ABOUT Switzerland, All You Need To Know
The pastoral beauty of the Swiss Alps invites visitors to explore its fields and crags.
Photograph by James P. Blair
Roughly the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined, straddling the central ranges of the Alps, Switzerland boasts much more than snowy Alpine vistas and picturesque villages. • This is a culture rich in history dating back to Charlemagne. • Inhabited originally by the Helvetic Celts, the region fell under Roman rule in the first century B.C., which may help explain Switzerland's determination to hold itself above the turbulence of 20th-century Europe. • The fabled secrecy of the nation's banks remains largely intact. • Its cheeses and chocolates are among its gustatory marvels, but the full list is long indeed.
Zurich, Canton Zurich
43 photos
Fast Facts
- Population:
- 7,446,000
- Capital:
- Bern; 320,000
- Area:
- 41,284 square kilometers (15,940 square miles)
- Language:
- German, French, Italian, Romansh
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic, Protestant
- Currency:
- Swiss franc
- Life Expectancy:
- 80
- GDP per Capita:
- U.S. $32,000
- Literacy Percent:
- 99
Switzerland Facts Flag
Map
A history of political stability and expertise in technology and commerce help explain the Swiss phenomenon: a post-industrial economy that reported one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.
Founded in 1291 as a union of three cantons chafing against Habsburg rule, Switzerland has been independent since 1815; its borders now encompass 26 cantons embracing three major languages—German, French, and Italian. Foreigners make up 25 percent of the workforce. Switzerland competes in global markets with exports that make up almost half of the nation's economy; however the Swiss in a 2001 referendum voted against joining the European Union.
Elaborate civil defense measures and a strong militia back up the Swiss policy of permanent neutrality. Switzerland is firmly committed to world peace, and in 2002 became a member of the United Nations.
ECONOMY
- Industry: Machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
- Agriculture: Grains, fruits and vegetables; meat
- Exports: Machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
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