Switzerland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 5/2014
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a federal parliamentary republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities, the so-called Bundesstadt ("federal city").
The country is situated in Western and Central Europe, where it is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east.
Switzerland is a landlocked country geographically divided between the Alps, the Swiss Plateau and the Jura, spanning an area of 41,285 km2 (15,940 sq mi).
While the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, the Swiss population of approximately 8 million people is concentrated mostly on the Plateau, where the largest cities are to be found. Among them are the two global cities and economic centres of Zürich and Geneva.
The establishment of the Swiss Confederation is traditionally dated to 1 August 1291, which is celebrated annually as Swiss National Day.
It has a long history of armed neutrality - it has not been in a state of war internationally since 1815 - and did not join the United Nations until 2002. It pursues, however, an active foreign policy and is frequently involved in peace-building processes around the world.
Switzerland is also the birthplace of the Red Cross and home to a large number of international organizations, including the second largest UN office.
On the European level, it is a founding member of the European Free Trade Association and is part of the Schengen Area – although it is notably not a member of the European Union, nor the European Economic Area.
Switzerland comprises four main linguistic and cultural regions: German, French, Italian and the Romansh-speaking valleys. Therefore the Swiss, although predominantly German-speaking, do not form a nation in the sense of a common ethnic or linguistic identity; rather, the strong sense of identity and community is founded on a common historical background, shared values such as federalism and direct democracy, and Alpine symbolism.
Switzerland has the nominal wealth per adult (financial and non-financial assets) in the world according to Credit Suisse and eighth-highest per capita gross domestic product on the IMF list. Swiss citizens have the second-highest life expectancy in the world on the UN DESA list.
Switzerland is tied with the Netherlands for the top rank on the Bribe Payers Index indicating very low levels of business corruption. Moreover, for the last five years the country has been ranked first in economic and tourist competitiveness according to the Global Competitiveness Report and the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report respectively, both developed by the World Economic Forum.
Zürich and Geneva have been ranked among cities with highest quality of life in the world with the former coming second globally according to Mercer.
Swiss Confederation
Motto: (traditional)
"Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno" (Latin)
"One for all, all for one"
Anthem: Swiss Psalm
Capital:
None "de jure"
Bern "de facto" (46°57′N 7°27′E)
Largest city:
Zürich
Official languages:
• German
• French
• Italian
• Romansh
Demonym:
Swiss
Government
• Federal directorial republic with elements of direct democracy
• Federal Council
• Federal Chancellor
Legislature: Federal Assembly
• Upper house: Council of States
• Lower house: National Council
Formation
Foundation date:
c. 1300
de facto:
22 September 1499
de jure:
24 October 1648
Restored:
7 August 1815
Federal state:
12 September 1848
Area
• Total: 41,285 km2 (133rd) 15,940 sq mi
• Water (%): 4.2
Population: 2012 estimate 8,014,000 (96th) - 2011 census 7,954,700
Density: 188/km2 (65th) 477.4/sq mi
GDP (PPP): 2014 estimate
• Total: $385.333 billion (36th)
• Per capita: $47,863 (7th)
Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)
Time zone:
CET (UTC+1) - Summer (DST)
CEST (UTC+2)
Drives on the right
Calling code: +41
Patron saint: St Nicholas of Flüe
ISO 3166 code: CH
Internet TLD: .ch