Country
Countries A-Z
Switzerland
Swiss Confederation
Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German)
Confédération Suisse (French)
Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)
Confederaziun Svizra (Romansch)
Political Status: Neutral confederation since 1291; equivalent of federal system embodied in constitution of May 29, 1874; current constitution, revising and reforming that of 1874, adopted April 18, 1999, effective from January 1, 2000.
Area: 15, 943 sq. mi. (41, 293 sq. km.).
Population: 7, 288, 010 (2000C); 7, 946, 000 (2010E); figures reference resident population, including noncitizens.
Major Urban Centers (2005E): BERN (118, 000), Zürich (327, 000), Geneva (177, 000), Basel (163, 000), Lausanne (109, 000).
Official Languages: German, French, Italian. Romansch is recognized as a national language but without full official status.
Monetary Unit: Swiss Franc (market rate November 1, 2010: 1.01 francs = $1US).
President: Doris LEUTHARD (Christian Democratic People’s Party); elected by the Federal Assembly on December 2, ...