Knelstrom Intelligence · World Factbook

Switzerland

Swiss Confederation

CH / CHEeurope

CapitalBern

Population9,092,436

GDP$1.04tn

Area41,291 km²

RegionEurope & Central Asia

Data sources current · last checked September 20, 2026 2:11 am

Country facts

Official nameSwiss Confederation

CapitalBern

Area41,291 km²

CurrencySwiss franc (CHF)

Official language(s)German, Italian, French, Romansh

Calling code+41

RegionEurope & Central Asia

Income levelHigh income

Form of governmentdirectorial system, federal republic

Time zoneUTC+01:00

Overview

Population9,092,4362025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate9,007,7982026 · Estimated

GDP (current US$)$1,043,529,899,2512025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$114,7692025 · Verified

GDP growth1.3%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices0.2%2025 · Verified

Unemployment4.9%2025 · Verified

Background

The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, which was modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. The major European powers have long honored Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality, and the country was not involved in either World War. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half-century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.

Reference: 2002

Geography

Latitude46.9480°current · Verified

Longitude7.4482°current · Verified

Location

Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 41,277 sq km
land: 39,997 sq km
water: 1,280 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries

total: 1,770 km
border countries: Austria 158 km; France 525 km; Italy 698 km; Liechtenstein 41 km; Germany 348 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers

Terrain

mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes

Elevation

highest point: Dufourspitze on Monte Rosa 4,634 m
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
mean elevation: 1,350 m

Natural resources

hydropower potential, timber, salt

Land use

agricultural land: 37.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.)
forest: 32% (2023 est.)
other: 32.6% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Irrigated land

494 sq km (2020)

Reference: 2020

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Germany and Austria) - 540 sq km; Lake Geneva (shared with France) - 580 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Rhein (Rhine) river source (shared with Germany, France, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km)

Population distribution

population distribution corresponds to elevation, with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement

Natural hazards

avalanches, landslides; flash floods

Geography - note

landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps

Population & Society

Population9,092,4362025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate9,007,7982026 · Estimated

Fertility rate1.32024 · Verified

Urban population85.7%2025 · Verified

Nationality

noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
adjective: Swiss

Ethnic groups

Swiss 69.2%, German 4.2%, Italian 3.2%, Portuguese 2.5%, French 2.1%, Kosovan 1.1%, Turkish 1%, other 16.7% (2020 est.)
note: note: data represent permanent and non-permanent resident population by country of birth

Reference: 2020

Languages

Languages: German (or Swiss German) (official) 62.1%, French (official) 22.8%, Italian (official) 8%, English 5.7%, Portuguese 3.5%, Albanian 3.3%, Serbo-Croatian 2.3%, Spanish 2.3%, Romansh (official) 0.5%, other 7.9% (2019 est.)
major-language sample(s): Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German)
The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)
L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
note: note: shares sum to more than 100% because respondents could indicate more than one main language

Reference: 2019

Religions

Roman Catholic 34.4%, Protestant 22.5%, other Christian 5.7%, Muslim 5.4%, other 1.5%, none 29.4%, unspecified 1.1% (2020 est.)

Reference: 2020

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.1% (male 685,221/female 650,802)
15-64 years: 64.6% (male 2,887,767/female 2,834,842)
65 years and over: 20.3% (2024 est.) (male 830,117/female 971,825)

Reference: 2024

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 54.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 23.3 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 31.5 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.2 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Median age

total: 44.2 years (2024 est.)
male: 43.5 years
female: 44.9 years

Reference: 2024

Population growth rate

0.75% (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Birth rate

10.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Death rate

8.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Population distribution

population distribution corresponds to elevation, with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement

Major urban areas - population

1.432 million Zurich, 441,000 BERN (capital) (2023)

Reference: 2023

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Mother's mean age at first birth

31.1 years (2020 est.)

Reference: 2020

Maternal mortality ratio

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Gross reproduction rate

0.77 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Drinking water source

improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 11.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 12.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

4.48 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Reference: 2022

Hospital bed density

4.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Reference: 2021

Sanitation facility access

Reference: 2022

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.5% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 9.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 4.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Tobacco use

total: 22.8% (2025 est.)
male: 25.5% (2025 est.)
female: 20.1% (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

57.5% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years (2023 est.)
male: 17 years (2023 est.)
female: 17 years (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Migration & Displacement

Immigrant/emigrant stock measures the number of international migrants resident in, or originating from, the country; it is not the same as annual immigration/emigration flows.

International migrant stock (immigrants)2,773,8402024 · Verified

International migrant stock31.1%2024 · Verified

International emigrant stock512,5472024 · Estimated

Net migration37,2532025 · Verified

Refugees from this country62025 · Verified

Asylum seekers from this country332025 · Verified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 213,177 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 97 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 1,267 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Government & Politics

Form of governmentdirectorial system, federal republiccurrent · Reported

Office	Holder	Affiliation	From	Status	Evidence
Head of state	Swiss Federal Council	—	—	Current	Reported
Head of government	Swiss Federal Council	—	—	Current	Reported

Country name

conventional long form: Swiss Confederation
conventional short form: Switzerland
local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German)/ Confederation Suisse (French)/ Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)/ Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh)
local short form: Schweiz (German)/ Suisse (French)/ Svizzera (Italian)/ Svizra (Romansh)
abbreviation: CH
etymology: name derives from the canton of Schwyz, one of the founding cantons of the Swiss Confederacy formed in the late 13th century

Capital

name: Bern
geographic coordinates: 46 55 N, 7 28 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain; it is sometimes associated with the German word Baer (bear), but a more likely origin is an Indo-European root word ber, meaning "marshy place"

Administrative divisions

26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Berne/Bern, Fribourg/Freiburg, Genève (Geneva), Glarus, Graubuenden/Grigioni/Grischun, Jura, Luzern (Lucerne), Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais/Wallis, Vaud, Zug, Zuerich
note: note 1: the names listed above are in the canton's official language(s), with conventional names in parentheses
note 2: 6 of the cantons -- Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden, Obwalden -- are referred to as half cantons because they elect only one member (instead of two) to the Council of States, and in popular referendums where a majority of popular votes and cantonal votes are required, these 6 cantons have a half vote

Legal system

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts, except federal decrees of a general obligatory character

Constitution

history: previous 1848, 1874; latest adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, effective 1 January 2000
amendment process: proposed by the two houses of the Federal Assembly or by petition of at least one hundred thousand voters (called the "federal popular initiative"); passage of proposals requires majority vote in a referendum; following drafting of an amendment by the Assembly, its passage requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and approval by the majority of cantons

Reference: 2000, 1999

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Switzerland
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 12 years including at least 3 of the last 5 years prior to application

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation Karin KELLER-SUTTER (since 1 January 2025)
head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Karin KELLER-SUTTER (since 1 January 2025)
cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) indirectly elected by the Federal Assembly for a 4-year term
election/appointment process: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term
most recent election date: 11 December 2024
election results: 2024: Karin KELLER-SUTTER elected president for 2025; Federal Assembly vote - Karin KELLER-SUTTER (FDP.The Liberals) 168 of 203; Guy PARLEMIN (SVP) elected vice president for 2025; Federal Assembly vote - 196 of 219
2023: Viola AMHERD elected president for 2024; Federal Assembly vote - Viola AMHERD (The Center) 158 of 204; Karin KELLER-SUTTER (FDP.The Liberals) elected vice president for 2024; Federal Assembly vote - 138 of 196
2022: Alain BERSET elected president for 2023; Federal Assembly vote - Alain BERSET (SP) 140 OF 181; Viola AMHERD elected vice president; Federal assembly vote - 207 of 223
expected date of next election: December 2025
note: note: the Federal Council, composed of 7 federal councilors, constitutes the federal government of Switzerland; council members rotate the 1-year term of federal president

Reference: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022

Legislative branch

legislature name: Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale)
legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name: National Council (Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale)
number of seats: 200 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 10/22/2023
parties elected and seats per party: Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) (62); Socialist Party (SP/PS) (41); Centre Party (29); FDP/The Liberals (FDP/PLR) (28); Green Party (GPS/PES) (23); Liberal Green Party (GLP/PVL) (10); Other (7)
percentage of women in chamber: 39.5%
expected date of next election: October 2027

Reference: 2027, 2023

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name: Council of States (Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati)
number of seats: 46 (all directly elected)
electoral system: other systems
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 10/22/2023
parties elected and seats per party: Centre Party (15); FDP/The Liberals (FDP/PLR) (11); Socialist Party (SP/PS) (9); Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) (6); Green Party (GPS/PES) (3); Other (2)
percentage of women in chamber: 33.3%
expected date of next election: October 2027

Reference: 2027, 2023

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of 38 justices and 19 deputy justices organized into 7 divisions)
judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Federal Assembly for 6-year terms; judges are affiliated with political parties and are elected according to linguistic and regional criteria in approximate proportion to party representation in the Federal Assembly
subordinate courts: Federal Criminal Court (established in 2004); Federal Administrative Court (established in 2007)
note: note: each of Switzerland's 26 cantons has its own courts

Reference: 2007, 2004

Political parties

The Center (Die Mitte, Alleanza del Centro, Le Centre, Allianza dal Center) (merger of the Christian Democratic People's Party and the Conservative Democratic Party)
Evangelical Peoples' Party or EVP/PEV
Federal Democrats or EDU
Geneva Citizens Movement or MCR/MCG
Green Liberal Party (Gruenliberale Partei or GLP, Parti vert liberale or PVL, Partito Verde-Liberale or PVL, Partida Verde Liberale or PVL)
Green Party (Gruene Partei der Schweiz or Gruene, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda)
The Liberals or FDP.The Liberals (FDP.Die Liberalen, PLR.Les Liberaux-Radicaux, PLR.I Liberali, Ils Liberals)
Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SP, Parti Socialiste Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS)
Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica di Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph HECKNER (since 18 September 2024)
chancery: 2900 Cathedral Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564
email address and website: washington@eda.admin.ch
https://www.eda.admin.ch/washington
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Francisco
consulate(s): Boston

Reference: 2024

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Bradford BELL (since January 2025) note - also accredited to Liechtenstein
embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern
mailing address: 5110 Bern Place, Washington DC 20521-5110
telephone: [41] (031) 357-70-11
FAX: [41] (031) 357-73-20
email address and website: https://ch.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Independence

1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)

National holiday

Founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291
note: note: celebrated as Swiss National Day since 1 August 1891

Flag

description: red square with an equal-armed white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
history: the origin of the flag is unclear, but a white cross was used to identify Swiss Confederation troops at the Battle of Laupen (1339)
note: note: in 1863, the newly formed International Red Cross chose the inverse of the Swiss flag -- a red cross on a white field -- as its symbol

National symbol(s)

Swiss cross (white cross on red field)

National color(s)

red, white

National anthem(s)

title: the Swiss anthem has four names: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm)
lyrics/music: Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French], Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS [Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG
history: adopted 1981; all four of the versions (German, French, Italian, Romansch) are considered official

Reference: 1981

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 13 (9 cultural, 4 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Old City of Berne (c); Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch (n); Monte San Giorgio (n); Abbey of St Gall (c); Three Castles, Defensive Wall, and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona (c); Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Landscapes (c); La Chaux-de-Fonds/Le Locle, Watchmaking Town Planning (c); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Benedictine Convent of St John at Müstair (c); Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces (c)

Government & Official Links

Institution	Official website	X / Twitter	Verification
Switzerland official website	Official website	—	Reported · source Checked September 20, 2026

Institutional accounts only; personal accounts of political office-holders are excluded.

Legislature & Elections

Legislature

Name	Chamber	Seats	Electoral system
Federal Assembly of Switzerland	—	246	—

Economy

GDP (current US$)$1,043,529,899,2512025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$114,7692025 · Verified

GDP growth1.3%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices0.2%2025 · Verified

Unemployment4.9%2025 · Verified

Income levelHigh incomecurrent · Verified

Economic overview

high-income, non-EU European economy; top ten in GDP per capita; renowned banking and financial hub; low unemployment and inflation; slowed GDP growth post-pandemic; highly skilled but aging workforce; key pharmaceutical and precision manufacturing exporter; leader in innovation and competitiveness indices

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $741.035 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $731.508 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $726.544 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $82,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $82,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $82,800 (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.6% (2024 est.)
industry: 24.7% (2024 est.)
services: 72% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Reference: 2024

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 51.1% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 11.3% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 25.8% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 73.3% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -62% (2023 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Reference: 2023

Agricultural products

milk, sugar beets, wheat, potatoes, pork, apples, barley, beef, maize, grapes (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Reference: 2023

Industries

machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals

Industrial production growth rate

1.7% (2024 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Reference: 2024

Labor force

5.153 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Reference: 2024

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 7.9% (2024 est.)
male: 8.3% (2024 est.)
female: 7.5% (2024 est.)
note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Reference: 2024

Population below poverty line

15.8% (2021 est.)
note: note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Reference: 2021

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 33.8 (2021 est.)
note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Reference: 2021

Average household expenditures

on food: 9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 26.6% (2021 est.)
note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Reference: 2021

Remittances

Remittances 2024: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Budget

revenues: $153.795 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $152.488 billion (2023 est.)
note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Reference: 2023

Public debt

Public debt 2023: 19.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Reference: 2023

Taxes and other revenues

9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Reference: 2023

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024: $47.162 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $47.455 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $72.325 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Exports 2024: $675.059 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $654.175 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $628.737 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

Germany 14%, China 12%, USA 11%, Italy 5%, Turkey 5% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, nitrogen compounds, base metal watches (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Imports 2024: $582.554 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $556.351 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $518.002 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

Germany 17%, USA 9%, Italy 8%, France 6%, China 5% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, cars, jewelry (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $909.366 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $863.892 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $923.628 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exchange rates

Currency: Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 0.88 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 0.898 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 0.955 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 0.914 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 0.939 (2020 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Trade

Exports of goods and services78.1%2025 · Verified

Imports of goods and services69.1%2025 · Verified

Trade147.2%2025 · Verified

Current account balance

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Exports - partners

Germany 14%, China 12%, USA 11%, Italy 5%, Turkey 5% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, nitrogen compounds, base metal watches (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022

Imports - partners

Germany 17%, USA 9%, Italy 8%, France 6%, China 5% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, cars, jewelry (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Energy & Resources

Access to electricity100.0%2024 · Verified

Electric power consumption7,117 kWh/person2024 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption27.7%2021 · Verified

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 26.502 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 55.643 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 33.856 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 27.462 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 4.81 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear: 34.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 6.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 53% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 4.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 2.97GW (2025 est.)
Percent of total electricity production: 32.4% (2023 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 2 (2025)

Reference: 2025, 2023

Coal

consumption: 126,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 156,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 194,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2023

Natural gas

consumption: 2.915 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 2.869 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 99.578 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Infrastructure

Access to electricity100.0%2024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions47.0 per 1002024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions129.5 per 1002024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 3.003 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Health

Life expectancy at birth84.4 years2024 · Verified

Current health expenditure11.7%2023 · Verified

Infant mortality rate3.4 per 1,0002024 · Verified

Maternal mortality ratio

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 11.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 12.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

4.48 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Reference: 2022

Hospital bed density

4.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Reference: 2021

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.5% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Tobacco use

total: 22.8% (2025 est.)
male: 25.5% (2025 est.)
female: 20.1% (2025 est.)

Education

Secondary school enrolment, gross101.4%2024 · Verified

Government education expenditure4.9%2022 · Verified

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years (2023 est.)
male: 17 years (2023 est.)
female: 17 years (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Rights, Freedoms & Society

Press & Media Freedom

V-Dem expert-coded/modelled source measures. Knelstrom does not create a press-freedom ranking or composite score.

Freedom of expression & alternative information index0.9672025 · Estimated

Government censorship effort — media2.0142025 · Estimated

Harassment of journalists3.5782025 · Estimated

Print/broadcast media critical of government2.4292025 · Estimated

Range of perspectives in major media2.1982025 · Estimated

Media bias2.7012025 · Estimated

Media self-censorship3.1572025 · Estimated

LGBTQ+ Rights & Law

Concrete legal-status fields only; Knelstrom does not generate an LGBTQ rights score or country ranking.

Same-sex sexual activityYes Legal nationwide since 1942; Legal in the cantons of Geneva (as part of France), Ticino, Valais, and Vaud since 1798; equal age of consent since 1990; + UN decl. sign.Reported

Recognition of same-sex relationshipsYes Registered partnerships in Geneva (2001), Zürich (2003), Neuchâtel (2004) and Fribourg (2005); Nationwide from 2007 until 2022 (superseded by marriage)Reported

Same-sex marriageYes Legal since 2022Reported

Same-sex adoptionYes Stepchild adoption since 2018; joint adoption since 2022Reported

Open military serviceYes Includes transgender peopleReported

Sexual-orientation anti-discrimination lawYes Bans all anti-gay discriminationReported

Gender identity / expression lawYes Change of legal sex by simple declaration (self-determination +16 yo); surgery/sterilisation not required.Reported

Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country or territory (CC BY-SA 4.0). Community-edited legal-status summary; retrieved by Knelstrom and not legal advice.

Crime & Justice

Legal system

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts, except federal decrees of a general obligatory character

Judicial branch

Reference: 2007, 2004

Military & Security

Military and security forces

Swiss Armed Forces (aka Swiss Army or Schweizer Armee); Army (aka Land Forces), Swiss Air Force (2025)
note: note: the federal police maintain internal security and report to the Federal Department of Justice and Police

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 145,000 Swiss Armed Forces (2024)
note: note: the strength figures include professional cadre (approximately 20,000 personnel), people awaiting or participating in mandatory annual training, and people who have already completed their training service obligation

Reference: 2024

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported European and US weapons systems; the Swiss defense industry produces a range of military land vehicles (2024)

Reference: 2024

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; every Swiss male has to serve at least 245 days in the armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatory training, followed by six 19-day intermittent recalls for training during the next 10 years (2024)
note: note: conscientious objectors can choose 390 days of community service instead of military service; as of 2023, women comprised about 1% of the active Swiss military

Reference: 2024, 2023

Military deployments

200 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025)

Military - note

the Swiss military is responsible for territorial defense, limited support to international disaster response and peacekeeping, and providing support to civil authorities when their resources are not sufficient to ward off threats to internal security or provide sufficient relief during disasters; Switzerland has long maintained a policy of military neutrality but does periodically participate in EU, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and UN military and peacekeeping operations; however, Swiss units will only participate in operations under the mandate of the UN or OSCE; Switzerland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1996; it has contributed to the NATO-led force in Kosovo (KFOR) since 1999 (2025)

Reference: 2025, 1999, 1996

International Relations

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic representation in the US

Reference: 2024

Diplomatic representation from the US

International organization participation

Treaties & Organisations

Organisation	Status	Joined
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)	member	1973-06-25
OECD (OECD)	member	—
United Nations (UN)	member	2002-09-10
World Trade Organization (WTO)	member	1995-07-01

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Conflict & Security

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 213,177 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 97 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 1,267 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
note: note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Transportation & Logistics

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

66 (2025)

Heliports

52 (2025)

Railways

total: 5,296 km (2020) 5,296 km electrified; Switzerland remains the only country with a fully electrified network

Reference: 2020

Merchant marine

total: 17 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 14, general cargo 1, other 2 (includes Liechtenstein)

Reference: 2023

Environment

Forest area32.4%2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption27.7%2021 · Verified

Environmental issues

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from agricultural fertilizers; soil pollution from chemical contaminants; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity

International environmental agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Reference: 2006

Climate

temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers

Land use

Reference: 2023

Urbanization

urban population: 74.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2020

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions: 33.306 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 195,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 27.528 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 5.583 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Particulate matter emissions

9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.08 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 30.1% (2022 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 930 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 642.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 160.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Total renewable water resources

53.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Communications & Media

Individuals using the Internet97.3%2025 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions129.5 per 1002024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions47.0 per 1002024 · Verified

Secure Internet servers167,358 per million2024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 3.003 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Broadcast media

publicly owned Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SSR) has 8 national TV networks, 3 broadcasting in German, 3 in French, and 2 in Italian; private commercial TV stations broadcast regionally and locally; German, Italian, and French TV broadcasts widely available via multi-channel cable and satellite TV; SRG/SSR has 17 radio stations (2019)

Reference: 2019