A landlocked, majestically-scenic country, Switzerland's long-standing neutral status has given it political stability that has helped it become one of the world's wealthiest countries where banking is a key industry.
Formally neutral since just after the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century and informally for about 300 years before that, Switzerland joined the United Nations in September 2002.
Overview
Although it lies close to the geographical centre of Europe, and most of its trade is with its European neighbours, it is not an EU member. A referendum in 2001 went against opening talks on joining.
Membership of the European Economic Area was also rejected by referendum in 1992 and Swiss-EU relations are now based on an extensive range of bilateral agreements.
Swiss Alps: Mountains ring much of the landlocked nation
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Ties became closer in 2005 when a referendum backed membership of the EU Schengen and Dublin agreements, bringing Switzerland into Europe's passport-free zone and increasing cooperation on crime and asylum issues. A further referendum the same year opened the job market to workers from the 10 newest EU member countries.
A European cultural and linguistic crossroads, about two-thirds of the population speak German, around one-fifth French and about 7% Italian. Rumansch, the fourth national language, is spoken by less than 1% of the population.
The people are given a direct say in their own affairs under Switzerland's system of direct democracy which has no parallel in any other country.
They are invited to the polls several times a year to vote in national or regional referendums, and people's initiatives. Constitutional proposals and major international treaties must be put to the vote, and parliamentary decisions can be subjected to a vote by collecting 50,000 signatures.
The army tradition, which has come to be seen as an essential part of Swiss neutrality, runs deep into the life of the nation. During the cold war years, the Swiss maintained one of Europe's largest land-based armies. The extremely costly militia system, under which every adult male was conscripted and remained in the reserves until middle age, has been slowly streamlined.
The government expressed its regrets over the country's behaviour in World War II following a report by an independent panel of historians on Swiss relations with the Nazis. The report found that the authorities had known what lay in store for the Jewish refugees to whom they closed the borders in 1942 and had assisted the economy of Nazi Germany, although not to a degree that prolonged the war.
Facts
- Full name: Swiss Confederation
- Population: 7.4 million (UN, 2007)
- Capital: Bern
- Largest city: Zurich
- Area: 41,284 sq km (15,940 sq miles)
- Major languages: German, French, Italian, Romansch
- Major religion: Christianity
- Life expectancy: 79 years (men), 84 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 Swiss Franc = 100 Rappen
- Main exports: Machinery and electronics, chemicals, precision instruments, watches
- GNI per capita: US $54,930 (World Bank, 2006)
- Internet domain: .ch
- International dialling code: +41
Leaders
For decades Switzerland's government has been made up by a grand coalition.
But in December 2007 the right-wing Swiss People's Party withdrew from the coalition cabinet, ending half a century of consensus politics. The move was in protest at parliament's refusal to re-elect its controversial leader Christoph Blocher to the cabinet.
Parliament baulked at returning Mr Blocher as justice minister, partly because of the party's shrill anti-immigration campaign.
The coalition had been in place since 1959, when the parties agreed to an arrangement which is known as the "magic formula" and which ensured that decisions were made by consensus.
The executive Federal Council was regarded as a college of equals. Until late 2003 the seven ministerial posts were shared between the Free Democrats (with two), the Social Democrats (two), the Christian Democrats (two) and the Swiss People's Party (SVP) (one), regardless of how many seats each party had in parliament.
In 2003, the Swiss People's Party (SVP) overtook the Free Democrats (FDP) and Social Democrats (SP) to become the country's most popular party and was given a second post, at the expense of the waning Christian Democrats.
- The right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) boosted its standing as the biggest group in parliament in the October 2007 elections, scooping nearly 29% of the vote after a controversial campaign calling for the extradition of foreigners who commit serious crimes. The SVP's closest rivals, the Social Democrats (SP), won 19.1% of the vote.
Media
Broadcasting is dominated by the public Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SSR) which operates seven TV networks and 18 radio stations. Most of its funding comes from licence fee revenues; a smaller proportion comes from TV advertising.
Private radio and TV stations operate at a regional level.
Television stations from France, Germany and Italy are widely available, thanks in part to the very high take-up of multi-channel cable and satellite TV. Some German commercial broadcasters provide tailored versions of their channels for the Swiss market.
Switzerland's press has full editorial freedom and mainly operates along regional lines which reflect the country's linguistic divisions.
The press
Television
- SF-DRS - German-language public broadcaster, operates three channels
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- RTSI- Italian-language public broadcaster, operates two channels
- TSR - French-language public broadcaster, operates two channels
Radio
- SR-DRS - German-language public broadcaster, operates five stations
- RSR - French-language public broadcaster, operates four stations
- RSI - Italian-language public broadcaster, operates three stations
- RR - Rumansch-language public radio station
News agency/internet
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BBC News channel
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