Switzerland

Swiss Confederation Five official names Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German) Confédération suisse (French) Confederazione Svizzera (Italian) Confederaziun svizra (Romansh) Confoederatio helvetica (Latin)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: (unofficial) "Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno" "One for all, all for one"
Anthem: "Swiss Psalm"
Location of Switzerland (green) in Europe (green and dark grey)
Capital	None (de jure) Bern (de facto)[a][1][2] 46°57′N 7°27′E / 46.950°N 7.450°E / 46.950; 7.450
Largest city	Zürich
Official languages	German French Italian Romansh
Religion (2020)[3][b]	62.6% Christianity 34.4% Catholicism 22.5% Swiss Reformed 5.7% other Christian 29.4% directorial republic
• Federal Council	Viola Amherd (President) Karin Keller-Sutter (Vice President) Guy Parmelin Ignazio Cassis Albert Rösti Élisabeth Baume-Schneider Beat Jans
• Federal Chancellor	Viktor Rossi
Legislature	Federal Assembly
• Upper house	Council of States
• Lower house	National Council
History
• Founded	1 August 1291[c]
• Sovereignty recognised (Peace of Westphalia)	24 October 1648
• Federal Treaty	7 August 1815
• Federal state	12 September 1848[d][6]
Area
• Total	41,285 km2 (15,940 sq mi) (132nd)
• Water (%)	4.34[7]
Population
• 2023 estimate	8,902,308[8] (99th)
• 2015 census	8,327,126[9]
• Density	207/km2 (536.1/sq mi) (48th)
GDP (PPP)	2024 estimate
• Total	$816.456 billion[10] (35th)
• Per capita	$91,932[10] (6th)
GDP (nominal)	2024 estimate
• Total	$938.458 billion[10] (20th)
• Per capita	$105,669[10] (5th)
Gini (2022)	31.1[11] medium
HDI (2022)	0.967[12] very high (1st)
Currency	Swiss franc (CHF)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Date format	dd.mm.yyyy (Anno Domini)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+41
ISO 3166 code	CH
Internet TLD	.ch, .swiss

Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe.^[e][13] 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 geographically divided among the Swiss Plateau, the Alps and the Jura; the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, whereas most of the country's population of 9 million are concentrated on the plateau, which hosts its largest cities and economic centres, including Zürich, Geneva and Basel.^[14]

Switzerland originates from the

It has four main linguistic and cultural regions: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Although most Swiss are German-speaking, national identity is fairly cohesive, being rooted in a common historical background, shared values such as federalism and direct democracy,^{[22][page needed]} and Alpine symbolism.^[23][24] Swiss identity transcends language, ethnicity, and religion, leading to Switzerland being described as a Willensnation ("nation of volition") rather than a nation state.^[25] Due to its linguistic diversity, Switzerland is known by multiple native names: Schweiz [ˈʃvaɪts]^[f] (German);^[g] Suisse [sɥis(ə)] ^ⓘ (French); Svizzera [ˈzvittsera] (Italian); and Svizra [ˈʒviːtsrɐ, ˈʒviːtsʁɐ]^[h] (Romansh). On coins and stamps, the Latin name, Confoederatio Helvetica—frequently shortened to "Helvetia"—is used instead of the spoken languages.

Etymology

The English name Switzerland is a portmanteau of Switzer, an obsolete term for a

The toponym Schwyz itself was first attested in 972, as Old High German Suittes, perhaps related to swedan 'to burn' (cf. Old Norse svíða 'to singe, burn'), referring to the area of forest that was burned and cleared to build.^[27] The name was extended to the area dominated by the canton, and after the Swabian War of 1499 gradually came to be used for the entire Confederation.^[28][29] The Swiss German name of the country, Schwiiz, is homophonous to that of the canton and the settlement, but distinguished by the use of the definite article (d'Schwiiz for the Confederation,^[30] but simply Schwyz for the canton and the town).^[31] The long [iː] of Swiss German is historically and still often today spelled ⟨y⟩ rather than ⟨ii⟩, preserving the original identity of the two names even in writing.

The Latin name Confoederatio Helvetica was

Helvetia appeared as a national personification of the Swiss confederacy in the 17th century in a 1672 play by Johann Caspar Weissenbach.^[33]

History

The state of Switzerland took its present form with the adoption of the Swiss Federal Constitution in 1848. Switzerland's precursors established a defensive alliance in 1291, forming a loose confederation that persisted for centuries.

Beginnings

The oldest traces of hominid existence in Switzerland date to about 150,000 years ago.^[34] The oldest known farming settlements in Switzerland, which were found at Gächlingen, date to around 5300 BC.^[34]

The earliest known tribes formed the

The Old Swiss Confederacy was an alliance among the valley communities of the central Alps. The Confederacy was governed by nobles and patricians of various cantons who facilitated management of common interests and ensured peace on mountain trade routes. The Federal Charter of 1291 is considered the confederacy's founding document, even though similar alliances likely existed decades earlier. The document was agreed among the rural communes of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden.^{[39][page needed][40]}

By 1353, the three original

In 1798, the revolutionary French government invaded Switzerland and imposed a new unified constitution.^[40] This centralised the government of the country, effectively abolishing the cantons: moreover, Mülhausen left Switzerland and the Valtellina valley became part of the Cisalpine Republic. The new regime, known as the Helvetic Republic, was highly unpopular. An invading foreign army had imposed and destroyed centuries of tradition, making Switzerland nothing more than a French satellite state. The fierce French suppression of the Nidwalden Revolt in September 1798 was an example of the oppressive presence of the French Army and the local population's resistance to the occupation.^{[citation needed]}

When war broke out between France and its rivals, Russian and

The war convinced most Swiss of the need for unity and strength. Swiss from all strata of society, whether Catholic or Protestant, from the liberal or conservative current, realised that the cantons would profit more from merging their economic and religious interests.^[citation needed]

Thus, while the rest of Europe saw

An important clause of the constitution was that it could be entirely rewritten, if necessary, thus enabling it to evolve as a whole rather than being modified one amendment at a time.[46]^{[page needed]}

This need soon proved itself when the rise in population and the Industrial Revolution that followed led to calls to modify the constitution accordingly. The population rejected an early draft in 1872, but modifications led to its acceptance in 1874.^[40] It introduced the facultative referendum for laws at the federal level. It also established federal responsibility for defence, trade, and legal matters.

In 1891, the constitution was revised with uncommonly strong elements of direct democracy, which remain unique today.^[40]

Modern history

Switzerland was not invaded during either of the world wars. During World War I, Switzerland was home to the revolutionary and founder of the Soviet Union Vladimir Illych Ulyanov (Vladimir Lenin) who remained there until 1917.^[47] Swiss neutrality was seriously questioned by the short-lived Grimm–Hoffmann affair in 1917. In 1920, Switzerland joined the League of Nations, which was based in Geneva, after it was exempted from military requirements.^[48]

During

Switzerland's attitude towards refugees was complicated and controversial; over the course of the war, it admitted as many as 300,000 refugees^[52] while refusing tens of thousands more,^[53]: 107 including Jews persecuted by the Nazis.^[53]: 114

After the war, the Swiss government exported credits through the charitable fund known as the Schweizerspende and donated to the Marshall Plan to help Europe's recovery, efforts that ultimately benefited the Swiss economy.^[53]: 521

During the

Switzerland was the last Western republic (the

In 1979 areas from the canton of Bern attained independence from the Bernese, forming the new canton of Jura. On 18 April 1999, the Swiss population and the cantons voted in favour of a completely revised federal constitution.^[50]

In 2002 Switzerland became a full member of the United Nations, leaving

Extending across the north and south side of the Alps in west-central Europe, Switzerland encompasses diverse landscapes and climates across its 41,285 square kilometres (15,940 sq mi).^[66]

Switzerland lies between latitudes

Contrasted landscapes between the regions of the Matterhorn and Lake Lucerne

Forty-eight mountains are 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) or higher in height.

The Swiss Plateau has greater open and hilly landscapes, partly forested, partly open pastures, usually with grazing herds or vegetable and fruit fields, but it is still hilly. Large lakes and the biggest Swiss cities are found there.[66]

Switzerland contains two small

The Swiss climate is generally temperate, but can vary greatly across localities,^[69] from glacial conditions on the mountaintops to the near-Mediterranean climate at Switzerland's southern tip. Some valley areas in the southern part of Switzerland offer cold-hardy palm trees. Summers tend to be warm and humid at times with periodic rainfall, ideal for pastures/grazing. The less humid winters in the mountains may see weeks-long intervals of stable conditions. At the same time, the lower lands tend to suffer from inversion during such periods, hiding the sun.^{[citation needed]}

A weather phenomenon known as the

The wettest conditions persist in the high Alps and in the Ticino canton, which has much sun yet heavy bursts of rain from time to time.^[70] Precipitation tends to be spread moderately throughout the year, with a peak in summer. Autumn is the driest season, winter receives less precipitation than summer, yet the weather patterns in Switzerland are not in a stable climate system. They can vary from year to year with no strict and predictable periods.^{[citation needed]}

Environment

Switzerland contains two terrestrial ecoregions: Western European broadleaf forests and Alps conifer and mixed forests.^[71]

Switzerland's many small valleys separated by high mountains often host unique ecologies. The mountainous regions themselves offer a rich range of plants not found at other altitudes. The climatic, geological and topographical conditions of the alpine region make for a fragile ecosystem that is particularly sensitive to

However, access to biocapacity in Switzerland is far lower than the world average. In 2016, Switzerland had 1.0 hectares^[76] of biocapacity per person within its territory, 40 per cent less than world average of 1.6. In contrast, in 2016, Swiss consumption required 4.6 hectares of biocapacity – their ecological footprint, 4.6 times as much as Swiss territory can support. The remainder comes from other countries and the shared resources (such as the atmosphere impacted by greenhouse gas emissions).^[76] Switzerland had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 3.53/10, ranking it 150th globally out of 172 countries.^[77]

Urbanisation

About 85% of the population live in urban areas.[78]^[79] Switzerland went from a largely rural country to an urban one from 1930 to 2000. After 1935 urban development claimed as much of the Swiss landscape as it did during the prior 2,000 years. Urban sprawl affects the plateau, the Jura and the Alpine foothills,^[80] raising concerns about land use.^[81] During the 21st century, population growth in urban areas is higher than in the countryside.^[79]

Switzerland has a dense network of complementary large, medium and small towns.^[79] The plateau is densely populated with about 400 people per km² and the landscape shows uninterrupted signs of human presence.^[82] The weight of the largest metropolitan areas – Zürich, Geneva–Lausanne, Basel and Bern – tend to increase.^{[79][clarification needed]} The importance of these urban areas is greater than their population suggests.^[79] These urban centers are recognised for their high quality of life.^[83]

The average population density in 2019 was 215.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (557/sq mi).

The

The Federal Council directs the federal government, the federal administration, and serves as a collective head of state. It is a collegial body of seven members, elected for a four-year term by the Federal Assembly, which also oversees the council. The President of the Confederation is elected by the Assembly from among the seven members, traditionally in rotation and for a one-year term; the President chairs the government and executes representative functions. The president is a primus inter pares with no additional powers and remains the head of a department within the administration.^[85]

The government has been a coalition of the four major political parties since 1959, each party having a number of seats that roughly reflects its share of the electorate and representation in the federal parliament. The classic distribution of two CVP/PDC, two SPS/PSS, two FDP/PRD and one SVP/UDC as it stood from 1959 to 2003 was known as the "magic formula". Following the 2015 Federal Council elections, the seven seats in the Federal Council were distributed as follows:

• 1 seat for the Center Party (Die Mitte),^[i]
• 2 seats for the Free Democratic Party (FDP/PRD),
• 2 seats for the Social Democratic Party (SPS/PSS),
• 2 seats for the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC).

Supreme Court

The function of the Federal Supreme Court is to hear appeals against rulings of cantonal or federal courts. The judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for six-year terms.^[88]

Direct democracy

Direct democracy and federalism are hallmarks of the Swiss political system.^[89] Swiss citizens are subject to three legal jurisdictions: the municipality, canton and federal levels. The 1848 and 1999 Swiss Constitutions define a system of direct democracy (sometimes called half-direct or representative direct democracy because it includes institutions of a representative democracy). The instruments of this system at the federal level, known as popular rights (German: Volksrechte, French: droits populaires, Italian: diritti popolari),^[90] include the right to submit a federal initiative and a referendum, both of which may overturn parliamentary decisions.^[85][91]

By calling a federal referendum, a group of citizens may challenge a law passed by parliament by gathering 50,000 signatures against the law within 100 days. If so, a national vote is scheduled where voters decide by a simple majority whether to accept or reject the law. Any eight cantons can also call a constitutional referendum on federal law.^[85]

Similarly, the federal constitutional initiative allows citizens to put a constitutional amendment to a national vote, if 100,000 voters sign the proposed amendment within 18 months.^[j] The Federal Council and the Federal Assembly can supplement the proposed amendment with a counterproposal. Then, voters must indicate a preference on the ballot if both proposals are accepted. Constitutional amendments, whether introduced by initiative or in parliament, must be accepted by a double majority of the national popular vote and the popular cantonal votes.^[k][89]

Cantons

The Swiss Confederation consists of 26 cantons:^[85][92]

Canton		ID	Capital		Canton		ID	Capital
	Aargau	19	Aarau			*Nidwalden	7	Stans
	*Appenzell Ausserrhoden	15	Herisau			*Obwalden	6	Sarnen
	*Appenzell Innerrhoden	16	Appenzell			Schaffhausen	14	Schaffhausen
	*Basel-Landschaft	13	Liestal			Schwyz	5	Schwyz
	*Basel-Stadt	12	Basel			Solothurn	11	Solothurn
	Bern	2	Bern			St. Gallen	17	St. Gallen
	Fribourg	10	Fribourg			Thurgau	20	Frauenfeld
	Geneva	25	Geneva			Ticino	21	Bellinzona
	Glarus	8	Glarus			Uri	4	Altdorf
	Grisons	18	Chur			Valais	23	Sion
	Jura	26	Delémont			Vaud	22	Lausanne
	Lucerne	3	Lucerne			Zug	9	Zug
	Neuchâtel	24	Neuchâtel			Zürich	1	Zürich

*These cantons are known as half-cantons.

The cantons are

Municipalities

As of 2018 the cantons comprised 2,222 municipalities.

Federal City

Until 1848, the loosely coupled Confederation did not have a central political organisation. Issues thought to affect the whole Confederation were the subject of periodic meetings in various locations.^[93]

In 1848, the federal constitution provided that details concerning federal institutions, such as their locations, should be addressed by the

The 1999 Constitution does not mention a Federal City and the Federal Council has yet to address the matter.[94] Thus no city in Switzerland has the official status either of capital or of Federal City. Nevertheless, Bern is commonly referred to as "Federal City" (German: Bundesstadt, French: ville fédérale, Italian: città federale).

Foreign relations and international institutions

Traditionally, Switzerland avoids alliances that might entail military, political, or direct economic action and has been neutral since the end of its expansion in 1515. Its policy of neutrality was internationally recognised at the Congress of Vienna in 1815.^[95][96] Swiss neutrality has been questioned at times.^[97][98] In 2002 Switzerland became a full member of the United Nations.^[95] It was the first state to join it by referendum. Switzerland maintains diplomatic relations with almost all countries and historically has served as an intermediary between other states.^[95] Switzerland is not a member of the European Union; the Swiss people have consistently rejected membership since the early 1990s.^[95] However, Switzerland does participate in the Schengen Area.^[99]

Many international institutions have headquarters in Switzerland, in part because of its policy of neutrality.

Switzerland is scheduled to become a member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2023–2024 period.^[102]

Switzerland and the European Union

Although not a member, Switzerland maintains relationships with the EU and European countries through bilateral agreements. The Swiss have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with those of the EU, in an effort to compete internationally.

An Integration Office operates under the

Switzerland is a member of the Schengen passport-free zone. Land border checkpoints apply on to goods movements, but not people.^[107]

Military

The

The Swiss militia system stipulates that soldiers keep their army-issued equipment, including fully automatic personal weapons, at home.^[108] Women can serve voluntarily. Men usually receive military conscription orders for training at the age of 18.^[109] About two-thirds of young Swiss are found suitable for service; for the others, various forms of alternative service are available.^[110] Annually, approximately 20,000 persons are trained in recruit centres for 18 to 21 weeks. The reform "Army XXI" was adopted by popular vote in 2003, replacing "Army 95", reducing the rolls from 400,000 to about 200,000. Of those, 120,000 are active in periodic Army training, and 80,000 are non-training reserves.^[111]

The newest reform of the military, Weiterentwicklung der Armee (WEA; English: Further development of the Army), started in 2018 and was expected to reduce the number of army personnel to 100,000 by the end of 2022.^[112][113]

Overall, three general mobilisations have been declared to ensure the integrity and neutrality of Switzerland. The first mobilisation was held in response to the

Because of its neutrality policy, the Swiss army does not take part in armed conflicts in other countries but joins some peacekeeping missions. Since 2000 the armed force department has maintained the Onyx intelligence gathering system to monitor satellite communications.^[115]

Switzerland has a stable, prosperous and high-tech economy. It is the world's wealthiest country per capita in multiple rankings. The country ranks as one of the least corrupt countries in the world,^{[124][125][126]} while its banking sector is rated as "one of the most corrupt in the world".^[127] It has the world's twentieth largest economy by nominal GDP and the thirty-eighth largest by purchasing power parity. As of 2021, it is the thirteenth largest exporter, and the fifth largest per capita. Zürich and Geneva are regarded as global cities, ranked as Alpha and Beta respectively. Basel is the capital of Switzerland's pharmaceutical industry, hosting Novartis, Roche, and many other players. It is one of the world's most important centres for the life sciences industry.^[128]

Switzerland had the second-highest global rating in the Index of Economic Freedom 2023,^[129] while also providing significant public services.^[130] On a per capita basis, nominal GDP is higher than those of the larger Western and Central European economies and Japan,^[131] while adjusted for purchasing power, Switzerland ranked 11th in 2017,^[132] fifth in 2018^[133] and ninth in 2020.^[134]

The 2016 World Economic Forum's

Agricultural protectionism—a rare exception to Switzerland's free trade policies—contributes to high food prices. Product market liberalisation is lagging behind many EU countries according to the OECD.^[141] Apart from agriculture, economic and trade barriers between the European Union and Switzerland are minimal, and Switzerland has free trade agreements with many countries. Switzerland is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Switzerland is considered as the "land of Cooperatives" with the ten largest cooperative companies accounting for more than 11% of GDP in 2018. They include Migros and Coop, the two largest retail companies in Switzerland.^[149]

Taxation and government spending

Switzerland is a

Slightly more than 5 million people work in Switzerland;

In 2016, the median monthly gross income in Switzerland was 6,502 francs per month (equivalent to US$6,597 per month).[160] After rent, taxes and pension contributions, plus spending on goods and services, the average household has about 15% of its gross income left for savings. Though 61% of the population made less than the mean income, income inequality is relatively low with a Gini coefficient of 29.7, placing Switzerland among the top 20 countries. In 2015, the richest 1% owned 35% of the wealth.^[161] Wealth inequality increased through 2019.^[162]

About 8.2% of the population live below the national poverty line, defined in Switzerland as earning less than CHF3,990 per month for a household of two adults and two children, and a further 15% are at risk of poverty. Single-parent families, those with no post-compulsory education and those out of work are among the most likely to live below the poverty line. Although work is considered a way out of poverty, some 4.3% are considered working poor. One in ten jobs in Switzerland is considered low-paid; roughly 12% of Swiss workers hold such jobs, many of them women and foreigners.^[160]

Education and science

Education in Switzerland is diverse, because the

The minimum age for primary school is about six years, but most cantons provide a free "children's school" starting at age four or five.[163] Primary school continues until grade four, five or six, depending on the school. Traditionally, the first foreign language in school was one of the other Swiss languages, although in 2000, English was elevated in a few cantons.^[163] At the end of primary school or at the beginning of secondary school, pupils are assigned according to their capacities into one of several sections (often three). The fastest learners are taught advanced classes to prepare for further studies and the matura,^[163] while other students receive an education adapted to their needs.

Tertiary education

Switzerland hosts

The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, located in Geneva, is continental Europe's oldest graduate school of international and development studies. It is widely held to be one of its most prestigious.^[174][175]

Science

Switzerland has birthed many Nobel Prize laureates. They include

Geneva and the nearby French department of Ain co-host the world's largest laboratory, CERN,^[180] dedicated to particle physics research. Another important research centre is the Paul Scherrer Institute.

Notable inventions include

Switzerland has a publicly managed, toll-free road network financed by highway permits as well as vehicle and petrol taxes. The Swiss autobahn/autoroute system requires the annual purchase of a vignette (toll sticker)—for 40 Swiss francs—to use its roadways, including passenger cars and trucks. The Swiss autobahn/autoroute network stretches for 1,638 km (1,018 mi) and has one of the highest motorway densities in the world.^[190]

Switzerland has one of the best environmental records among developed nations.[193] It is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol. With Mexico and South Korea, it forms the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG).^[194]

The country is active in recycling and anti-littering programs and is one of the world's top recyclers, recovering 66% to 96% of recyclable materials, varying across the country.^[195] The 2014 Global Green Economy Index placed Switzerland among the top 10 green economies.^[196]

Switzerland has an economic system for garbage disposal, which is based mostly on recycling and energy-producing

In common with other developed countries, the Swiss population increased rapidly during the industrial era, quadrupling between 1800 and 1990 and has continued to grow.

The population is about 9 million (2023 est.).

As of 2023, resident foreigners made up 26.3% of Switzerland's population.

2021 figures show that 39.5% (compared to 34.7% in 2012) of the permanent resident population aged 15 or over (around 2.89 million), had an immigrant background. 38% of the population with an immigrant background (1.1 million) held Swiss citizenship.[205]^[206]

In the 2000s, domestic and international institutions expressed concern about what was perceived as an increase in xenophobia. In reply to one critical report, the Federal Council noted that "racism unfortunately is present in Switzerland", but stated that the high proportion of foreign citizens in the country, as well as the generally successful integration of foreigners, underlined Switzerland's openness.^[207] A follow-up study conducted in 2018 reported that 59% considered racism a serious problem in Switzerland.^[208] The proportion of the population that claimed to have been targeted by racial discrimination increased from 10% in 2014 to almost 17% in 2018, according to the Federal Statistical Office.^[209]

Largest cities

towns in Switzerland Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Neuchâtel, 2020[210]
	Rank	Name	Canton	Pop.	Rank	Name	Canton	Pop.
Zürich Geneva	1	Zürich	Zürich	421,878	11	Thun	Bern	43,476	Basel Lausanne
	2	Geneva	Geneva	203,856	12	Bellinzona	Ticino	43,360
	3	Basel	Basel-Stadt	178,120	13	Köniz	Bern	42,388
	4	Lausanne	Vaud	140,202	14	La Chaux-de-Fonds	Neuchâtel	36,915
	5	Bern	Bern	134,794	15	Fribourg	Fribourg	38,039
	6	Winterthur	Zürich	114,220	16	Schaffhausen	Schaffhausen	36,952
	7	Lucerne	Luzern	82,620	17	Vernier	Geneva	34,898
	8	St. Gallen	St. Gallen	76,213	18	Chur	Graubünden	36,336
	9	Lugano	Ticino	62,315	19	Sion	Valais	34,978
	10	Biel/Bienne	Bern	55,206	20	Uster	Zürich	35,337

Languages

Switzerland has four

In 2016, the languages most spoken at home among permanent residents aged 15 and older were Swiss German (59.4%), French (23.5%), Standard German (10.6%), and Italian (8.5%). Other languages spoken at home included English (5.0%), Portuguese (3.8%), Albanian (3.0%), Spanish (2.6%) and Serbian and Croatian (2.5%). 6.9% reported speaking another language at home.^[213] In 2014 almost two-thirds (64.4%) of the permanent resident population indicated speaking more than one language regularly.^[214]

The federal government is obliged to communicate in the official languages, and in the federal parliament simultaneous translation is provided from and into German, French and Italian.^[215]

Aside from the official forms of their respective languages, the four linguistic regions of Switzerland also have local dialectal forms. The role played by dialects in each linguistic region varies dramatically: in German-speaking regions, Swiss German dialects have become more prevalent since the second half of the 20th century, especially in the media, and are used as an everyday language for many, while the Swiss variety of Standard German is almost always used instead of dialect for written communication (c.f. diglossic usage of a language).^[216] Conversely, in the French-speaking regions, local Franco-Provençal dialects have almost disappeared (only 6.3% of the population of Valais, 3.9% of Fribourg, and 3.1% of Jura still spoke dialects at the end of the 20th century), while in the Italian-speaking regions, the use of Lombard dialects is mostly limited to family settings and casual conversation.^[216]

The principal official languages have terms not used outside of Switzerland, known as Helvetisms. German Helvetisms are, roughly speaking, a large group of words typical of Swiss Standard German that do not appear in Standard German, nor in other German dialects. These include terms from Switzerland's surrounding language cultures (German Billett^[217] from French), from similar terms in another language (Italian azione used not only as act but also as discount from German Aktion).^[218] Swiss French, while generally close to the French of France, also contains some Helvetisms. The most frequent characteristics of Helvetisms are in vocabulary, phrases, and pronunciation, although certain Helvetisms denote themselves as special in syntax and orthography. Duden, the comprehensive German dictionary, contains about 3000 Helvetisms.^[218] Current French dictionaries, such as the Petit Larousse, include several hundred Helvetisms; notably, Swiss French uses different terms than that of France for the numbers 70 (septante) and 90 (nonante) and often 80 (huitante) as well.^[219]

Learning one of the other national languages is compulsory for all Swiss pupils, hence many Swiss are supposed to be at least bilingual, especially those belonging to linguistic minority groups.^[220] Because the largest part of Switzerland is German-speaking, many French, Italian, and Romansh speakers migrating to the rest of Switzerland and the children of those non-German-speaking Swiss born within the rest of Switzerland speak German. While learning one of the other national languages at school is important, most Swiss learn English to communicate with Swiss speakers of other languages, as it is perceived as a neutral means of communication. English often functions as the de facto lingua franca.^[221]

Health

Swiss residents are required to buy health insurance from private insurance companies, which in turn are required to accept every applicant. While the cost of the system is among the highest, its health outcomes compare well with other European countries; patients have been reported as in general, highly satisfied with it.^{[222][223][224]} In 2012, life expectancy at birth was 80.4 years for men and 84.7 years for women^[225] – the world's highest.^[226][227] However, spending on health at 11.4% of GDP (2010) is on par with Germany and France (11.6%) and other European countries, but notably less than the US (17.6%).^[228] From 1990, costs steadily increased.^[229]

It is estimated that one out of six Swiss persons suffers from

According to a survey conducted by Addiction Switzerland, fourteen per cent of men and 6.5% of women between 20 and 24 reported consuming cannabis in the past 30 days in 2020, and 4 Swiss cities were listed among the top 10 European cities for cocaine use as measured in wastewater, down from 5 in 2018.^[231][232]

Culture

Swiss culture is characterised by diversity, which is reflected in diverse traditional customs.

Switzerland is home to notable contributors to literature, art, architecture, music and sciences. In addition, the country attracted creatives during times of unrest or war.^[235] Some 1000 museums are found in the country.^[233]

Among the most important cultural performances held annually are the

Christianity is the predominant religion according to national surveys of Swiss Federal Statistical Office

26.3% of Swiss permanent residents are not affiliated with a religious community.[243]

As of 2020, according to a national survey conducted by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office,

The earliest forms of literature were in German, reflecting the language's early predominance. In the 18th century, French became fashionable in Bern and elsewhere, while the influence of the French-speaking allies and subject lands increased.^[249]

Among the classic authors of Swiss literature are Jeremias Gotthelf (1797–1854) and Gottfried Keller (1819–1890); later writers are Max Frisch (1911–1991) and Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921–1990), whose Das Versprechen (The Pledge) was released as a Hollywood film in 2001.^[250]

Famous French-speaking writers were Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778) and Germaine de Staël (1766–1817). More recent authors include Charles Ferdinand Ramuz (1878–1947), whose novels describe the lives of peasants and mountain dwellers, set in a harsh environment, and Blaise Cendrars (born Frédéric Sauser, 1887–1961).^[250] Italian and Romansh-speaking authors also contributed to the Swiss literary landscape, generally in proportion to their number.

Probably the most famous Swiss literary creation, Heidi, the story of an orphan girl who lives with her grandfather in the Alps, is one of the most popular children's books and has come to be a symbol of Switzerland. Her creator, Johanna Spyri (1827–1901), wrote a number of books on similar themes.^[250]

Media

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Switzerland has historically boasted the world's greatest number of newspaper titles relative to its population and size.^[citation needed] The most influential newspapers are the German-language Tages-Anzeiger and Neue Zürcher Zeitung NZZ, and the French-language Le Temps, but almost every city has at least one local newspaper, in the most common local language.^{[citation needed]}

The government exerts greater control over broadcast media than print media, especially due to financing and licensing.^[

]

Sports

Main article: Sport in Switzerland

Skiing, snowboarding and mountaineering are among the most popular sports, reflecting the nature of the country^[252] Winter sports are practised by natives and visitors. The bobsleigh was invented in St. Moritz.^[253] The first world ski championships were held in Mürren (1931) and St. Moritz (1934). The latter town hosted the second Winter Olympic Games in 1928 and the fifth edition in 1948. Among its most successful skiers and world champions are Pirmin Zurbriggen and Didier Cuche.

The most prominently watched sports in Switzerland are

ice hockey.^[254]

The headquarters of the international football's and ice hockey's governing bodies, the

International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) are located in Zürich. Many other headquarters of international sports federations are located in Switzerland. For example, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), IOC's Olympic Museum and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) are located in Lausanne

.

Switzerland hosted the 1954 FIFA World Cup and was the joint host, with Austria, of the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament. The Swiss Super League is the nation's professional football club league. Europe's highest football pitch, at 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level, is located in Switzerland, the Ottmar Hitzfeld Stadium.^[255]

Many Swiss follow

National League, which is the most attended league in Europe.^[256] In 2009, Switzerland hosted the IIHF World Championship for the tenth time.^[257] It also became World Vice-Champion in 2013 and 2018. Its numerous lakes make Switzerland an attractive sailing destination. The largest, Lake Geneva, is the home of the sailing team Alinghi which was the first European team to win the America's Cup

in 2003 and which successfully defended the title in 2007.

Wimbledon titles. He won a joint-record 6 ATP Finals.^[259] He was ranked no. 1 in the ATP rankings for a record 237 consecutive weeks. He ended 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 ranked no. 1. Fellow Swiss players Martina Hingis and Stan Wawrinka also hold multiple Grand Slam titles. Switzerland won the Davis Cup

title in 2014.

Swiss Council of States rejected the change and the ban remains in place.^[260][261]

Traditional sports include Swiss wrestling or Schwingen, a tradition from the rural central cantons and considered the national sport by some. Hornussen is another indigenous Swiss sport, which is like a cross between baseball and golf.^[262] Steinstossen is the Swiss variant of stone put, a competition in throwing a heavy stone. Practised only among the alpine population since prehistoric times, it is recorded to have taken place in Basel in the 13th century. It is central to the Unspunnenfest, first held in 1805, with its symbol the 83.5 stone named Unspunnenstein.^[263]

Cuisine

Main article: Swiss cuisine

See also: Culinary Heritage of Switzerland

The cuisine is multifaceted. While dishes such as

Emmental, produced in the valleys of Gruyères and Emmental. The number of fine-dining establishments is high, particularly in western Switzerland.^[265][266]

tempering, which enabled higher quality. Another breakthrough was the invention of solid milk chocolate in 1875 by Daniel Peter. The Swiss are the world's largest chocolate consumers.^[267][268]

The most popular alcoholic drink is wine. Switzerland is notable for its variety of grape varieties, reflecting the large variations in

Fendant in Valais) and Pinot Noir. Merlot is the main variety produced in Ticino.^[269][270]

See also

• Index of Switzerland-related articles
• Outline of Switzerland

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Bern is referred to as "federal city" (German: Bundesstadt; French: ville fédérale; Italian: città federale; Romansh: citad federala). Swiss law does not designate a capital as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, St. Gallen a.o.).
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Since 2010, statistics of religious affiliation in Switzerland provided by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office are based on a national structural survey of 200,000 people aged 15 years and older (corresponding to 2.5% of the total resident population). Data are extrapolated to obtain statistical results for the whole population (aged 15 years and older). These results are estimates subject to some degree of uncertainty indicated by a confidence interval, but by merging samples (pooling) from several years it is possible to get more accurate results, including total number of Protestants and information about minority religions. Note: The figures of the structural survey are not entirely comparable to data collection before 2010 based on census figures (counting every person living in Switzerland) or to annual official numbers of church members.^[242]
3. ^ Traditional date. The original date of the Rütli Oath was 1307 (reported by Aegidius Tschudi in the 16th century) and is just one among several comparable treaties between more or less the same parties during that period. The date of the Federal Charter of 1291 was selected in 1891 for the official celebration of the "Confederacy's 600th anniversary".
4. ^ A solemn declaration of the Tagsatzung declared the Federal Constitution adopted on 12 September 1848. A resolution of the Tagsatzung of 14 September 1848 specified that the powers of the institutions provided for by the 1815 Federal Treaty would expire at the time of the constitution of the Federal Council, which took place on 16 November 1848.
5. ^ There are several definitions. See Geography of Switzerland#Western or Central Europe.
6. ^ Audio pronunciations: Germany^ⓘ, Austria^ⓘ.
7. ^ Swiss Standard German spelling and pronunciation. The Swiss German name is sometimes spelled as Schwyz or Schwiiz, pronounced [ˈʃʋiːts]. Schwyz is also the standard German (and international) name of one of the Swiss cantons.
8. ^ The latter is the common Sursilvan pronunciation.
9. ^ Formerly the Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP/PCD), which merged with the BDP party to form the Centre party in 2019
10. ^ Since 1999, an initiative can also be in the form of a general proposal to be elaborated by Parliament. Still, because it is considered less attractive for various reasons, this initiative has yet to be used
11. half-cantons
    each counts as half the vote of one of the other cantons.
12. ^ Assumption made in the study: one third of the shares is "not allocable" and has been distributed equally among current regions.
13. ^ In 2008, the ETH Zürich was ranked 15th in the field Natural Sciences and Mathematics by the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities and the EPFL in Lausanne was ranked 18th in the field Engineering/Technology and Computer Sciences by the same ranking.
14. ^ Nobel prizes in non-science categories included.
15. ^ Precise statistics about the membership of churches among the total population in Switzerland is only available for officially registered and church tax paying members of the Catholic Church in Switzerland and the Protestant Church of Switzerland (Landeskirchen).

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Further reading

• Church, Clive H. (2004) The Politics and Government of Switzerland. Palgrave Macmillan.
  ISBN 978-0-333-69277-6
  .
• Fahrni, Dieter. (2003) An Outline History of Switzerland. From the Origins to the Present Day. 8th enlarged edition. Pro Helvetia, Zürich.
  ISBN 978-3-908102-61-8
  .
• Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. Published electronically (1998–) and in print (2002–) simultaneously in three of the national languages of Switzerland: DHS/HLS/DSS (Archived 5 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine): online edition in German, French and Italian.
• von Matt, Peter: Das Kalb vor der Gotthardpost. Zur Literatur und Politik in der Schweiz. Carl Hanser Verlag, München, 2012,
  ISBN 978-3-446-23880-0
  , S. 127–138.

External links

• The Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation
• Switzerland at
  Curlie
• Tourism — Switzerland

46°50′N 8°20′E / 46.833°N 8.333°E / 46.833; 8.333