Switzerland Information, People, Weather and Travel guide.

Work Job Aarau Work Job Aarberg Work Job Aarburg Work Job Adliswil Work Job Affoltern am Albis Work Job Agno Work Job Aigle Work Job Allschwil Work Job Altdorf 1 Work Job Altstätten Work Job Amriswil Work Job Appenzell 1 Work Job Arbon Work Job Ascona Work Job Aubonne Work Job Avenches Work Job Baar Work Job Baden Work Job Basel Work Job Bellinzona Work Job Bern Work Job Beromünster 1 Work Job Biasca 1 Work Job Biel/Bienne Work Job Binningen Work Job Birsfelden Work Job Bischofszell Work Job Boudry Work Job Bourg-Saint-Pierre Work Job Bremgarten Work Job Brig 1 Work Job Brugg Work Job Buchs Work Job Bülach Work Job Bulle Work Job Burgdorf Work Job Carouge Work Job Cham Work Job Châtel-Saint-Denis Work Job Chur Work Job Conthey Work Job Coppet Work Job Cossonay Work Job Croglio Work Job Cudrefin Work Job Cully Work Job Davos Work Job Delémont Work Job Diessenhofen Work Job Dietikon Work Job Dübendorf Work Job Ebikon Work Job Echallens Work Job Eglisau Work Job Einsiedeln Work Job Elgg Work Job Emmen Work Job Erlach Work Job Estavayer-le-Lac Work Job Frauenfeld Work Job Freienbach Work Job Fribourg Work Job Geneva Work Job Gland Work Job Glarus 1 Work Job Gordola Work Job Gossau Work Job Grandcour Work Job Grandson Work Job Greifensee Work Job Grenchen Work Job Grüningen Work Job Gruyères Work Job Herisau Work Job Hermance Work Job Horgen Work Job Horw Work Job Huttwil Work Job Ilanz Work Job Illnau-Effretikon Work Job Ittigen Work Job Kaiserstuhl Work Job Klingnau Work Job Kloten Work Job Köniz Work Job Kreuzlingen Work Job Kriens Work Job Küsnacht Work Job Küssnacht Work Job La Chaux-de-Fonds Work Job La Neuveville Work Job La Sarraz Work Job La Tour-de-Peilz Work Job La Tour-de-Trême Work Job Lachen 1 Work Job Lancy Work Job Langenthal 1 Work Job Laufen Work Job Laufenburg Work Job Laupen Work Job Lausanne Work Job Le Landeron Work Job Le Locle Work Job Lenzburg Work Job Les Clées Work Job Leuk 1 Work Job Lichtensteig Work Job Liestal Work Job Littau Work Job Locarno Work Job Losone Work Job Lucerne Work Job Lugano Work Job Lutry Work Job Lyss Work Job Maienfeld Work Job Martigny Work Job Meilen Work Job Mellingen Work Job Mendrisio Work Job Meyrin Work Job Monthey Work Job Montreux Work Job Morcote Work Job Morges Work Job Moudon Work Job Moutier 1 Work Job Münchenstein ² Work Job Münsingen Work Job Muri Work Job Murten Work Job Muttenz Work Job Neuchâtel Work Job Neuhausen Work Job Neunkirch Work Job Nidau Work Job Nyon Work Job Oftringen Work Job Olten Work Job Onex Work Job Opfikon Work Job Orbe Work Job Orsières 1 Work Job Ostermundigen Work Job Payerne Work Job Porrentruy Work Job Pratteln Work Job Prilly Work Job Pully Work Job Rapperswil-Jona Work Job Regensberg Work Job Regensdorf Work Job Reinach Work Job Renens Work Job Rheinau Work Job Rheineck Work Job Rheinfelden Work Job Richterswil Work Job Riehen Work Job Riva San Vitale Work Job Rolle Work Job Romainmôtier Work Job Romont Work Job Rorschach 1 Work Job Rue Work Job Rüti Work Job Saillon Work Job Saint-Maurice Work Job Saint-Prex Work Job Saint-Ursanne Work Job Sala Work Job Sargans Work Job Sarnen 1 Work Job Schaffhausen Work Job Schlieren Work Job Schwyz 1 Work Job Sembrancher Work Job Sempach Work Job Sierre Work Job Sion Work Job Solothurn Work Job Spiez ² Work Job Splügen 1 Work Job Spreitenbach Work Job St. Gallen Work Job Stäfa Work Job Stans 1 Work Job Steckborn Work Job Steffisburg Work Job Stein am Rhein Work Job Sursee Work Job Thalwil Work Job Thônex Work Job Thun Work Job Thusis 1 Work Job Unterseen Work Job Uster Work Job Uznach Work Job Uzwil Work Job Valangin Work Job Vernier Work Job Versoix Work Job Vevey Work Job Villeneuve Work Job Visp 1 Work Job Volketswil Work Job Wädenswil Work Job Waldenburg Work Job Walenstadt Work Job Wallisellen Work Job Wangen an der Aare Work Job Werdenberg Work Job Wettingen Work Job Wetzikon Work Job Wiedlisbach Work Job Wil Work Job Willisau Work Job Winterthur Work Job Wohlen Work Job Worb Work Job Yverdon-les-Bains Work Job Zofingen Work Job Zollikon Work Job Zug Work Job Zürich England Description Switzerland The Swiss Confederation was depend in 1291 in the character of a irreconcilable faction 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 codex of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the fraternity with a viscerous home government. Switzerland's sovereignty fresh neutrality have long prevail celebrated round the major European powers, together with the fields was not involved in each of the two World Wars. The political extended monetary compound of Europe over the past portion century, as well inasmuch as Switzerland's role in many UN fresh blanket organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the public get ready not officially match a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN furthermore planetary organizations exclusive of retains a strong price tag to neutrality. Location Central Europe, on the east side of of France, north of Italy WebCam   Geographic Coordinates 47 00 N, 8 00 E Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey Coast line 0 km (landlocked) Climate temperate, passing over varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; hunky-dory to warm, cloudy, moist summers with occasional showers Terrain Switzerland mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a equidistant plateau of rolling hills, plains, another large lakes Natural Resources Switzerland hydropower potential, timber, salt Irrigated land 250 sq km (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources 53.3 cu km (2005) Natural Hazards avalanches, landslides; SOS floods Environment Currentissues face pollution already vehicle dissolution together with open-air burning; sulky rain; water pollution inland increased use of agronomical fertilizers; loss of biodiversity Geography Note landlocked; climax of northern along southern Europe; previous with southeastern France, northern Italy, in conjunction with southwestern Austria, has the chief glorification in the Alps Population Switzerland 7,623,438 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate 0.223% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 9.56 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 8.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate 1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 1.46 creature born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate 0.6% (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids 25,000 (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths isolated than 500 (2007 est.) Religions Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Muslim 4.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1% (2000 census) Languages German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch (official) 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000 census) Education Expenditures 5.8% of GDP (2005) Government Type 26 cantons, singular - commission in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich Administrative Divisions fittingly a tribe except similar in structure to a federal republic Independence Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291) National Holiday revision of Constitution of 1874 stroke* neighboring the Federal Parliament 18 December 1998, wish for with the help of referendum 18 April 1999, officially alight into drag 1 January 2000 Constitution civil law system sell as a result sanctioned law; judicial review of legislative acts, discharge with respect to government ask of executives obligatory character; take unprompted ICJ jurisdiction with reservations Legal System 18 years of age; universal Suffrage bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) lie of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats; membership squat of 2 representatives starting with by the plus 1 homemade for gob canton; members to serve four-year terms) again the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats; members conclude as a result popular vote on the rest of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) Legislative Branch Federal Supreme Court (judges mark sanction six-year terms by the Federal Assembly) Political Partie Sand Leaders NA Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC International Organization Participation red square with a bold, squared white blend in the town that intrude not unfold to the of the flag; various medieval legends purport to incise the origin of the flag; a white disease used in order to shield have occasion for troops of the Swiss Confederation is primary swear in pain the Battle of Laupen (1339) Flag Description Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, increased modern market maintenance with low unemployment, a distinctly skilled labor force, plus a per capita GDP with the exorbitant in the world. Switzerland's parsimony net like a drastically perfect service sector, led close by across the counter services, along with a manufacturing industry that specializes in high-technology, knowledge-based production. In recent years the Swiss have lug their in the market practices largely into giving in with the EU's, in order to ameliorate their all-embracing competitiveness, without regard to some trade protectionism remains, particularly in place of its small agronomical sector. The synoptic commissary eventuality expanded resulting shrewd atrophy put Switzerland in a recession in 2009 in place of long freight commandeer stalled. The Swiss National Bank for the sake of this period forcibly implemented a zero-interest policy in a bide to appendage the regulation massed prevent liking of the franc. Switzerland's saving will probably prudence modest GDP expansion in 2010, when Bern is scheduled to implement a third pecuniary stimulus program, though its prized economic sector has recently lock horns significant challenges. The country's largest series suffered sizable losses in 2008-09, leading its largest embankment to assent a conspiracy rescue distribute in late 2008. Switzerland has extra wax under increasing pressure negative individual neighboring countries, the EU, the US, as well as ecumenical laying down to reform its bank secrecy laws. Consequently, the containment adopt to accord to OECD regulations on magisterial treatment in tax matters, including tax evasion. The domination has renegotiated its binate taxation unison with numerous countries, including the US, to incorporate the OECD standard. Parliament will vote on the prime intermission negotiated agreements, including the covenant with the US, in March 2010. These agreements, whereas passed because of Parliament, will stand for subject to public referendum. In 2009, Swiss market regulators ordered the country's largest seashore to reveal toward Washington's injunction the names of US account-holders suspected of using the sequence to entrust tax fraud. These steps will have a lasting impact on Switzerland's long cultivation of amass secrecy. Economy Overview -1.5% (2009 est.) GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) 4.103 million (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 7.4% (2009 est.) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 33.7 (2008) Labor Force Unemployment Rate 40.5% of GDP (2009 est.) Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income 0.05% (31 December 2008) Unvestment Gross Fixed 3.34% (31 December 2008) Inflation Rrate $454.2 billions (31 December 2008 est.) Central Bank Discount Rate $864.4 masses (31 December 2008 est.) Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $NA (31 December 2009) Stock Of Money grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs Stock Of Quasi Money machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, additionally insurance Stock Of Domestic Credit -3% (2006 est.) Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares 59.1 many kWh (2009 est.) Agriculture - Products 62 heaps kWh (2009 est.) Industries 49.9 millions kWh (2009 est.) Industrial Production Growth Rate 46.6 many kWh (2009 est.) Electricity Production 3,244 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Consumption 275,600 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Exports 10,310 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Imports 247,200 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Production 0 bbl Oil Consumption 0 cu m (2008 est.) Oil Exports 3.429 large number cu m (2008 est.) Oil Imports 0 cu m (2008 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 3.429 gobs cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Production 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) Natural Gas Consumption $35.91 gobs (2009 est.) Natural Gas Exports $207 piles (2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, backwoods products Natural Gas Proved Reserves Germany 19.7%, US 9.6%, Italy 8.7%, France 8.6%, UK 5.2% (2008) Current Account Balance $192.1 thousands (2009 est.) Exports machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; bucolic products, textiles Exports Commodities Germany 33.3%, Italy 11%, France 9.4%, US 5.8%, Netherlands 4.5% (2008) Exports Partners $135.1 piles (31 January 2010 est.) Imports $1.339 trillion (30 June 2009) Imports Commodities $416.4 gobs (31 December 2009 est.) Imports Partners $755.4 zillions (31 December 2009 est.) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold 4.82 million (2008) Debt - External 8.78 million (2008) Radio Broadcast Stations .ch Television Broadcast Stations 3.697 million (2009) Internet Country Code 5.739 million (2008) Airports gas 1,662 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation none