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

8.61 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

5.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (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

Urbanization — urban population

74.2% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — 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

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.85 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

31.1 years (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

3.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

2.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

83.9 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

82 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

85.8 years

Total fertility rate

1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.78 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

11.8% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

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

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.5% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

9.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

3.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

4.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

1.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

22.8% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

25.5% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

20.1% (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

57.5% (2022 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

15.4% national budget (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

17 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

17 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

17 years (2023 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from agricultural fertilizers; soil pollution from chemical contaminants; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity

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

International environmental agreements — 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

37.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 10% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

32% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

32.6% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

74.2% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

33.306 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

195,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

27.528 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from consumed natural gas

5.583 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

6.08 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

30.1% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

930 million cubic meters (2022)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

642.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

160.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

53.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Swiss Confederation

Country name — conventional short form

Switzerland

Country name — local long form

Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German)/ Confederation Suisse (French)/ Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)/ Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh)

Country name — local short form

Schweiz (German)/ Suisse (French)/ Svizzera (Italian)/ Svizra (Romansh)

Country name — abbreviation

CH

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 type

Federal republic (formally a confederation)

Capital — name

Bern

Capital — geographic coordinates

46 55 N, 7 28 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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"

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

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

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

International law organization participation

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of Switzerland

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

Yes

Citizenship — 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 Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2026)

Executive branch — head of government

President of the Swiss Confederation Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2026)

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

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

Executive branch — most recent election date

11 December 2024

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

Executive branch — expected date of next election

December 2025

Legislative branch — legislature name

Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

National Council (Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

200 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Proportional representation

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

10/22/2023

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)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

39.5%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

October 2027

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

Council of States (Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

46 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — electoral system

Other systems

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

10/22/2023

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)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

33.3%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — 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)

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

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Federal Criminal Court (established in 2004); Federal Administrative Court (established in 2007)

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)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

2900 Cathedral Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 745-7900

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 387-2564

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

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

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s)

Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Callista GINGRICH (since 23 October 2025) note - also accredited to Liechtenstein

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

5110 Bern Place, Washington DC 20521-5110

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[41] (031) 357-70-11

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[41] (031) 357-73-20

Diplomatic representation from the US — 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

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)

National symbol(s)

Swiss cross (white cross on red field)

National color(s)

Red, white

National anthem(s) — title

The Swiss anthem has four names: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French], Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS [Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1981; all four of the versions (German, French, Italian, Romansch) are considered official

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

13 (9 cultural, 4 natural)

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)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

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) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$741.035 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$731.508 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$726.544 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

1.3% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.7% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$82,000 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$82,300 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$82,800 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$936.564 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1.1% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

2.1% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

2.8% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

0.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

24.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

72% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

51.1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

11.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

25.8% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0.2% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

73.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-62% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

Milk, sugar beets, wheat, potatoes, pork, apples, barley, beef, maize, grapes (2023)

Industries

Machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals

Industrial production growth rate

1.7% (2024 est.)

Labor force

5.153 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

4.2% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

4.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

4.2% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

7.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

8.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

7.5% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

15.8% (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

33.8 (2021 est.)

Average household expenditures — on food

9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on alcohol and tobacco

3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

3% (2021 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

26.6% (2021 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2024

0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget — revenues

$153.795 billion (2023 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$152.488 billion (2023 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2023

19.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

$47.162 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

$47.455 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

$72.325 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$675.059 billion (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$654.175 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$628.737 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

Germany 14%, China 12%, USA 11%, Italy 5%, Turkey 5% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, nitrogen compounds, base metal watches (2023)

Imports — Imports 2024

$582.554 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$556.351 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$518.002 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

Germany 17%, USA 9%, Italy 8%, France 6%, China 5% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, cars, jewelry (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$909.366 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$863.892 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$923.628 billion (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

0.88 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

0.898 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

0.955 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

0.914 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

0.939 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity — installed generating capacity

26.502 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

55.643 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — exports

33.856 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

27.462 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

4.81 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — nuclear

34.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

6.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — wind

0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

53% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

4.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy — Number of operational nuclear reactors

4 (2025)

Nuclear energy — Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

2.97GW (2025 est.)

Nuclear energy — Percent of total electricity production

32.4% (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy — Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

2 (2025)

Coal — consumption

126,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

300 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

156,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — total petroleum production

300 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

194,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Natural gas — consumption

2.915 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — imports

2.869 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

99.578 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

3.003 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

34 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

11.6 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

129 (2024 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

Internet users — percent of population

97% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

4.33 million (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

49 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

HB

Airports

66 (2025)

Heliports

52 (2025)

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)

Merchant marine — by type

Bulk carrier 14, general cargo 1, other 2 (includes Liechtenstein)

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

Swiss Armed Forces (aka Swiss Army or Schweizer Armee); Army (aka Land Forces), Swiss Air Force (2025)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Approximately 145,000 Swiss Armed Forces (2024)

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 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 deployments

200 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025)

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⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

213,177 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

97 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — stateless persons

1,267 (2024 est.)