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as the seat
of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Central Europe where it is bordered by
Germany
to the north, France
to the west,
Italy
to the south, and Austria
and Liechtenstein
to the east.
; adding
together an area of . The Swiss population of approximately
7.8 million people concentrates 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
.
Switzerland is one of the richest
countries in the world by per capita
gross domestic product, with
a nominal per capita GDP of $67,384. Zürich and Geneva have
respectively been ranked as having the second and third highest
quality of life in the world.
. On the European level it was a founder of
the European Free Trade
Association and is part of the Schengen Agreement.
and its
associated
territory
, one of the
Waldstätten cantons which formed the nucleus of the Old Swiss
Confederacy. The toponym itself is first attested in
972, as Old High
German , ultimately perhaps related to "to burn", referring to
the area of forest that was burned and cleared to build. The name
was extended to the area dominated by the canton, and after the
Swabian War of 1499 gradually came to be
used pars pro toto for the entire Confederation.
, have been dated to around 5300 BC.
, named after the archaeological site of La Tène on
the north side of Lake Neuchâtel
. La Tène culture developed and flourished
during the late Iron Age from around
450 BC, possibly under some influence from
the Greek and Etruscan
civilisations. One of the most important
tribal groups in the Swiss region was the Helvetii. In 58 BC, at the Battle of Bibracte, Julius Caesar's armies defeated the Helvetii.
In 15 BC, Tiberius, who was destined to be
the second Roman emperor and his brother, Drusus, conquered the Alps, integrating
them into the Roman Empire. The area
occupied by the Helvetii—the namesakes of
the later Confoederatio Helvetica—first became part of
Rome's Gallia Belgica province and
then of its Germania Superior
province, while the eastern portion of modern Switzerland was
integrated into the Roman province of
Raetia.
in 504 AD, and later Frankish domination of the
Burgundians.
, Schwyz, Unterwalden
, later known as Waldstätten) were accorded
the Imperial immediacy to grant
the empire direct control over the mountain passes. When the
Kyburg dynasty fell in 1264 AD, the Habsburgs under King Rudolph I (Holy Roman Emperor in
1273) extended their territory to the eastern Swiss plateau.
The house dominions that existed
around AD 1200:, Schwyz, and Nidwalden
is considered the confederacy's founding document;
even though similar alliances are likely to have existed decades
earlier.
Federal charter of 1291
and Zug
and the
Lucerne
, Zürich and Bern city states
to form the "Old Confederacy" of eight states that existed until
the end of the 15th century. The
expansion led to increased power and wealth for the federation.
By 1460,
the confederates controlled most of the territory south and west of
the Rhine to the Alps and the Jura mountains. particularly after
victories against the Habsburgs (Battle of Sempach
, Battle of
Näfels), over Charles the Bold
of Burgundy during the 1470s, and
the success of the Swiss
mercenaries. The Swiss victory in the Swabian War against the Swabian League of Emperor Maximilian I in 1499
amounted to de facto independence within the Holy Roman Empire.
in 1656 and 1712.
and Valtellina
valley separated from Switzerland. The new
regime, known as the Helvetic Republic, was highly unpopular.
It had been imposed by a foreign invading army and destroyed
centuries of tradition, making Switzerland nothing more than a
French satellite state. The fierce French suppression of the
Nidwalden
Revolt in September of 1798 was an example of the
oppressive presence of the French Army
and the local population's resistance to the
occupation.
and Austrian
forces invaded Switzerland. The Swiss refused to fight
alongside the French in the name of the Helvetic Republic. In 1803
Napoleon organised a meeting of
the leading Swiss politicians from both sides in Paris. The result
was the Act of Mediation which
largely restored Swiss autonomy and introduced a Confederation of
19 cantons. Henceforth much of Swiss politics would concern
balancing the cantons' tradition of self-rule with the need for a
central government.
. The treaty also allowed Switzerland to
increase its territory, with the admission of the cantons of
Valais
, Neuchâtel
and Geneva
. Switzerland's borders have not changed
since.
, marking the end of foreign service.
, on the condition that it was exempt from any
military requirements.
(killing 40 people), Stein am Rhein
, Vals
, Rafz
(18
killed), and notoriously on 4 March 1945 both Basel
and
Zürich were
bombed.
The coat of arms of the Canton of Jura
has been set apart in the dome of the Federal Palace.
in 1990. After suffrage at the federal level women quickly rose in
political significance, with the first woman on the seven member
Federal Council executive
being Elisabeth Kopp who served from
1984–1989. The first female president was Ruth Dreifuss, elected in 1998 to become
president during 1999.(The Swiss president is elected every year
from those among the seven member high council and cannot serve two
consecutive terms). The second female president is Micheline Calmy-Rey who held the 2007
Swiss high office. She is originally from the western area of
the French-speaking canton Geneve
(Genf in
German, Ginevra in Italian). She is presently joined on the seven
member cabinet/high council by two other women, Doris Leuthard, from the canton of Aargau
and
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf,
from the canton of Graubünden
. 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.
, has been completely surrounded by the EU since
Austria's membership in 1995. On 5 June 2005, Swiss voters
agreed by a 55% majority to join the Schengen treaty, a result that was regarded
by EU commentators as a sign of support by Switzerland, a country
that is traditionally perceived as independent and reluctant to
enter supranational bodies.
220 px
in Bern is the name
of the building in which the Federal Assembly of
Switzerland (federal parliament) and the Swiss Federal Council (executive) are
housed.]]
! !! Canton !! Capital !! !! Canton !! Capital
 |
Aargau |
Aarau |
 |
*Nidwalden |
Stans |
 |
*Appenzell
Ausserrhoden |
Herisau |
 |
*Obwalden |
Sarnen |
 |
*Appenzell
Innerrhoden |
Appenzell |
 |
Schaffhausen |
Schaffhausen |
 |
*Basel-City |
Basel |
 |
Schwyz |
Schwyz |
 |
*Basel-Country |
Liestal |
 |
Solothurn |
Solothurn |
 |
Bern |
Bern |
 |
St.
Gallen |
St.
Gallen |
 |
Fribourg |
Fribourg |
 |
Thurgau |
Frauenfeld |
 |
Geneva |
Geneva |
 |
Ticino |
Bellinzona |
 |
Glarus |
Glarus |
 |
Uri |
Altdorf |
 |
Graubünden |
Chur |
 |
Valais |
Sion |
 |
Jura |
Delémont |
 |
Vaud |
Lausanne |
 |
Lucerne |
Lucerne |
 |
Zug |
Zug |
 |
Neuchâtel |
Neuchâtel |
 |
Zürich |
Zürich
|}*These half cantons are represented by one councillor (instead of two) in the Council of States (see traditional half-cantons). Their populations vary between 15,000 (Appenzell Innerrhoden) and 1,253,500 (Zürich), and their area between (Basel-Stadt) and (Graubünden). The Cantons comprise a total of 2,889 municipalities. Within Switzerland there are two enclaves: Büsingen  belongs to Germany, Campione d'Italia belongs to Italy.In a referendum held in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg  on 11 May 1919 over 80% of those voting supported a
proposal that the state should join the Swiss Confederation.
However, this was prevented by the opposition of the Austrian Government, the Allies, Swiss liberals, the
Swiss-Italians (persons of Swiss nationality who live in Italian Switzerland, see map) and the
Romands (Swiss nationals living in the
French-speaking regions of Switzerland, see map).Foreign relations and international institutions Traditionally, Switzerland avoids alliances that might entail military, political, or direct economic action and had been neutral since the end of its expansion in 1515. Only in 2002 did Switzerland become a full member of the United Nations but 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. Switzerland is not a member of the European Union; the Swiss people have consistently rejected membership since the early 1990s. An unusual number of international institutions have their seats in Switzerland, in part because of its policy of neutrality. The Red Cross  , whose symbol is based on a reversed Swiss flag,
was founded there in 1863 and still has its institutional centre in
the country. European Broadcasting Union has the official headquarters in Geneva.
Even
though Switzerland is one of the most recent countries to have
joined the United Nations, Geneva is the
second biggest centre for the United
Nations after New York, and Switzerland was a founding member
of the League of Nations.
Apart from the United Nations headquarters, Geneva is host to many
UN agencies, like the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) and about 200 other international
organisations.Furthermore, many sport federations and organisations are located throughout the country, such as the International Ice Hockey Federation. The most important ones are probably the International Olympic Committee  , in Lausanne, the FIFA
(International Federation of Association Football), in Zürich, and the UEFA (Union of
European Football Association), in Nyon .The World Economic Forum foundation is based in Geneva. It is best known for its annual meeting in Davos  which brings together top international business
and political leaders to discuss important issues facing the world,
including health and the environment.Swiss Armed Forces  .The structure of the Swiss militia system stipulates that the soldiers keep their own personal equipment, including all personal weapons, at home. Some organisations and political parties find this practice controversial and dangerous. Compulsory military service concerns all male Swiss citizens; women can serve voluntarily. They usually receive the marching order at the age of 19 for military conscription. About two thirds of the young Swiss are found suited for service; for those found unsuited, an alternative service exists. Annually, approximately 20,000 persons are trained in boot camp for a duration from 18 to 21 weeks. The reform "Army XXI" was adopted by popular vote in 2003, it replaced the previous model "Army 95", reducing the effectives from 400,000 to about 200,000. Of those, 120,000 are active and 80,000 are reserve units.  Because of neutrality, the army can not take part in armed conflicts in other countries, but is part of some peacekeeping missions around the world. Since 2000 the armed forces department has also maintained the Onyx intelligence gathering system to monitor satellite communications. Following the end of the Cold War there have been a number of attempts to curb military activity or even abolish the armed forces altogether (see Group for a Switzerland without an Army). A notable referendum on the subject was held on the 26 November 1989 and, although defeated, did see a high percentage of the people in favour of such an initiative. A similar referendum, called for before, but held shortly after, the September 11 attacks, was defeated by over 77% of voters. Geography and climate Satellite image of SwitzerlandExtending across the north and south side of the Alps, Switzerland comprises a great diversity of landscapes and climates on a limited area of . The population is about 7.6 million, resulting in an average population density of around 240 people per square kilometre (622/sq mi). However, the more mountainous southern half of the country is far more sparsely populated than this average, while the northern half and extreme south have a somewhat greater density, as they comprise more hospitable hilly terrain, partly forested and partly cleared, as well as several large lakes. Switzerland comprises three basic topographical areas: the Swiss Alps on the south, the Central
Plateau or middleland, and the Jura
mountains on the north. The Alps are a high mountain
range running across the central-south of the country, comprising
about 60% of the country's total area. Among the high peaks
of the Swiss Alps, the highest of which is the Dufourspitze at , countless valleys are found, many with
waterfalls and glaciers. From these the
headwaters of several major European rivers such as the Rhine , Rhône, Inn , Aare , and
Ticino flow
finally into the largest Swiss lakes such as Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), Lake Zürich , Lake Neuchâtel, and Lake Constance .The most famous mountain is the Matterhorn  ( ) in Valais and the
Pennine
Alps bordering Italy. Even higher mountains
are located in the area: the Dufourspitze ( ), the Dom ( ) and
thirdly, the Weisshorn ( ). The section of the Bernese Alps above the deep glacial Lauterbrunnen valley, containing 72 waterfalls, is also well
known for the Jungfrau ( ) and Eiger , and the
many picturesque valleys in the region. In the southeast the
long Engadin Valley, encompassing the St. Moritz area in canton Graubünden, is also well known; the highest peak in the
neighbouring Bernina
Alps is Piz
Bernina ( ).The more populous northern part of the country, comprising about 30% of the country's total area, is called the Middle Land. It has greater open and hilly landscapes, partly forested, partly open pastures, usually with grazing herds, or vegetables and fruit fields, but it is still hilly. There are large lakes found here and the biggest Swiss cities are in this area of the country. The largest lake is Lake Geneva (also called Lac Léman in French), in western
Switzerland. The Rhone River is
both the main input and output of Lake Geneva.The Swiss climate is generally temperate, but can vary greatly between the localities, from glacial conditions on the mountaintops to the often pleasant near Mediterranean climate at Switzerland's southern tip. Summers tend to be warm and humid at times with periodic rainfall so they are ideal for pastures and grazing. The winters in the mountains alternate with sun and snow, while the lower lands tend to be more cloudy and foggy in winter. A weather phenomenon known as the föhn can occur at all times of the year, even in winter, and is characterised by a relatively warm wind, bringing air of very low relative humidity. It blows mostly on the northern side of the Alps where it can trigger dangerous avalanches. The driest conditions persist in the southern valleys of the Valais above which
valuable saffron is harvested and many wine
grapes are grown, Graubünden also tends to be drier in climate and
slightly colder, yet with plentiful snow in winter.
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. The eastern part tends to be colder than western
Switzerland, yet anywhere up high in the mountains can experience a
cold spell at any time of the year. Precipitation tends to be
spread moderately throughout the year, with minor variations across
the seasons depending on locale. Autumn frequently tends to be the
driest season, yet the weather patterns in Switzerland can be
highly variable from year to year, and difficult to predict.Switzerland's ecosystems can be particularly vulnerable, because of the many delicate valleys separated by high mountains, often forming unique ecologies. The mountainous regions themselves are also vulnerable, with a rich range of plants not found at other altitudes, and experience some pressure from visitors and grazing. The tree line in the mountains of Switzerland has advanced down over the years, largely because of the increasing absence of herding and grazing pressures. EconomySwitzerland has a stable, modern and one of the most capitalist economies in the world. It has the 2nd highest European rating after Ireland in the Index
of Economic Freedom 2008, while also providing large coverage
through public services. The nominal per capita GDP is higher than those of the
larger western European economies and Japan, ranking 6th behind
Luxembourg, Norway, Qatar, Iceland and Ireland.  If adjusted for purchasing power parity, Switzerland ranks 15th in the world for GDP per capita. The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report currently ranks Switzerland's economy as the most competitive in the world. For much of the 20th century, Switzerland was the wealthiest country in Europe by a considerable margin. In 2005 the median household income in Switzerland was an estimated 95,000 CHF, the equivalent of roughly 81,000 USD (as of Nov. 2008) in purchasing power parity, which is similar to wealthy American states like California  . Switzerland is home to several large multinational corporations. The largest Swiss companies by revenue are Glencore, Nestlé, Novartis, Hoffmann-La Roche, ABB and Adecco. Also notable are UBS AG, Zurich Financial Services, Credit Suisse, Swiss Re, and The Swatch Group. Switzerland is ranked as having one of the most powerful economies in the world. Chemicals, health and pharmaceutical, measuring instruments, musical instruments, real estate, banking and insurance, tourism, and international organisation are important industries in Switzerland. The largest exported goods are chemicals (34% of exported goods), machines/electronics (20.9%), and precision instruments/watches (16.9%). Exported services amount to a third of exported goods. Around 3.8 million people work in Switzerland. Switzerland has a more flexible job market than neighboring countries and the unemployment rate is very low. Unemployment rate increased from a low of 1.7% in June 2000 to a peak of 3.9% in September 2004. Partly because of the economic upturn which started in mid-2003, the unemployment rate is currently 3.4% as of April 2009. Population growth from net immigration is quite high, at 0.52% of population in 2004. Foreign citizen population is 21.8% as of 2004, about the same as in Australia. GDP per hour worked is the world's 17th highest, at 27.44 international dollars in 2006. Switzerland has an overwhelmingly private sector economy and low tax rates by Western standards; overall taxation is one of the smallest of developed countries. Switzerland is an easy place to do business; Switzerland ranks 16th of 178 countries in the Ease of Doing Business Index. The slow growth Switzerland experienced in the 1990s and the early 2000s has brought greater support for economic reforms and harmonisation with the European Union. According to Credit Suisse, only about 37% of residents own their own homes, one of the lowest rates of home ownership in Europe. Housing and food price levels were 171% and 145% of the EU-25 index in 2007, compared to 113% and 104% in Germany. Agricultural protectionism—a rare exception to Switzerland's free trade policies—has contributed to high food prices. Product market liberalisation is lagging behind many EU countries according to the OECD. Nevertheless, domestic purchasing power is one of the best in the world. Apart from agriculture, economic and trade barriers between the European Union and Switzerland are minimal and Switzerland has free trade agreements worldwide. Switzerland is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Education, science, and technology Education in Switzerland is very diverse because the constitution of Switzerland delegates the authority for the school system to the cantons. There are both public and private schools, including many private international schools. The minimum age for primary school is about six years in all cantons, but most cantons provide a free "children's school" starting at four or five years old. Primary school continues until grade four or five, depending on the school. Traditionally, the first foreign language in school was always one of the other national languages, although recently (2000) English was introduced first in a few cantons. At the end of primary school (or at the beginning of secondary school), pupils are separated according to their capacities in several (often three) sections. The fastest learners are taught advanced classes to be prepared for further studies and the matura, while students who assimilate a little bit more slowly receive an education more adapted to their needs.   was founded in 1460 in Basel (with a
faculty of medicine) and has a tradition of chemical and medical
research in Switzerland. The biggest university in Switzerland is
the University of Zurich with nearly 25,000 students. The two institutes
sponsored by the federal government are the ETHZ in Zürich (founded 1855) and the EPFL in Lausanne (founded 1969 as such, formerly an institute
associated with the University of Lausanne) which both have an
excellent international reputation. In 2008, the ETH Zurich
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.In addition there are various Universities of Applied
Sciences. In business and management studies,
University of St. Gallen (HSG) and International Institute for Management
Development (IMD) are the leaders. Switzerland has the
second highest rate of foreign students in tertiary education,
after Australia.Many Nobel prizes were awarded to Swiss scientists, for example to the world-famous physicist Albert Einstein in the field of physics who developed his theory of relativity while working in Bern. More recently Vladimir Prelog, Heinrich Rohrer, Richard Ernst, Edmond Fischer, Rolf Zinkernagel and Kurt Wüthrich received Nobel prizes in the sciences. In total, 113 Nobel Prize winners stand in relation to Switzerland and the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded 9 times to organisations residing in Switzerland.  Geneva hosts the
world's largest laboratory, the CERN , dedicated
to particle physics
research. Another important research center is the
Paul
Scherrer Institute . Notable inventions include the Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD),
the Scanning tunneling
microscope (Nobel prize) or the very popular Velcro. Some technologies enabled the exploration of
new worlds such as the pressurized
balloon of Auguste Piccard and the
Bathyscaphe which permitted Jacques Piccard to reach the deepest point
of the world's oceans.Switzerland Space Agency, the Swiss Space Office, has been involved in various space technologies and programs. In addition it was one of the 10 founders of the European Space Agency  in 1975 and is the seventh largest contributor to
the ESA budget. In the private sector, several companies are
implicated in the space industry such as Oerlikon Space or Maxon Motors who provide
spacecraft structures.Switzerland and the European UnionSwitzerland voted against membership in the European Economic Area in December 1992 and has since maintained and developed its relationships with the European Union (EU) and European countries through bilateral agreements. In March 2001, the Swiss people refused in a popular vote to start accession negotiations with the EU. In recent years, the Swiss have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with those of the EU in many ways, in an effort to enhance their international competitiveness. The economy has been growing most recently at around 3% per year. Full EU membership is a long-term objective of some in the Swiss government, but there is considerable popular sentiment against this supported by the conservative SVP party. The western French-speaking areas and the urban regions of the rest of the country tend to be more pro-EU, however with far from any significant share of the population.The government has established an Integration Office under the Department of Foreign Affairs  and the Department of Economic
Affairs. To minimise the negative consequences of
Switzerland's isolation from the rest of Europe, Bern and Brussels
signed seven bilateral agreements to further liberalise trade ties.
These agreements were signed in 1999 and took effect in 2001. This
first series of bilateral agreements included the free movement of
persons. A second series covering nine areas was signed in 2004 and
has since been ratified. The second series includes the Schengen Treaty and the Dublin Convention. They continue to
discuss further areas for cooperation. In 2006, Switzerland
approved a billion francs supportive investment in the poorer
eastern European countries in support
of cooperation and positive ties to the EU as a whole. A further
referendum will be needed to approve 300 million francs to support
Romania and Bulgaria and their recent admission. The Swiss have
also been under EU and sometimes international pressure to reduce
banking secrecy and to raise tax rates to parity with the EU.
Preparatory discussions are being opened in four new areas: opening
up the electricity market, participation in the European GNSS
project Galileo,
cooperating with the European centre for disease prevention and
recognising certificates of origin for food products.On 27 November 2008 the interior and justice ministers of European Union in Brussels  announced Switzerland's accession to the Schengen
passport-free zone from 12 December 2008. The land border checkpoints will remain in place
only for goods movements, but should not run controls on people,
though people entering the country had their passports checked until 29 March 2009 if they
originated from a Schengen nation.Energy, infrastructure, and environment Electricity generated in Switzerland is 56% from hydroelectricity and 39% from nuclear power, with 5% of the electricity generated from conventional power sources resulting in a nearly CO2-free electricity-generating network. On 18 May 2003, two anti-nuclear initiatives were turned down: Moratorium Plus, aimed at forbidding the building of new nuclear power plants (41.6% supported and 58.4% opposed), and Electricity Without Nuclear (33.7% supported and 66.3% opposed). The former ten-year moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants was the result of a citizens' initiative voted on in 1990 which had passed with 54.5% Yes vs. 45.5% No votes. A new nuclear plant in the Canton of Bern is presently planned. The Swiss Federal
Office of Energy (SFOE) is the office responsible for all questions
relating to energy supply and energy use within the
Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and
Communications (DETEC). The agency is supporting the 2000-watt society initiative to cut the
nation's energy use by more than half by the year 2050.  is Switzerland's largest international flight
gateway, which handled 20.7 million passengers in
2007.Switzerland signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1998 and ratified it in 2003. With Mexico  and the Republic of Korea it forms the Environmental Integrity Group
(EIG). The country is heavily active in recycling and
anti-littering regulations and is one of the top recyclers in the
world, with 66% to 96% of recyclable materials being recycled. In
many places in Switzerland, household garbage disposal is charged
for. Garbage (except dangerous items, batteries etc.) is only
collected if it is in bags which either have a payment sticker
attached, or in official bags with the surcharge paid at the time
of purchase. This gives a financial incentive to recycle as much as
possible, since recycling is free. Swiss health officials and
police often open up garbage for which the disposal charge has not
been paid and search for evidence such as old bills which connect
the bag to the household/person they originated from. Fines for not
paying the disposal fee range from CHF
200–500.Demographics[[File:Sprachen CH 2000 EN.svg|thumb|250px|Official languages in Switzerland:]] Switzerland lies at the crossroads of several major European cultures that have heavily influenced the country's languages and culture. Switzerland has four official languages: German (63.7% total population share, with foreign residents; 72.5% of residents with Swiss citizenship, in 2000) in the north, east and center of the country; French (20.4%; 21.0%) to the west; Italian (6.5%; 4.3%) in the south. Romansh, a Romance language spoken locally by a small minority (0.5%; 0.6%) in the southeastern canton of Graubünden , is designated by the Federal Constitution as a
national language along with German, French and Italian (Article 4
of the Constitution), and as official language if the authorities
communicate with persons of Romansh language (Article 70), but
federal laws and other official acts do not need to be decreed in
this language. 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.The German spoken in Switzerland is predominantly a group of Alemannic dialects collectively known as Swiss German, but written communication typically use Swiss Standard German, whilst the majority of radio and TV broadcast is (nowadays) in Swiss German as well. Similarly, there are some dialects of Franco-Provençal in rural communities in the French speaking part, known as "Suisse romande", called Vaudois, Gruérien, Jurassien, Empro, Fribourgeois, Neuchâtelois, and in the Italian speaking area, Ticinese (a dialect of Lombard). Also the official languages (German, French and Italian) borrow some terms not understood outside of Switzerland, i.e. terms from other languages (German Billette from French), from similar term in another language (Italian azione used not as act but as discount from German Aktion). Learning one of the other national languages at school is obligatory for all Swiss, so most Swiss are supposed to be at least bilingual. Resident foreigners and temporary foreign workers make up about 22% of the population. Most of these (60%) are from European Union or EFTA countries. Italians are the largest single group of foreigners with 17.3% of total foreign population. They are followed by Germans (13.2%), immigrants from Serbia and Montenegro (11.5%) and Portugal  (11.3%). Immigrants from Sri Lanka , most of them former Tamil refugees, are the largest group among
people of Asian origin. In the 2000s, domestic and
international institutions have expressed concern about what they
perceive as an increase of xenophobia,
particularly in some political campaignings. However, the high
proportion of foreign citizens in the country, as well as the
generally unproblematic integration of foreigners, underlines
Switzerland's openness.HealthIn 2006 life expectancy at birth was 79 years for men and 84 years for women. It is among the highest in the world.The Swiss citizens are covered by a compulsory universal health-insurance coverage, permitting access to a broad range of modern medical services. The healthcare system compares well with other European countries and patients are largely satisfied with it. However, spending on health is particularly high, with 11.5% of GDP (2003) and, from 1990, a steady increase is observed, reflecting the high prices of the services provided With aging populations and new healthcare technologies, health spending will likely continue to rise. UrbanisationBetween two thirds and three quarters of the population live in urban areas. Switzerland has gone from a largely rural country to an urban one in just 70 years. Since 1935 urban development has claimed as much of the Swiss landscape as it did during the previous 2,000 years. This urban sprawl does not only affect the plateau but also the Jura and the Alpine foothills and there are growing concerns about land use. However, from the beginning of the 21st century, the population growth in urban areas is higher than in the countryside.Switzerland has a dense network of cities, where large, medium and small cities are complementary. The plateau is very densely populated with about 450 people per km2 and the landscape continually shows signs of man's presence. The weight of the largest metropolitan areas, which are Zürich , Geneva-Lausanne, Basel and
Bern tend to increase. In international
comparison the importance of these urban areas is stronger than
their number of inhabitants suggests. In addition the two main
centers of Zürich and Geneva are recognized for their particular
great quality of life.Religion Switzerland has no official state religion, though most of the cantons (except Geneva and Neuchâtel) recognize official churches, which are either the
Catholic Church or the Swiss Reformed Church. These
churches, and in some cantons also the Old Catholic Church and Jewish congregations, are financed by official
taxation of adherents.Christianity is the predominant religion of Switzerland, divided between the Catholic Church (41.8% of the population) and various Protestant denominations (35.3%). Immigration has brought Islam (4.3%, predominantly Kosovars  , Bosniaks and Turks) and Eastern Orthodoxy (1.8%) as sizeable
minority religions. The 2005 Eurobarometer poll found 48% to
be theist, 39% expressing belief in "a spirit
or life force", 9% atheist and 4% agnostic. Greeley (2003) found that 27% of the
population does not believe in God.  , as well as the Ticino, is traditionally
Catholic. The Swiss
Constitution of 1848, under the recent impression of the
clashes of Catholic vs. Protestant cantons that culminated in the
Sonderbundskrieg, consciously
defines a consociational state,
allowing the peaceful co-existence of Catholics and Protestants. A
1980 initiative calling for the complete separation of church and
state was resoundingly rejected, with only 21.1% voting in
support.Culture Movement and hosts the United Nations Human Rights
Council. Swiss German
speaking areas may perhaps be seen more oriented on German culture, although German-speaking
Swiss people identify strictly as Swiss because of the difference
between High German and the Swiss German dialects. Italian-speaking areas
can have more of an Italian
culture. A region may be in some ways strongly culturally
connected to the neighbouring country that shares its language.The
linguistically isolated Romansh
culture in the eastern mountains of Switzerland is also robust and
strives to maintain its rare linguistic tradition.Many mountain areas have a strong highly energetic ski resort culture in winter, and a hiking (wandering) culture in summer. Some areas throughout the year have a recreational culture that caters to tourism, yet the quieter seasons are spring and autumn when there are fewer visitors and a higher ratio of Swiss. A traditional farmer and herder culture also predominates in many areas and small farms are omnipresent outside the cities.In film, American productions constitute most of the programme, although several Swiss movies have enjoyed commercial successes in recent years. Folk art is kept alive in organisations all over the country. In Switzerland it is mostly expressed in music,dance, poetry, wood carving and embroidery. The alphorn, a trumpet- like musical instrument made of wood, has become alongside yodeling and the accordion an epitome of traditional Swiss music. Literature Among the classics of Swiss German literature are Jeremias Gotthelf (1797-1854) and Gottfried Keller (1819-1890). The undisputed giants of 20th century Swiss literature are Max Frisch (1911-91) and Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921-90), whose repertoire includes Die Physiker (The Physicists) and Das Versprechen (The Pledge), released in 2001 as a Hollywood film. Prominent 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). Also Italian and Romansh-speaking authors contributed but in more modest way given their small number. The probably most famous Swiss literary creation, Heidi, the story of an orphan girl who lives with her grandfather in the Alps, was one of the most popular children's books ever and has come to be a symbol of Switzerland. Her creator, Johanna Spyri (1827-1901), wrote a number of other books around similar themes. MediaThe freedom of the press and the right to free expression is guaranteed in the federal constitution of Switzerland. The Swiss News Agency (SNA) broadcasts information around-the-clock in the three national languages—on politics, economics, society and culture. The SNA supplies almost all Swiss media and a couple dozen foreign media services with its news.Switzerland has historically boasted the greatest number of newspaper titles published in proportion to its population and size. 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 have at least one local newspaper. The cultural diversity accounts for a large number of newspapers. In contrast to the print media, the broadcast media has always been under greater control of the government. The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, whose name was recently changed to SRG SSR idée suisse, is charged with the production and broadcast of radio and television programs. SRG SSR studios are distributed throughout the various language regions. Radio content is produced in six central and four regional studios while the television programs are produced in Geneva , Zürich and Lugano . An extensive cable network also allows most
Swiss to access the programs from neighboring countries.Sports . 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 the
most successful skiers and world champions are Pirmin Zurbriggen and Didier Cuche. , 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. Over the last few
years tennis became an increasely popular sport while some athletes
such as Martina Hingis and Roger Federer have been multiple Grand Slam
singles champions. Roger Federer has won 15 Grand Slam Titles and
is currently unchallenged ATP number one tennis player..jpg/180px-Federer_Cincinnati_(2007).jpg)  with exception to events such as Hillclimbing. However, this ban was
overturned in June 2007. During this period, the country still
produced successful racing drivers such as Clay Regazzoni, Jo
Siffert and successful World Touring Car
Championship driver Alain Menu.
Switzerland also won the
A1GP World Cup of Motorsport in
2007-08 with driver
Neel Jani. Swiss motorcycle racer Thomas Lüthi won the 2005 MotoGP World Championship in the 125cc
category.Traditional sports include Swiss wrestling or "Schwingen". It is an old 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. Steinstossen is the Swiss variant of stone put, a competition in throwing a heavy stone. Practiced only among the alpine population since prehistoric times, it is recorded to have taken place in Basel in the 13th
century. It is also central to the Unspunnenfest, first held in 1805, with its
symbol the 83.5 kg stone named Unspunnenstein.FoodThe cuisine of Switzerland is multi-faceted. While some dishes such as fondue, raclette or rösti are omnipresent through the country, each region developed its own gastronomy according to the differences of climate and languages. Traditional Swiss cuisine uses ingredients similar to those in other European countries, as well as unique dairy products and cheeses such as Gruyère or Emmental, produced in the valleys of Gruyères and Emmental .Chocolate had been made in Switzerland since the 18th century but it gained its reputation at the end of the 19th century with the invention of modern techniques such as conching and tempering which enabled its production on a high quality level. Also a breakthrough was the invention of milk chocolate in 1875 by Daniel Peter. Swiss wine is produced mainly in Valais  , Vaud (Lavaux ), Geneva and Ticino,
with a small majority of white wines. Vineyards have been
cultivated in Switzerland since the Roman era, even though certain
traces can be found of a more ancient origin. The most widespread
varieties are the Chasselas (called Fendant in Valais) and Pinot
Noir. The Merlot is the main
variety produced in Ticino.See alsoReferencesFootnotes
Bibliography
External links
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