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{{Image|Flag of Switzerland.svg.png|right|250px|Flag of Switzerland.}}
{{Image|Flag of Switzerland.svg.png|right|250px|Switzerland's flag.}}
'''Switzerland''' ([[German language|German]]: ''Schweiz''; [[French language|French]]: ''Suisse''; [[Italian language|Italian]]: ''Svizzera''; [[Romansh language|Romansh]]: ''Svizra''), officially the ''Swiss Confederation'' ([[Latin language|Latin]]: ''Confoederatio Helvetica'', abbreviated to ''CH''), is a country in western [[Europe]]. The country is known for its [[bank]]ing industry, and used to be a haven for millionaires to open a bank account because of its policy to protect the privacy of all account holders. Switzerland is also known for being a [[neutrality|neutral]] country since early 19th century. It has not been involved in any wars and has opted out of political organizations like the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]].
'''Switzerland''' ([[German language|German]]: ''Schweiz''; [[French language|French]]: ''Suisse''; [[Italian language|Italian]]: ''Svizzera''; [[Romansh language|Romansh]]: ''Svizra''), officially the '''Swiss Confederation''' ([[Latin language|Latin]]: ''Confoederatio Helvetica'', abbreviated to ''CH''), is a country in western [[Europe]]<ref group=note>In [[Western Europe]] or [[Central Europe]], depending on the definition. See [[Geography of Switzerland]].</ref> where it is bordered by [[Germany]] to the north, [[France]] to the west, [[Italy]] to the south, and [[Austria]] and [[Liechtenstein]] to the east. It has four official languages: [[German language|German]], [[French language|French]], [[Italian language|Italian]], and [[Romansh]].


The country is known for its [[bank]]ing industry, and used to be a haven for millionaires to open a bank account because of its policy to protect the privacy of all account holders. Switzerland is also known for being a [[neutrality|neutral]] country since early 19th century. It has not been involved in any wars and has opted out of political organizations like the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]].
The capital of Switzerland is [[Berne]]. The country has four official languages: [[German language|German]], [[French language|French]], [[Italian language|Italian]], and [[Romansh]].


It is a [[federal republic]] consisting of [[cantons of Switzerland|26&nbsp;cantons]], with [[Bern]], or Berne, the capital, as the seat of the federal authorities.
[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]
Switzerland is a landlocked country geographically divided between the Swiss Alps, the Swiss Plateau and the Jura Mountains, spanning an area of 41285|km2. While the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, the Swiss population of approximately 8 million people is concentrated mostly on the Plateau, where the largest cities are to be found. Among them are the two global city cities and economic centres - [[Zurich]] and [[Geneva]]. The Swiss Confederation has a long history of [[Armed Neutrality|armed neutrality]]—it has not been in a state of war internationally since 1815—and did not join the [[United Nations]] until 2002. It pursues, however, an active foreign policy and is frequently involved in peace-building processes around the world.<ref>Thomas Fleiner, Alexander Misic, Nicole Töpperwien, ''Swiss Constitutional Law'', p. 28, Kluwer Law International</ref> Switzerland is also the birthplace of the [[International Committee of the Red Cross|Red Cross]] and home to a large number of international organizations, including the [[United Nations Office at Geneva|second largest UN office]]. On the European level, it is a founding member of the [[European Free Trade Association]] and is part of the [[Schengen Area]] – although it is notably not a member of the [[European Union]], nor the [[European Economic Area]].
 
Switzerland is one of the [[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|richest countries]] in the world by [[per capita]] [[gross domestic product]], and has the highest [[wealth]] per adult (financial and non-financial assets) of any country in the world.<ref name="Digitaljournal.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/298716 |title=US is still by far the richest country, China fastest growing |publisher=Digitaljournal.com |accessdate=2010-11-08}}</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/oct/19/currency-appreciation-makes-swiss-wealthiest Franc's rise puts Swiss top of rich list] Simon Bowers, guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 19 October 2011</ref> Zurich and Geneva have respectively been ranked as the cities with the second and eighth highest quality of life in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citymayors.com/features/quality_survey.html |title=Swiss and German cities dominate ranking of best cities in the world |publisher=Citymayors.com |date=28 April 2009 |accessdate=2010-04-29}}</ref> It has the world's nineteenth largest economy by nominal [[GDP]] and the [[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|thirty-sixth largest]] by [[purchasing power parity]]. It is the [[List of countries by exports|twentieth largest exporter]] and [[List of countries by imports|eighteenth largest importer]] of goods.
 
Switzerland comprises four main linguistic and cultural regions: German, French, Italian and [[Romansh language|Romansh]]. The [[Swiss people|Swiss]], therefore, though predominantly German-speaking, do not form a [[nation]] in the sense of a common ethnic or linguistic identity. The strong sense of belonging to the country is founded on the common historical background, shared values ([[federalism]] and [[direct democracy]])<ref>[http://www.euroculturemaster.org/pdf/groep1_2/Mangiat.pdf Constitutional Patriotism and Exclusion: the Swiss Case]{{dead link|date=November 2010}} euroculturemaster.org. Retrieved on 2009-07-30</ref> and [[Alps|Alpine]] symbolism.<ref>[http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FCSS%2FCSS40_04%2FS0010417598001686a.pdf&code=58775d5e7c8f256fef0a6e06d5ccf9fa In Search of Natural Identity: Alpine Landscape and the Reconstruction of the Swiss Nation.] journals.cambridge.org. Retrieved on 2009-07-30</ref> The establishment of the Swiss Confederation is traditionally dated to 1 August 1291; [[Swiss National Day]] is celebrated on the anniversary.
 
== Etymology ==
The English name ''Switzerland'' is a compound containing ''Switzer'', an obsolete term for the [[Swiss people|Swiss]],  which was in use during the 16th to 19th centuries.<ref>[[OED]] [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Swiss Online Etymology Dictionary] etymonline.com. Retrieved on 2009-06-25</ref> The English adjective ''Swiss'' is a loan from French ''{{lang|fr|Suisse}}'', also in use since the 16th century. The name ''Switzer'' is from the [[Alemannic German|Alemannic]] ''{{lang|gsx|Schwiizer}}'', in origin an inhabitant of ''[[Schwyz]]'' and its [[Canton of Schwyz|associated territory]], one of the Waldstätten cantons which formed the nucleus of the [[Old Swiss Confederacy]]. The name originates as an exonym, applied ''[[pars pro toto]]'' to the troops of the Confederacy. The Swiss themselves began to adopt the name for themselves after the [[Swabian War]] of 1499, used alongside the term for "Confederates", ''[[Eidgenosse]]n'', used since the 14th century.
 
The toponym ''Schwyz'' itself is first attested in 972, as [[Old High German]] ''{{lang|goh|Suittes}}'', ultimately perhaps related to ''{{lang|goh|suedan}}'' "to burn", referring to the area of forest that was burned and cleared to build.<ref>Room, Adrian. ''Placenames of the World''. London: MacFarland and Co., Inc., 1997.</ref> The name was extended to the area dominated by the canton, and after the Swabian War of 1499 gradually came to be used for the entire Confederation.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14358a.htm Switzerland, the Catholic Encyclopedia] newadvent.org. Retrieved on 2010-01-26</ref><ref>On Schwyzers, Swiss and Helvetians, Federal Department of Home Affairs, [http://www.bar.admin.ch/archivgut/00591/00601/00602/index.html?lang=en# bar.admin.ch]. Retrieved on 2010-01-26</ref>
The [[Swiss German]] name of the country, ''{{lang|gsx|Schwiiz}}'', is homophonous to that of the canton and the settlement, but distinguished by the use of the definite article (''{{lang|gsx|d'Schwiiz}}'' for the Confederation,<ref>[http://www.schweizer-deutsch.ch/uploads/media/einige_Beispielseiten_2007-07-05_01.pdf Züritütsch, Schweizerdeutsch (p. 2)] schweizerdeutsch.ch. Retrieved on 2010-01-26</ref> but simply ''{{lang|gsx|Schwyz}}'' for the canton and the town).<ref>[http://www.sz.ch/xml_1/internet/de/application/d2/d56/d756/f759.cfm Kanton Schwyz: Kurzer historischer Überblick] sz.ch. Retrieved on 2010-01-26</ref>
 
The [[Latin]] name ''Confoederatio Helvetica'' was neologized and introduced gradually after the [[Switzerland as a federal state|formation of the federal state]] in 1848, harking back to the Napoleonic [[Helvetic Republic]], appearing on coins from 1879, inscribed on the [[Federal Palace of Switzerland|Federal Palace]] in 1902 and after 1948 used in the official seal.<ref>[http://hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/d/D9827.php Marco Marcacci, Confederatio helvetica (2002)], Historical Lexicon of Switzerland.</ref>
It is derived from the name of the ''[[Helvetii]]'', a [[Gaulish tribe]] living on the [[Swiss plateau]] before the [[Switzerland in the Roman era|Roman era]].
''[[Helvetia]]'' appears as a [[national personification]] of the Swiss confederacy in the 17th century, with a 1672 play by Johann Caspar Weissenbach.<ref>{{HDS|16440|Helvetia}}</ref>
 
== History ==
{{Main|History of Switzerland}}
Switzerland has existed as a state in its present form since the adoption of the Swiss Federal Constitution in 1848. The precursors of Switzerland established a protective alliance at the end of the 13th century (1291), forming a loose confederation of states which persisted for centuries.
 
=== Early history ===
The oldest traces of hominid existence in Switzerland date back about 150,000 years.<ref name = Early>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/history/prehistory_to_romans/prehistoric_times/ History] swissworld.org. Retrieved on 2009-06-27</ref> The oldest known farming settlements in Switzerland, which were found at [[Gächlingen]], have been dated to around 5300 BC.<ref name = Early/>
 
Founded in 44 BC, Augusta Raurica was the first Roman settlement on the Rhine and is now among the most important archaeological sites in Switzerland.<ref>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swissinfo.html?siteSect=108&sid=6054935&cKey=1126454871000 Switzerland's Roman heritage comes to life] swissinfo.ch</ref>]]
 
The earliest known cultural tribes of the area were members of the Hallstatt culture and La Tène cultures, 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,<ref name = Early/> possibly under some influence from the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] and [[Etruscan civilization|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.<ref name = Early/> In 15 BC, [[Tiberius]], who was destined to be the second Roman emperor and his brother, [[Nero Claudius Drusus|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 the [[Early Middle Ages]], from the 4th century, the western extent of modern-day Switzerland was part of the territory of the [[Kingdom of Burgundy|Kings of the Burgundians]]. The [[Alemanni]] settled the [[Swiss plateau]] in the 5th century and the [[valleys of the Alps]] in the 8th century, forming Alemannia. Modern-day Switzerland was therefore then divided between the kingdoms of Alemannia and [[Burgundy (region)|Burgundy]].<ref name = Early/> The entire region became part of the expanding [[Frankish Empire]] in the 6th century, following [[Clovis I]]'s victory over the Alemanni at [[Tolbiac]] in 504 AD, and later Frankish domination of the Burgundians.<ref name = Nationsencyclopedia>[http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Switzerland-HISTORY.html Switzerland history] Nationsencyclopedia.com. Retrieved on 2009-11-27</ref><ref name = Nationsonline>[http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Switzerland-history.htm History of Switzerland] Nationsonline.org. Retrieved on 2009-11-27</ref>
 
Throughout the rest of the 6th, 7th and 8th centuries the Swiss regions continued under Frankish hegemony ([[Merovingians|Merovingian]] and [[Carolingian Empire|Carolingian]] dynasties). But after its extension under [[Charlemagne]], the Frankish empire was divided by the [[Treaty of Verdun]] in 843.<ref name = Early/> The territories of present day Switzerland became divided into [[Middle Francia]] and [[East Francia]] until they were reunified under the [[Holy Roman Empire]] around 1000&nbsp;AD.<ref name = Early/>
 
By 1200, the Swiss plateau comprised the dominions of the houses of [[House of Savoy|Savoy]], [[Zähringer]], [[Habsburg]], and [[House of Kyburg|Kyburg]].<ref name = Early/> Some regions ([[Canton of Uri|Uri]], [[Canton of Schwyz|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 [[Rudolph I of Habsburg|King Rudolph I]] (Holy Roman Emperor in 1273) extended their territory to the eastern Swiss plateau.<ref name = Nationsencyclopedia/>
 
=== Old Swiss Confederacy ===
 
The Old Swiss Confederacy was an alliance among the valley communities of the central Alps. The Confederacy facilitated management of common interests and ensured peace on the important mountain trade routes. The [[Federal Charter of 1291]] agreed between the [[Medieval commune|rural communes]] of [[Canton of Uri|Uri]], [[Canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]], and [[Unterwalden]] is considered the confederacy's founding document, even though similar alliances are likely to have existed decades earlier.<ref name="schwabe">Schwabe & Co.: ''Geschichte der Schweiz und der Schweizer'', Schwabe & Co 1986/2004. ISBN 3-7965-2067-7 {{de icon}}</ref><ref name = Brief>[http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/ocea/vaus/infoch/chhist.html A Brief Survey of Swiss History] admin.ch, Retrieved on 2009-06-22</ref>
 
 
By 1353, the three original [[Cantons of Switzerland|cantons]] had joined with the cantons of [[Canton of Glarus|Glarus]] and [[Canton of Zug|Zug]] and the [[Lucerne]], [[Zurich]] 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.<ref name = Brief/> 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 [[Duchy of Burgundy|Burgundy]] during the 1470s, and the success of the [[Swiss mercenaries]]. The Swiss victory in the [[Swabian War]] against the [[Swabian League]] of [[Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor]] [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian I]] in 1499 amounted to ''de facto'' independence within the [[Holy Roman Empire]].<ref name = Brief/>
 
The Old Swiss Confederacy had acquired a reputation of invincibility during these earlier wars, but [[Growth of the Old Swiss Confederacy|expansion of the federation]] suffered a setback in 1515 with the Swiss defeat in the [[Battle of Marignano]]. This ended the so-called "heroic" epoch of Swiss history.<ref name = Brief/> The success of [[Zwingli]]'s [[Reformation in Switzerland|Reformation]] in some cantons led to inter-cantonal religious conflicts in 1529 and 1531 ([[Wars of Kappel]]). It was not until more than one hundred years after these internal wars that, in 1648, under the [[Peace of Westphalia]], European countries recognized Switzerland's independence from the Holy Roman Empire and its [[neutral country|neutrality]].<ref name = Nationsencyclopedia/><ref name = Nationsonline/>
 
During the [[Early Modern Switzerland|Early Modern]] period of Swiss history, the growing [[authoritarianism]] of the patriciate families combined with a financial crisis in the wake of the [[Thirty Years' War]] led to the [[Swiss peasant war of 1653]]. In the background to this struggle, the conflict between [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] and [[Protestantism|Protestant]] cantons persisted, erupting in further violence at the [[Battles of Villmergen]] in 1656 and 1712.<ref name = Brief/>
 
=== Napoleonic era ===
{{Main|Switzerland in the Napoleonic era|Helvetic Republic|Act of Mediation}}
 
 
In 1798, the [[French Revolution|revolutionary French]] government conquered Switzerland and imposed a new unified constitution.<ref name = Brief/> This centralised the government of the country and effectively abolished the cantons and [[Mulhouse|Mülhausen]] 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|Nidwalden Revolt]] in September 1798 was an example of the oppressive presence of the [[French Army]] and the local population's resistance to the occupation.
 
When war broke out between France and its rivals, Russian and [[Habsburg Monarchy|Austrian]] forces invaded Switzerland. The Swiss refused to fight alongside the French in the name of the Helvetic Republic. In 1803 [[Napoleon I of France|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.<ref name = Brief/> Henceforth much of Swiss politics would concern balancing the cantons' tradition of self-rule with the need for a central government.
 
In 1815 the [[Congress of Vienna]] fully re-established Swiss independence and the European powers agreed to permanently recognise Swiss neutrality.<ref name = Nationsencyclopedia/><ref name = Nationsonline/><ref name = Brief/> Swiss troops still served foreign governments until 1860 when they fought in the [[Siege of Gaeta (1860)|Siege of Gaeta]]. The treaty also allowed Switzerland to increase its territory, with the admission of the cantons of [[Valais]], [[Canton of Neuchâtel|Neuchâtel]] and [[Canton of Geneva|Geneva]]. Switzerland's borders have not changed since.<ref>{{HDS|7841|Swiss border}}</ref>
 
=== Federal state ===
 
One of the three cantons presiding over the [[Tagsatzung]] (former legislative and executive council), Bern was chosen as the federal capital in 1848, mainly because of its closeness to the French speaking area.<ref>{{HDS|10102|Bundesstadt}}</ref>]]
The restoration of the power to the patriciate was only temporary. After a period of unrest with repeated violent clashes such as the [[Züriputsch]] of 1839, civil war broke out in 1847 when some of the Catholic cantons tried to set up a separate alliance (the ''[[Sonderbundskrieg]]'').<ref name = Brief/> The war lasted for less than a month, causing fewer than 100 casualties, most of which were through [[friendly fire]]. However minor the Sonderbundskrieg seems to be when compared with other European riots and wars in the 19th century, it nevertheless had a major impact on both the psychology and the society of the Swiss and of Switzerland.
 
The war convinced most Swiss of the need for unity and strength towards its European neighbours. Swiss people from all strata of society, whether Catholic, Protestant, or from the liberal or conservative current, realised that the cantons would profit more if their economic and religious interests were merged.
 
Thus, while the rest of Europe was [[revolutions of 1848|plagued by revolutionary uprisings]], the Swiss drew up a constitution which provided for a [[Swiss Federal Constitution|federal layout]], much of it inspired by the [[United States Constitution|American example]]. This constitution provided for a central authority while leaving the cantons the right to self-government on local issues. Giving credit to those who favoured the power of the cantons (the Sonderbund Kantone), the national assembly was divided between an [[upper house]] (the [[Swiss Council of States]], 2 representatives per canton) and a [[lower house]] (the [[National Council of Switzerland]], representatives elected from across the country). [[Referenda]] were made mandatory for any amendment of this constitution.<ref name = Nationsonline/>
 
A system of single weights and measures was introduced and in 1850 the [[Swiss franc]] became the Swiss [[single currency]]. Article 11 of the constitution forbade sending troops to serve abroad, though the Swiss were still obliged to serve [[Francis II of the Two Sicilies]] with Swiss Guards present at the [[Siege of Gaeta (1860)|Siege of Gaeta in 1860]], marking the end of foreign service.
 
An important clause of the constitution was that it could be re-written completely if this was deemed necessary, thus enabling it to evolve as a whole rather than being modified one amendment at a time.<ref name=HistoiredelaSuisse>''Histoire de la Suisse'', Éditions Fragnière, Fribourg, Switzerland</ref>
 
This need soon proved itself when the rise in population and the [[Industrial Revolution]] that followed led to calls to modify the constitution accordingly. An early draft was rejected by the population in 1872 but modifications led to its acceptance in 1874.<ref name = Brief/> It introduced the [[Referendum#Switzerland|facultative referendum]] for laws at the federal level. It also established federal responsibility for defense, trade, and legal matters.
 
In 1891, the constitution was revised with unusually strong elements of [[direct democracy]], which remain unique even today.<ref name = Brief/>
 
=== Modern history ===
Commander-in-Chief of the Swiss Army during World War I]]
Switzerland was not invaded during either of the [[world war]]s. During World War I, Switzerland was home to Vladimir Illych Ulyanov ([[Vladimir Lenin]]) and he remained there until 1917.<ref>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/specials/extraordinary_exiles/index/Lenin_and_the_Swiss_non-revolution.html?cid=12812 Lenin and the Swiss non-revolution] swissinfo.ch. Retrieved on 2010-01-25</ref> Swiss neutrality was seriously questioned by the [[Grimm–Hoffmann Affair]] in 1917, but it was short-lived. In 1920, Switzerland joined the [[League of Nations]], which was based in [[Geneva]], on the condition that it was exempt from any military requirements.
 
[[Switzerland during World War II|During World War II]], [[Operation Tannenbaum|detailed invasion plans]] were drawn up by the Germans,<ref>''Let's Swallow Switzerland'' by Klaus Urner (Lexington Books, 2002).</ref> but Switzerland was never attacked.<ref name = Brief/> Switzerland was able to remain independent through a combination of military deterrence, concessions to Germany, and good fortune as larger events during the war delayed an invasion.<ref name = Nationsonline/><ref name = Stonebooks>[http://stonebooks.com/archives/981111.shtml Book review: Target Switzerland: Swiss Armed Neutrality in World War II, Halbrook, Stephen P.] stonebooks.com. Retrieved on 2009-12-02</ref> Under General [[Henri Guisan]], a massive mobilisation of militia forces was ordered. The Swiss military strategy was changed from one of static defence at the borders to protect the economic heartland, to one of organised long-term attrition and withdrawal to strong, well-stockpiled positions high in the Alps known as the [[Reduit]]. Switzerland was an important base for espionage by both sides in the conflict and often mediated communications between the Axis and Allied powers.<ref name = Stonebooks/>
 
Switzerland's trade was blockaded by both the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] and by the [[Axis Powers|Axis]]. Economic cooperation and extension of credit to the [[Third Reich]] varied according to the perceived likelihood of invasion and the availability of other trading partners. Concessions reached a peak after a crucial rail link through [[Vichy France]] was severed in 1942, leaving Switzerland completely surrounded by the Axis. Over the course of the war, Switzerland interned over 300,000 refugees<ref>{{HDS|10374|Asylum}}</ref> and the [[International Red Cross]], based in Geneva, played an important part during the conflict. Strict immigration and asylum policies as well as the financial relationships with Nazi Germany raised controversy, but not until the end of the 20th century.<ref>[http://www.uek.ch/en/schlussbericht/synthesis/ueke.pdf The Bergier Commission Final Report], page 498.</ref>
 
During the war, the Swiss Air Force engaged aircraft of both sides, shooting down 11 intruding [[Luftwaffe]] planes in May and June 1940, then forcing down other intruders after a change of policy following threats from Germany. Over 100 Allied bombers and their crews were interned during the war. During 1944–45, Allied bombers mistakenly bombed a few places in Switzerland, among which were the cities of [[Schaffhausen]], [[Basel]] and [[Zurich]].<ref name = Stonebooks/>
 
After the war, the Swiss government exported credits through the charitable fund known as the Schweizerspende and also donated to the [[Marshall Plan]] to help Europe's recovery, efforts that ultimately benefited the Swiss economy.<ref>[http://www.uek.ch/en/schlussbericht/synthesis/ueke.pdf The Bergier Commission Final Report], page 521.</ref>
 
Women were granted the [[Suffrage|right to vote]] in the first Swiss cantons in 1959, at the federal level in 1971<ref name = Brief/><ref name = FCO>[http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/europe/switzerland?profile=today Country profile: Switzerland] UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Retrieved on 2009-11-25</ref> and, after resistance, in the last canton [[Appenzell Innerrhoden]] (one of only two remaining ''[[Landsgemeinde]]'') in 1990. After suffrage at the federal level, women quickly rose in political significance, with the first woman on the seven member [[Swiss Federal Council|Federal Council]] executive being [[Elisabeth Kopp]], who served from 1984–1989,<ref name = Brief/> and the first female president being [[Ruth Dreifuss]] in 1999.
 
In 2003, by granting the [[Swiss People's Party]] a second seat in the [[Swiss Federal Council|governing cabinet]], the Parliament altered the [[magic formula|coalition]] which had dominated Swiss politics since 1959.]]
 
Switzerland joined the [[Council of Europe]] in 1963.<ref name = Nationsonline/> In 1979 areas from the canton of [[Bern]] attained independence from the Bernese, forming the new [[canton of Jura]]. On 18 April 1999 the Swiss population and the cantons voted in favour of a completely revised [[Swiss Federal Constitution|federal constitution]].<ref name = Brief/>
 
In 2002 Switzerland became a full member of the [[United Nations]], leaving the [[Holy See|Vatican City]] as the last widely recognised state without full UN membership. Switzerland is a founding member of the [[European Free Trade Association|EFTA]], but is not a member of the [[European Economic Area]]. An application for membership in the [[European Union]] was sent in May 1992, but not advanced since the EEA was rejected in December 1992<ref name = Brief/> when Switzerland was the only country to launch a referendum on the EEA. There have since been several referenda on the EU issue; due to a mixed reaction from the population the membership application has been frozen. Nonetheless, Swiss law is gradually being adjusted to conform with that of the EU, and the government has signed a number of [[bilateralism|bilateral agreements]] with the European Union. Switzerland, together with [[Liechtenstein]], 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.<ref name = Nationsonline/>
 
== Geography ==
 
Extending across the north and south side of the [[Alps]] in [[Western Europe|west]]-[[central Europe]], Switzerland encompasses a great diversity of landscapes and climates on a limited area of 41285|km2|square miles.<ref name = Geo>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/geography/swiss_geography/contrasts/ Geography] swissworld.org, Retrieved on 2009-06-23</ref> The population is about 7.9&nbsp;million, resulting in an average [[population density]] of around 190 people per square kilometre (485/sq&nbsp;mi).<ref name = Geo/><ref name="Landscape">{{cite web|url=http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/ocea/vaus/infoch/chgeog.html|title=Landscape and Living Space |date=31 July 2007|work=Federal Department of Foreign Affairs|publisher=Federal Administration admin.ch|accessdate=2009-06-25}}</ref><ref name="maps">A zoomable map of Switzerland is available at either [http://www.swissinfo-geo.org/ swissinfo-geo.org] or [http://www.swissgeo.ch/ swissgeo.ch]; a zoomable satellite picture is at [http://map.search.ch/ map.search.ch].</ref> The more mountainous southern half of the country is far more sparsely populated than the northern half.<ref name = Geo/> In the largest Canton of [[Graubünden]], lying entirely in the Alps, population density falls to 27 /km² (70 /sq mi).
 
Switzerland lies between latitudes [[45th parallel north|45°]] and [[48th parallel north|48° N]], and longitudes [[5th meridian east|5°]] and [[11th meridian east|11° E]]. It contains three basic topographical areas: the [[Swiss Alps]] to the south, the [[Swiss 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 valleys of the Swiss Alps many glaciers are found, totalling an area of 1,063 square kilometres. From these originate the headwaters of several major rivers, such as the [[Rhine]], [[Inn River|Inn]], [[Ticino River|Ticino]] and [[Rhone]], which flow in the four cardinal directions into the whole of Europe. The hydrographic network includes several of the largest bodies of freshwater in Central and Western Europe, among which are included [[Lake Geneva]], [[Lake Constance]] and [[Lake Maggiore]]. Switzerland has more than 1500 lakes, and contains 6% of Europe's stock of fresh water. Lakes and glaciers cover about 6% of the national territory.<ref name = Geo/><ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/thematische_karten/maps/raum_und_umwelt/naturraum_schweiz.html Physical Geography of Switzerland] bfs.admin.ch. Retrieved on 2010-05-06</ref><ref>[http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/article.php?q=09062217-ice-volume-switzerland-glaciers-calculated Ice volume of Switzerland's glaciers calculated] sciencecentric.com. Retrieved on 2010-05-06</ref>
 
About a hundred of Switzerland's mountain peaks are close to or higher than {{convert|4000|m|ft}}.<ref>[http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/switzerland/ Landscape and climate] cp-pc.ca. Retrieved on 2009-12-14</ref> At {{convert|4634|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, [[Monte Rosa]] is the highest, although the [[Matterhorn]] ({{convert|4478|m|ft|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}) is probably the most famous. Both are located within the [[Pennine Alps]] in the canton of [[Valais]]. The section of the [[Bernese Alps]] above the deep glacial [[Lauterbrunnen]] valley, containing 72 waterfalls, is well known for the [[Jungfrau]] ({{convert|4158|m|ft|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}) 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]] ({{convert|4049|m|ft|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}).<ref name="geography">{{cite book | last = Herbermann | first = Charles George | title = The Catholic Encyclopedia | publisher = Encyclopedia Press |year=1913| page = 358}}</ref>
 
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.<ref name="geography"/> 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.
 
=== Climate ===
The Swiss climate is generally [[temperate climate|temperate]], but can vary greatly between the localities,<ref name = Climate>[http://www.about.ch/geography/climate/index.html Climate in Switzerland] about.ch, Retrieved on 2009-06-23</ref><ref name = BBCclimate>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/country_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT005790 Country guide, Switzerland] bbc.co.uk, Retrieved on 2009-11-20</ref> from glacial conditions on the mountaintops to the often pleasant near [[Mediterranean climate]] at Switzerland's southern tip. There are some valley areas in the southern part of Switzerland where some cold-hardy palm trees are found.<ref>International Palm Society</ref> Summers tend to be warm and humid at times with periodic rainfall so they are ideal for pastures and grazing. The less humid winters in the mountains may see long intervals of stable conditions for weeks, while the lower lands tend to suffer from [[Swiss plateau#Climate|inversion]], during these periods, thus seeing no sun for weeks.
 
A weather phenomenon known as the [[foehn wind|föhn]] (with an identical effect to the [[chinook wind]]) can occur at all times of the year and is characterised by an unexpectedly warm wind, bringing air of very low relative humidity to the north of the Alps during rainfall periods on the southern face of the Alps. This works both ways across the alps but is more efficient if blowing from the south due to the steeper step for oncoming wind from the south. Valleys running south to north trigger the best effect.
The driest conditions persist in all inner alpine valleys that receive less rain because arriving clouds lose a lot of their content while crossing the mountains before reaching these areas. Large alpine areas such as [[Graubünden]] remain drier than pre-alpine areas and as in the main valley of the [[Valais]] wine grapes are grown there.<ref name = FederalClimate>{{cite web|url=http://www.meteoschweiz.admin.ch/web/en/climate/climate_today/swiss_climate_maps.html |title=Climate data sunshine/temperature/rainfall choosable on federal weather bureau |publisher=Meteoschweiz.admin.ch |date=23 May 2011 |accessdate=2011-05-29}}</ref>
 
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.<ref name = FederalClimate/> Precipitation tends to be spread moderately throughout the year with a peak in summer. Autumn is the driest season, winter receives less precipitation than summer, yet the weather patterns in Switzerland are not in a stable climate system and can be variable from year to year with no strict and predictable periods.
 
=== Environment ===
Switzerland's ecosystems can be particularly fragile, 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 climatic, geological and topographical conditions of the alpine region make for a very fragile ecosystem that is particularly sensitive to [[climate change]].<ref>[http://www.image-switzerland.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/e/Image_der_Schweiz/Switzerland_s_strengths_people.pdf The strengths of Switzerland and its people, p.3]{{Dead link|date=January 2010}} Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA. Retrieved on 2009-12-02</ref><ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/environment/climate_change/impact_of_climate_change/ Impact of climate change] swissworld.org. Retrieved on 2010-01-14.</ref>
 
== Politics ==
 
 
The [[Federal constitution of Switzerland|Federal Constitution]] adopted in 1848 is the legal foundation of the modern federal state. It is among the oldest constitutions in the world.<ref name = Politics>[http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/ocea/vaus/infoch/chpoli.html Political System] admin.ch, Retrieved on 2009-06-22</ref> A new Constitution was adopted in 1999, but did not introduce notable changes to the federal structure. It outlines basic and political rights of individuals and citizen participation in public affairs, divides the powers between the Confederation and the cantons and defines federal jurisdiction and authority. There are three main governing bodies on the federal level:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/eur/vgbr/infoch/chpoli.html |title=Political System |publisher=Federal Department of Foreign Affairs}}</ref> the [[bicameralism|bicameral]] parliament (legislative), the [[Swiss Federal Council|Federal Council]] (executive) and the [[Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland|Federal Court]] (judicial).
 
 
The [[Swiss Parliament]] consists of two houses: the [[Swiss Council of States|Council of States]] which has 46 representatives (two from each canton and one from each half-canton) who are elected under a system determined by each canton, and the [[National Council of Switzerland|National Council]], which consists of 200 members who are elected under a system of [[proportional representation]], depending on the population of each canton. Members of both houses serve for 4 years. When both houses are in joint session, they are known collectively as the [[Federal Assembly of Switzerland|Federal Assembly]]. Through [[referendum]]s, citizens may challenge any law passed by parliament and through [[initiative]]s, introduce amendments to the federal constitution, thus making Switzerland a [[direct democracy]].<ref name = Politics/>
 
The Federal Council constitutes the federal government, directs the [[Federal administration of Switzerland|federal administration]] and serves as collective [[Head of State]]. It is a collegial body of seven members, elected for a four-year mandate by the Federal Assembly which also exercises [[Regulation|oversight]] over the Council. The [[President of the Swiss Confederation|President of the Confederation]] is elected by the Assembly from among the seven members, traditionally in rotation and for a one-year term; the President chairs the government and assumes representative functions. However, the president is a ''[[primus inter pares]]'' with no additional powers, and remains the head of a department within the administration.<ref name = Politics/>
 
The Swiss government has been a coalition of the four major political parties since 1959, each party having a number of seats that roughly reflects its share of electorate and representation in the federal parliament.
The classic distribution of 2 CVP/PDC, 2 SPS/PSS, 2 FDP/PRD and 1 SVP/UDC as it stood from 1959 to 2003 was known as the "[[magic formula]]".
In the [[Swiss Federal Council election, 2007|2007 Federal Council elections]] the seven seats in the Federal Council were distributed as follows:
: 2 [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democrats (SPS/PSS)]],
: 2 [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|Liberal Democrats (FDP/PRD)]],
: 2 [[Swiss People's Party|Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC)]],<ref group=note>The SVP/UDC has suffered a split since the election, with both their councillors defecting to the [[Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland]] (BDP/PBD). As of 2009, with the election of [[Ueli Maurer]], the SVP/UDC and the BDP/PBD hold one seat each.</ref>
: 1 [[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|Christian Democrats (CVP/PDC)]].
 
The function of the Federal Supreme Court is to hear appeals against rulings of cantonal or federal courts. The judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for six-year terms.<ref>[http://www.ch.ch/behoerden/00215/00329/00353/index.html?lang=en The Judiciary: The Federal Supreme Court] ch.ch. Retrieved on 2009-12-15</ref>
 
=== Direct democracy ===
{{Main|Voting in Switzerland}}
 
Swiss citizens are subject to three legal jurisdictions: the commune, canton and federal levels. The 1848 federal constitution defines a system of [[direct democracy]] (sometimes called ''half-direct'' or ''representative direct democracy'' since it is aided by the more commonplace institutions of a [[representative democracy]]). The instruments of Swiss direct democracy at the federal level, known as civic rights (''Volksrechte'', ''droits civiques''), include the right to submit a ''constitutional initiative'' and a ''referendum'', both of which may overturn parliamentary decisions.<ref name = Politics/><ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1435383/How-direct-democracy-makes-Switzerland-a-better-place.html How direct democracy makes Switzerland a better place] telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved on 2009-12-04</ref>
 
By calling a federal ''referendum'' a group of citizens may challenge a law that has been passed by Parliament, if they can gather 50,000 signatures against the law within 100 days. If so, a national vote is scheduled where voters decide by a [[majority|simple majority]] whether to accept or reject the law. Eight cantons together can also call a referendum on a federal law.<ref name = Politics/>
 
Similarly, the federal ''constitutional initiative'' allows citizens to put a [[constitutional amendment]] to a national vote, if they can get 100,000 voters to sign the proposed amendment within 18 months.<ref group=note>Since 1999, an initiative can also be in the form of a general proposal to be elaborated by Parliament, but because it is considered less attractive for various reasons, this form of initiative has yet to find any use.</ref> Parliament can supplement the proposed amendment with a counter-proposal, with voters having to indicate a preference on the ballot in case both proposals are accepted. Constitutional amendments, whether introduced by initiative or in Parliament, must be accepted by a [[double majority]] of both the national popular vote and a majority of the cantonal popular votes.<ref group=note>That is a majority of 23 cantonal votes, because the result of the popular vote in the six traditional [[half-canton]]s each counts as half the vote of one of the other cantons.</ref><ref>Tremblay; Lecours; et al. (2004) Mapping the Political Landscape. Toronto: Nelson.</ref><ref>Turner; Barry (2001). The Statement's Yearbook. New York: MacMillan Press ltd.</ref><ref>Banks, Arthur (2006). Political Handbook of The World 2005–2006. Washington: Cq Press.</ref>
 
=== Administrative divisions ==={{Main|Cantons of Switzerland}}
 
The Swiss Confederation consists of 26 cantons:<ref name = Politics/>
{| style="float:left; border:0; margin:2.6em 0 0;"
|-
| valign="top" |{{Switzerland Cantons Labelled Map|float=left}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%;";"
|- style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
! colspan="2" | Canton !! Capital !! colspan="2" | Canton !! Capital
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Aargau matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Aargau]] || [[Aarau]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Nidwalden matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| *[[Nidwalden]] || [[Stans]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Appenzell Ausserrhoden matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| *[[Appenzell Ausserrhoden]] || [[Herisau]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Obwalden matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| *[[Obwalden]] || [[Sarnen]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Appenzell Innerrhoden matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"|  *[[Appenzell Innerrhoden]] || [[Appenzell (town)|Appenzell]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Schaffhausen matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Schaffhausen|Schaffhausen]] || [[Schaffhausen]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Coat of arms of Kanton Basel-Landschaft.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"|  *[[Basel-Landschaft]] || [[Liestal]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Schwyz matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]] || [[Schwyz]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Basel-Stadt matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| *[[Basel-Stadt]] || [[Basel]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Solothurn matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Solothurn|Solothurn]] || [[Solothurn]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Bern matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Bern|Bern]] || [[Bern]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Coat of arms of canton of St. Gallen.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of St. Gallen|St. Gallen]] || [[St. Gallen]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Freiburg matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]] || [[Fribourg]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Thurgau matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Thurgau]] || [[Frauenfeld]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Genf matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Geneva|Geneva]] || [[Geneva]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Tessin matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Ticino]] || [[Bellinzona]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Glarus matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Glarus|Glarus]] || [[Glarus]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Uri matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Uri|Uri]] || [[Altdorf, Uri|Altdorf]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Graubünden matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Graubünden]] || [[Chur]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Wallis matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Valais]] || [[Sion, Switzerland|Sion]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Jura matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Jura|Jura]] || [[Delémont]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Waadt matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Vaud]] || [[Lausanne]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Luzern matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Lucerne|Lucerne]] || [[Lucerne]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Zug matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Zug|Zug]] || [[Zug]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Neuenburg matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Neuchâtel|Neuchâtel]] || [[Neuchâtel]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Zürich matt.svg|14px]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Zurich|Zurich]] || [[Zurich]]
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki><small>These [[half-canton]]s are represented by one councillor (instead of two) in the [[Swiss Council of States|Council of States]].</small>
 
The cantons have a permanent constitutional status and, in comparison with the situation in other countries, a high degree of independence. Under the Federal Constitution, all 26 cantons are equal in status. Each canton has its own constitution, and its own parliament, government and courts.<ref name="Cantons"/> However, there are considerable differences between the individual cantons, most particularly in terms of population and geographical area. Their populations vary between 15,000 (Appenzell Innerrhoden) and 1,253,500 (Zurich), and their area between 37|km2|square miles (Basel-Stadt) and 7105|km2|square miles (Graubünden). The Cantons comprise a total of 2,485 [[municipalities of Switzerland|municipalities]]. Within Switzerland there are two [[enclave]]s: [[Büsingen]] belongs to Germany, [[Campione d'Italia]] belongs to Italy.<ref>[http://enclaves.webs.com/westerneurope.htm Enclaves of the world] enclaves.webs.com. Retrieved on 2009-12-15</ref>
 
In a referendum held in the [[States of Austria|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 First Republic|Austrian Government]], the [[Allies of World War I|Allies]], [[Liberalism and radicalism in Switzerland|Swiss liberals]] and non German-speaking Swiss.<ref>[http://www.austria.org/content/view/74/ Vorarlberg] austria.org. Retrieved on 2009-12-15</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=c2d@zda.uzh.ch |url=http://www.c2d.ch/?entit=10&vote=101&lang= |title=unige.ch – Direct democracy in the world |publisher=C2d.ch |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=2010-04-29}}</ref>
 
=== Foreign relations and international institutions ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Switzerland}}
 
Traditionally, Switzerland avoids alliances that might entail military, political, or direct economic action and had been neutral since the end of its [[Growth of the Old Swiss Confederacy|expansion]] in 1515. Its policy of neutrality was internationally recognised at the [[Congress of Vienna]] in 1815.<ref name = Neutrality>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/politics/foreign_policy/neutrality_and_isolationism/ Neutrality and isolationism] swissworld.org, Retrieved on 2009-06-23</ref><ref name="nationsencyclopedia.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Europe/Switzerland-COUNTRY-HISTORY-AND-ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT.html|title=Switzerland – Country history and economic development|work=nationsencyclopedia.com|accessdate=12 December 2009}}</ref> Only in 2002 did Switzerland become a full member of the [[United Nations]]<ref name = Neutrality/> and 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.<ref name = Neutrality/> Switzerland is not a member of the [[European Union]]; the Swiss people have consistently rejected membership since the early 1990s.<ref name = Neutrality/>
 
[[File:Flag of the Red Cross.svg|thumb|upright|left|The [[Monochrome|monochromatically]] reversed Swiss flag became the symbol of the Red Cross Movement,<ref name = FCO/> founded in 1863 by [[Henri Dunant]].<ref>[http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1901/dunant-bio.html Henri Dunant, the Nobel Peace Prize 1901] nobelprize.org. Retrieved on 2009-12-02</ref>]]
 
An unusual number of international institutions have their seats in Switzerland, in part because of its policy of neutrality. [[Geneva]] is the birthplace of the [[Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement]] and the [[Geneva Conventions]] and, since 2006, hosts the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]]. Even though Switzerland is one of the most recent countries to have joined the United Nations, the [[Palace of Nations]] in Geneva is the second biggest centre for the United Nations after New York, and Switzerland was a founding member and home to the [[League of Nations]].
 
Apart from the United Nations headquarters, the Swiss Confederation is host to many UN agencies, like the World Health Organization ([[WHO]]), the International Labour Organization ([[International Labour Organization|ILO]]), the International Telecommunication Union ([[International Telecommunication Union|ITU]]), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ([[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|UNHCR]]) and about 200 other international organisations, including the [[World Trade Organization]].<ref name = Neutrality/> The annual meetings of the [[World Economic Forum]] in [[Davos]] bring together top international business and political leaders from Switzerland and foreign countries to discuss important issues facing the world, including health and the environment.
 
Furthermore, many sport federations and organisations are located throughout the country, such as the [[International Basketball Federation]], in Geneva, the [[UEFA]] (Union of European Football Associations), in [[Nyon]], the [[FIFA]] (International Federation of Association Football) and the [[International Ice Hockey Federation]], in [[Zurich]], the [[Union Cycliste Internationale|International Cycling Union]], in [[Aigle]], and the [[International Olympic Committee]], in [[Lausanne]].<ref>[http://www.ifsports-guide.ch/english/navigation/annuaire_en.html Sports directory] if-sportsguide.ch. Retrieved on 2010-01-25</ref>
 
=== Military ===
{{Main|Military of Switzerland}}
 
The [[Military of Switzerland|Swiss Armed Forces]], including the [[Ground Forces|Land Forces]] and the [[Swiss Air Force|Air Force]], are [[Conscription in Switzerland|composed of conscripts]]: professional soldiers constitute only about 5% of the military personnel, and all the rest are conscript male citizens aged from 20 to 34 (in special cases up to 50) years. Being a [[landlocked]] country, Switzerland has no navy; however, on lakes bordering neighbouring countries, armed military patrol boats are used. Swiss citizens are prohibited from serving in foreign armies, with the exception of the [[Swiss Guard]]s of the [[Vatican City|Vatican]], or if they are [[dual citizen]]s of a foreign country and resident there.
 
The structure of the Swiss militia system stipulates that the soldiers keep their Army issued equipment, including all personal weapons, at home. Some organizations and political parties find this practice controversial<ref>[http://www.schutz-vor-waffengewalt.ch/ An initiative to abandon this practice]{{dead link|date=May 2011}} has been launched on 4 September 2007, and supported by [[Group for a Switzerland without an Army|GSoA]], the [[Green Party of Switzerland]] and the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland]] as well as other organisations which are listed at [http://www.schutz-vor-waffengewalt.ch/organisationen.html schutz-vor-waffengewalt.ch]{{dead link|date=May 2011}}</ref> but mainstream Swiss opinion is in favour of the system. [[Conscription|Compulsory military service]] concerns all male Swiss citizens; women can serve voluntarily. Men usually receive military conscription orders for training at the age of 19. About two thirds of the young Swiss are found suited for service; for those found unsuited, various forms of alternative service exist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/zwei_drittel_der_rekruten_diensttauglich_1.687233.html |title=Zwei Drittel der Rekruten diensttauglich (Schweiz, NZZ Online) |accessdate=23 February 2009}}</ref> Annually, approximately 20,000 persons are trained in recruit centres 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 in periodic Army training and 80,000 are non-training reserves.<ref>[http://www.vbs.admin.ch/internet/vbs/de/home/documentation/armeezahlen/eff.html Armeezahlen www.vbs.admin.ch]{{dead link|date=November 2010}} (German)</ref>
 
 
Overall, three general mobilisations have been declared to ensure the integrity and neutrality of Switzerland. The first one was held on the occasion of the [[Franco-Prussian War]] of 1870–71. The second one was decided in response to the outbreak of the [[First World War]] in August 1914. The third mobilisation of the army took place on September 1939 in response to the [[German attack on Poland]]; [[Henri Guisan]] was elected as the General-in-Chief.
 
Because of its neutrality policy, the Swiss army does not currently 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 (interception system)|Onyx]] intelligence gathering system to monitor satellite communications.<ref>As context, according to [[Edwin Reischauer]], "To be neutral you must be ready to be highly militarized, like Switzerland or Sweden." – ''see'' Chapin, Emerson. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2DC163AF931A3575AC0A966958260&scp=1&sq=edwin+o+reischauer&st=nyt "Edwin Reischauer, Diplomat and Scholar, Dies at 79,"] ''New York Times''. 2 September 1990.</ref>
 
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. A notable referendum on the subject, launched by an [[Group for a Switzerland without an Army|anti-militarist group]], was held on 26 November 1989. It was defeated with about two thirds of the voters against the proposal.<ref>[http://www.admin.ch/ch/d//pore/va//19891126/index.html Volksabstimmung vom 26. November 1989] admin.ch. Retrieved on 2010-01-25</ref><ref>''L'évolution de la politique de sécurité de la Suisse'' ("Evolution of Swiss Security Policies") by Manfred Rôsch, [http://www.nato.int/docu/revue/1993/9306-05.htm NATO.int]</ref> A similar referendum, called for before, but held shortly after, the [[11 September attacks]] in the US, was defeated by over 78% of voters.<ref>[http://www.admin.ch/ch/d//pore/va/20011202/det482.html Volksinitiative 'für eine glaubwürdige Sicherheitspolitik und eine Schweiz ohne Armee (in German)] admin.ch. Retrieved on 2009-12-07</ref>
 
== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Switzerland}}
{{See also|Banking in Switzerland|Taxation in Switzerland}}
 
In terms of value, Switzerland is responsible for half of the world production of watches.<ref name = FCO/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swissworld.org/en/economy/key_sectors/watches/ |title=Watches |publisher=Swissworld.org |accessdate=2012-02-28}}</ref>]]
Switzerland has a stable, prosperous and high-tech economy. In 2011, it was ranked as being the wealthiest country in the world in per capita terms (with 'wealth' being defined to include both financial and non-financial assets).<ref>https://www.credit-suisse.com/news/en/media_release.jsp?ns=41874</ref><ref>https://www.credit-suisse.com/upload/news-live/000000022454.pdf</ref>
It has the world's [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|nineteenth largest economy]] by nominal [[GDP]] and the [[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|thirty-sixth largest]] by [[purchasing power parity]]. It is the [[List of countries by exports|twentieth largest exporter]], despite its size. Switzerland has the highest European rating in the [[Index of Economic Freedom]] 2010, while also providing large coverage through public services.<ref>[http://www.heritage.org/index/country/Switzerland 2012 Index of Economic Freedom: Switzerland] heritage.org. Retrieved on 2011-01-25</ref> The nominal per capita [[Gross Domestic Product|GDP]] is higher than those of the larger Western and Central European economies and Japan.<ref name="cia.gov">https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html</ref> If adjusted for purchasing power parity, Switzerland ranks 8th in the world in terms of GDP per capita, according to the World Bank and IMF (ranked 15th according to the CIA Worldfactbook<ref name="cia.gov"/>).
 
The World Economic Forum's [[Global Competitiveness Report]] currently ranks Switzerland's economy as the most competitive in the world,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Report/index.htm |title=World Economic Forum – Global Competitiveness Report |publisher=Weforum.org |accessdate=2010-04-29}}</ref> while ranked by the [[European Union]] as Europe's most innovative country.<ref>http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/pdf/iu-scoreboard-2010_en.pdf</ref> For much of the 20th century, Switzerland was the wealthiest country in Europe by a considerable margin (by GDP – per capita).<ref name='westeuro'>{{cite book | title = Western Europe | publisher = Routledge |year=2002| pages = 645–646| isbn = 1-85743-152-9 }}</ref> In 2005 the [[median household income]] in Switzerland was an estimated 95,000 [[Swiss franc|CHF]], the equivalent of roughly 100,000 USD (as of December 2010) in nominal terms. Switzerland also has one of the world's largest [[List of countries by current account balance as a percentage of GDP|account balances as a percentage of GDP]].
 
 
Area, home to 1.5 million inhabitants and 150,000 companies, is one of the most important economic centres in the world.<ref>[http://www.citymayors.com/economics/power-cities.html The most powerful cities in the world] citymayors.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-27</ref>]]
 
Switzerland is home to several large multinational corporations. The largest Swiss companies by revenue are [[Glencore]], [[Gunvor (company)|Gunvor]],<!--A company registered in Cyprus is Swiss?--> [[Nestlé]], [[Novartis]], [[Hoffmann-La Roche]], [[ABB Group|ABB]], [[Mercuria Energy Group]] and [[Adecco]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/detail/Six_Swiss_companies_make_European_Top_100.html?siteSect=161&sid=7174196&cKey=1161172317000|title=Six Swiss companies make European Top 100|date=18 October 2008|publisher=swissinfo.ch|accessdate=22 July 2008}}</ref> Also notable are [[UBS AG]], [[Zurich Financial Services]], [[Credit Suisse]],  [[Barry Callebaut]],  [[Swiss Re]], [[Tetra Pak]] and [[The Swatch Group]]. Switzerland is ranked as having one of the most powerful economies in the world.<ref name='westeuro'/>
 
Switzerland's most important economic sector is manufacturing. Manufacturing consists largely of the production of specialist [[chemical industry|chemicals]], [[pharmaceutical industry|health and pharmaceutical]] goods, scientific and precision [[measuring instrument]]s and [[musical instrument]]s.  The largest exported goods are chemicals (34% of exported goods), machines/electronics (20.9%), and precision instruments/watches (16.9%).<ref name="yearbook2008"/> Exported services amount to a third of exports.<ref name="yearbook2008">Swiss Statistical Yearbook 2008 by [[Swiss Federal Statistical Office]]</ref> The services sector – especially [[banking]] and [[insurance]], [[tourism]], and [[international organization|international organisations]] – is another important industry for Switzerland.
 
Around 3.8 million people work in Switzerland; about 25% of employees belonged to a trade union in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trade Unions - Switzerland|url=http://www.swissworld.org/en/economy/workers_and_jobs/trade_unions|accessdate=2012-12-17}}</ref> Switzerland has a more flexible [[job market]] than neighbouring countries and the [[unemployment]] rate is very low. Unemployment rate increased from a low of 1.7% in June 2000 to a peak of 4.4%, as of December 2009.<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9D3FGVO0.htm Swiss jobless reach 12-year high – a mere 4.4 pct]{{Dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref> Population growth from net immigration is quite high, at 0.52% of population in 2004.<ref name="yearbook2008"/> [[List of countries by immigrant population|Foreign citizen population]] is 21.8% as of 2004,<ref name="yearbook2008"/> about the same as in Australia. [[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per hour worked|GDP per hour worked]] is the world's 17th highest, at 27.44 [[international dollar]]s in 2006.
 
 
Tourism constitutes an important revenue for the less industrialised alpine regions.]]
Switzerland has an overwhelmingly private sector economy and low tax rates by [[Western World]] standards; [[List of countries by tax revenue as percentage of GDP|overall taxation is one of the smallest]] of [[developed country|developed countries]]. Switzerland is a relatively easy place to do business, currently ranking 28th 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 harmonization with the European Union.<ref name="economicsurvey2007">[http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/39/8/39539300.pdf Policy Brief: Economic Survey of Switzerland, 2007] (326 [[KiB]]), [[OECD]]</ref><ref>[http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/29/49/40202407.pdf Economic Policy Reforms: Going for Growth 2008 – Switzerland Country Note] (45 [[KiB]])</ref> 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.<ref name="yearbook2008"/>
 
Agricultural protectionism—a rare exception to Switzerland's free trade policies—has contributed to high food prices. Product market liberalisation is lagging behind many [[List of European Union member states|EU countries]] according to the [[OECD]].<ref name="economicsurvey2007"/> Nevertheless, domestic [[purchasing power]] is one of the best in the world.<ref>[http://www.osec.ch/internet/osec/en/home/invest/factors/infrastructure/live/costs.-RelatedBoxSlot-47301-ItemList-89920-File.File.pdf/Domestic%20purchasing%20power%20of%20wages%20E.pdf Domestic purchasing power of wages]{{Dead link|date=January 2010}} (68 [[KiB]])</ref><ref>[http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-4179358/Switzerland-tops-in-buying-power.html Switzerland tops in buying power] goliath.ecnext.com. Retrieved on 2010-01-14.</ref><ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE57Q23H20090827 Want the world's best wages? Move to Switzerland] reuters.com. Retrieved on 2010-01-14.</ref> 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 and science ===
<!--Please consider adding other information into relevant articles of the series-->
{{Main|Education in Switzerland|Science and technology in Switzerland}}
 
Education in Switzerland is very diverse because the [[constitution of Switzerland]] delegates the authority for the school system to the [[Canton of Switzerland|cantons]].<ref name = Education>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/education/general_overview/the_swiss_education_system/ The Swiss education system] swissworld.org, Retrieved on 2009-06-23</ref> 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.<ref name = Education/> Primary school continues until grade four, five or six, 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.<ref name = Education/>
 
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]],<ref name = Education/> while students who assimilate a little bit more slowly receive an education more adapted to their needs.
 
The campus of the [[ETH Zurich]]. The institution is usually ranked the top university in continental Europe.<ref>[http://www.topuniversities.com/university/199/eth-zurich-swiss-federal-institute-of-technology ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)] topouniversities.com. Retrieved on 2010-04-30</ref><ref>[http://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings Top.Universities] Retrieved on 2010-04-30</ref>]]
There are [[List of universities in Switzerland|12 universities in Switzerland]], ten of which are maintained at cantonal level and usually offer a range of non-technical subjects. The [[University of Basel|first university in Switzerland]] 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 [[Zurich]] (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.<ref group = note>In 2008, the ETH Zurich was ranked 15th in the field ''Natural Sciences and Mathematics'' by the [[Academic Ranking of World Universities|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.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/ARWU-FIELD2008/SCI2008.htm |title=Shanghai Ranking 2008 Top 100 world universities in Natural Sciences and Mathematics |publisher=Ed.sjtu.edu.cn |accessdate=2010-11-02}}</ref>
 
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 within the country and highly regarded internationally. Switzerland has the second highest rate of foreign students in tertiary education, after Australia.<ref>[http://www.ecs.org/html/offsite.asp?document=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eoecd%2Eorg%2Fdataoecd%2F20%2F25%2F35345692%2Epdf Education at Glance 2005] by the [[OECD]]: Percentage of foreign students in tertiary education.</ref>
 
As might befit a country that plays home to innumerable international organizations, the [[Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies]], located in [[Geneva]], is not only continental Europe's oldest graduate school of international and development studies, but also widely believed to be one of its most prestigious.<ref>[http://www.studyihub.com/the-graduate-institute-of-international-studies-geneva/]</ref><ref>[http://www.law.umn.edu/eperspectives/summer2010/news-and-events/kendra-magraw-10-accepted-at-genevas-prestigious-iheid/]</ref>
 
Many [[Nobel prize]]s were awarded to Swiss scientists, for example to the world-famous physicist [[Albert Einstein]]<ref>John Snygg, ''[http://books.google.ch/books?id=qlX3CqMUHpUC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false ''A New Approach to Differential Geometry Using Clifford's Geometric Algebra''], p. 38</ref> in the field of physics who developed his [[Special relativity]] while working in Bern. More recently [[Vladimir Prelog]], [[Heinrich Rohrer]], [[Richard R. Ernst|Richard Ernst]], [[Edmond H. Fischer|Edmond Fischer]], [[Rolf Zinkernagel]] and [[Kurt Wüthrich]] received Nobel prizes in the sciences. In total, 113 Nobel Prize winners in all fields stand in relation to Switzerland<ref>{{cite web|author=Dr. phil. Roland Mueller |url=http://www.muellerscience.com/SPEZIALITAETEN/Schweiz/SchweizerNobelpreistraeger.htm |title=Muellerscience.com |publisher=Muellerscience.com |accessdate=2011-05-29}}</ref><ref>Nobel prizes in non-science categories included.</ref> and the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] was awarded nine times to organisations residing in Switzerland.<ref name="urlMueller Science - Spezialitaeten: Schweizer Nobelpreisträger">{{cite web |url=http://www.muellerscience.com/SPEZIALITAETEN/Schweiz/SchweizerNobelpreistraeger.htm |title=Mueller Science – Spezialitaeten: Schweizer Nobelpreisträger |accessdate=31 July 2008}}</ref>
 
CERN is the world's largest laboratory and also the birthplace of the [[World Wide Web]].<ref>[http://info.cern.ch/ info.cern.ch] Retrieved on 2010-04-30</ref>]]
 
Geneva and the nearby French department of [[Ain]] co-host the world's largest [[laboratory]], [[CERN]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swissworld.org/en/switzerland/resources/story_switzerland/cern_the_largest_laboratory_in_the_world/ |title=CERN - the largest laboratory in the world www.swissworld.org |publisher=Swissworld.org |accessdate=2010-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://user.web.cern.ch/user/Institute/Integration/GetToCERN/GetToCERN.html |title=How to get to CERN}}</ref> dedicated to [[particle physics]] research. Another important research center is the [[Paul Scherrer Institute]]. Notable inventions include [[lysergic acid diethylamide]] (LSD), the [[scanning tunneling microscope]] (Nobel prize) and [[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 [[European Space Agency|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]]<ref>[http://www.oerlikon.com/ecomaXL/index.php?site=SPACE_EN_company_overview Company overview www.oerlikon.com]{{dead link|date=November 2010}}</ref> or Maxon Motors<ref>{{cite web|author=maxon motor ag |url=http://www.maxonmotor.ch/ch/en/media_releases_5619.html |title=Media releases |publisher=Maxonmotor.ch |date=4 January 2004 |accessdate=2010-04-29}} {{Dead link|date=April 2012|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> who provide spacecraft structures.
 
=== Switzerland and the European Union ===
{{Main|Switzerland – European Union relations}}
Switzerland voted against membership in the [[European Economic Area]] in a referendum 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.<ref>{{cite web
  | title = The contexts of Swiss opposition to Europe
  | author = Prof Clive Church
  | publisher = Sussex European Institute
  | year =  2003
  | month =  may
  | url = http://www.sussex.ac.uk/sei/documents/wp64.pdf
  | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/5lZameh86
  | archivedate = 26 November 2009
  | format = PDF, 124 [[KiB]]
  | page =12
  | accessdate = 13 June 2008}}</ref> 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. [[Future enlargement of the European Union#Switzerland|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 [[Swiss People's Party|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.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/03/blank/key/2001/01.Document.22675.pdf
| title=Volksinitiative "Ja zu Europa!"|trans_title=Initiative "Yes to Europe!"
|date= 13 February 2003
|format= PDF, 1.1 [[MiB]]
|publisher= BFS/OFS/UST
|language= German
|accessdate=15 June 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/03/blank/key/2001/01.Document.85488.xls
| title=Volksinitiative "Ja zu Europa!", nach Kantonen. (Initiative "Yes to Europe!" by Canton).
|date= 16 January 2003
|format= XLS
|publisher= BFS/OFS/UST
|language= German
|accessdate=15 June 2008}}</ref>
 
The government has established an Integration Office under the [[Federal Department of Foreign Affairs|Department of Foreign Affairs]] and the [[Federal Department of Economic Affairs|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 1000 million francs of supportive investment in the poorer Southern and Central 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 positioning system|Galileo]], cooperating with the European centre for disease prevention and recognising certificates of origin for food products.<ref>[http://www.europa.admin.ch/themen/00499/00503/index.html?lang=en Switzerland and the European Union] europa.admin.ch. Retrieved on 2010-01-25</ref>
 
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.<ref>[http://www.euronews.net/2008/12/11/switzerland-in-schengen-end-to-passport-checks/ Switzerland in Schengen: end to passport checks] euronews.net. Retrieved on 2010-01-25</ref>
 
=== Energy, infrastructure and environment ===
{{See also|Energy in Switzerland|Transport in Switzerland|Waste management in Switzerland|Environment of Switzerland}}
 
The [[Gösgen Nuclear Power Plant]] is one of four nuclear power plants in Switzerland.
[[Electricity]] generated in Switzerland is 56% from [[hydroelectricity]] and 39% from [[nuclear power]], resulting in a nearly CO<sub>2</sub>-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),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/va/20030518/det502.html |title=Vote No. 502 – Summary |date=18 May 2003 |language=German}}</ref> and Electricity Without Nuclear (33.7% supported and 66.3% opposed).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/va/20030518/det501.html |title=Vote No. 501 – Summary |date=18 May 2003 |language=German}}</ref>
 
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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bfe.admin.ch/forschungnetze/01223/index.html?lang=en |title=Federal government energy research|date=16 January 2008}}</ref>
 
On 25 May 2011 the Swiss government announced that it plans to end its use of nuclear energy in the next 2 or 3 decades. "The government has voted for a phaseout because we want to ensure a secure and autonomous supply of energy", Energy Minister Doris Leuthard said that day at a press conference in Bern. "Fukushima showed that the risk of nuclear power is too high, which in turn has also increased the costs of this energy form." The first reactor would reportedly be taken offline in 2019 and the last one in 2034. Parliament will discuss the plan in June 2011, and there could be a referendum as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/05/switzerland-to-phase-out-nuclear.html|title=Switzerland to Phase Out Nuclear Energy; E.U. Strikes Deal on 'Stress Tests'|date=25 May 2011}}</ref>
 
The new [[Lötschberg Base Tunnel]], the third-longest railway tunnel in the world, under the old [[Lötschberg railway line]]. It is the first completed tunnel of the greater project [[AlpTransit]].]]
The most dense rail network in Europe<ref name = FCO/> of {{convert|5063|km|mi|abbr=on}}  carries over 350 million passengers annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/11/05/blank/key/verkehrsleistungen/mengen.html |title=Verkehrsleistungen – Daten, Indikatoren admin.ch (German) |publisher=Bfs.admin.ch |date=25 March 2010 |accessdate=2010-04-29}}</ref> In 2007, each Swiss citizen travelled on average {{convert|2103|km|mi|abbr=on}} by rail, which makes them the keenest rail users.<ref>[http://www.bav.admin.ch/dokumentation/publikationen/00475/01623/01624/index.html?lang=de Schienenverkehr] admin.ch (German)</ref> The network is administered mainly by the [[Swiss Federal Railways|Federal Railways]], except in Graubünden, where the {{convert|366|km|mi|abbr=on}} [[narrow gauge|narrow gauge railway]] is operated by the [[Rhaetian Railways]] and includes some World Heritage lines.<ref>[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1276/ Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes] unesco.org</ref> The building of new railway base tunnels through the Alps is under way to reduce the time of travel between north and south through the [[AlpTransit]] project.
 
Swiss private-public managed road network is funded by [[road pricing|road toll]]s and vehicle taxes. The Swiss autobahn/autoroute system requires the purchase of a [[vignette (road tax)|vignette]] (toll sticker)—which costs 40 [[Swiss franc]]s—for one calendar year in order to use its roadways, for both passenger cars and trucks. The Swiss autobahn/autoroute network has a total length of {{convert|1638|km|mi|abbr=on}} (as of 2000) and has, by an area of {{convert|41290|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, also one of the highest [[motorway]] densities in the world. [[Zurich Airport]] is Switzerland's largest international flight gateway, which handled 22.8 million passengers in 2010. The other international airports are [[Geneva Airport]] (11.8 million passengers), [[EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg]] which is located in France, [[Bern Airport]], [[Lugano Airport]], [[St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport]] and [[Sion Airport]].
 
Switzerland has one of the best environmental records among nations in the developed world;<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22802081/ Swiss sit atop ranking of greenest nations] msnbc.com. Retrieved on 2009-12-02</ref> it was one of the countries to sign the [[Kyoto Protocol]] in 1998 and ratified it in 2003. With [[Mexico]] and the [[Republic of Korea]] it forms the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG).<ref>[http://unfccc.int/parties_and_observers/parties/negotiating_groups/items/2714.php Party grouping] unfccc.int. Retrieved on 2009-12-02</ref> 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, depending on the area of the country.<ref>{{cite web|author=W3design |url=http://www.swissrecycling.ch/deutsch/wregel.htm |title=Swiss Recycling |publisher=Swissrecycling.ch |accessdate=2010-04-29}}</ref>
 
In many places in Switzerland, household rubbish disposal is charged for. Rubbish (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.<ref>[http://www.stadtreinigung-bs.ch/page.php?lang=0&sel=114 Stadtreinigung Basel-Stadt]—Pricelist bags and stickers</ref> This gives a financial incentive to recycle as much as possible, since recycling is free.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4620041.stm |title=Recycling around the world |date=25 June 2005 |accessdate=24 April 2006}}</ref> Illegal disposal of garbage is not tolerated but usually the enforcement of such laws is limited to violations that involve the unlawful disposal of larger volumes at traffic intersections and public areas. Fines for not paying the disposal fee range from [[Swiss Frank|CHF]] 200–500.<ref>[http://www.stadtreinigung-bs.ch/data/0d1b64Sauberbuch2004.pdf Richtig Entsorgen (Kanton Basel-Stadt)] (1.6 [[MiB]])—Wilde Deponien sind verboten... Für die Beseitigung widerrechtlich deponierter Abfälle wird zudem eine Umtriebsgebühr von Fr. 200.– oder eine Busse erhoben (page 90)</ref>
 
Switzerland also has internationally the most efficient system to recycle old newspapers and cardboard materials. Publicly organised collection by volunteers and economical [[railway]] transport logistics started as early as 1865 under the leadership of the notable industrialist Hans Caspar Escher (Escher Wyss AG) when the first modern Swiss [[paper]] manufacturing plant was built in [[Biberist]].<ref>[http://www.geschichteinchronologie.ch/welt/papiergeschichte.html History of paper manufacturing] in German, retrieved 03-05-2011</ref>
 
== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Switzerland|Swiss (people)|Linguistic geography of Switzerland}}
{{Further|List of Swiss people}}
[[File:Sprachen CH 2000 EN.svg|thumb|250px|Official languages in Switzerland:<ref name="federalstatistics">{{cite web| url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/themen/01/05/blank/key/sprachen.html| title=Languages and religions – Data, indicators| author=Swiss Federal Statistical Office| accessdate=9 October 2007}} The first number refers to the share of languages within total population. The second refers to the Swiss citizens only.</ref>
{{legend|#fe9625| [[Swiss German|German]] (63.7%; 72.5%) }}
{{legend|#52b041| [[Swiss French|French]] (20.4%; 21.0%) }}
{{legend|#6a51a3| [[Swiss Italian|Italian]] (6.5%; 4.3%) }}
{{legend|#91238d| [[Romansh language|Romansh]] (0.5%; 0.6%) }}]]
 
Switzerland lies at the crossroads of several major European cultures that have heavily influenced the country's languages and culture. Switzerland has four [[official language]]s: German (63.7% total population share, with foreign residents; 72.5% of residents with [[Swiss nationality law|Swiss citizenship]], in 2000) in the north, east and centre of the country; French (20.4%; 21.0%) to the west; [[Italian language|Italian]] (6.5%; 4.3%) in the south.<ref name="federalstatistics" /> [[Romansh language|Romansh]] (0.5%; 0.6%), a [[Romance languages|Romance language]] spoken locally in the southeastern trilingual 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.<ref>[http://www.parlament.ch/e/service-presse/parlamentsdienste/aufgaben/Pages/default.aspx The Parliamentary Services] parlament.ch. Retrieved on 2010-01-25</ref>
 
The German spoken in Switzerland is predominantly a group of [[Alemannic dialects]] collectively known as [[Swiss German (linguistics)|Swiss German]], but written communication typically use [[Swiss Standard German]], while the majority of radio and TV broadcast is now in Swiss German as well. Similarly, there are some dialects of [[Franco-Provençal language|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 language|Lombard]]). Moreover, the official languages (German, French and Italian) borrow some terms not understood outside Switzerland, i.e. terms from other languages (German ''Billette''<ref name="billete">{{cite web|url=http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/reisemarkt/billette/online-ticket.htm |title=SBB: Billette – OnlineTicket |publisher=Mct.sbb.ch |accessdate=2010-04-29}}{{dead link|date=May 2011}}</ref> 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 many Swiss are supposed to be at least [[Multilingualism|bilingual]], especially those belonging to minorities.<ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/people/language/minorities_and_bilingualism/ Minorities and bilingualism] swissworld.org. Retrieved on 2010-01-25</ref>
 
Resident foreigners and temporary foreign workers make up about 22% of the population.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/22/publ.Document.114724.pdf Ausländerinnen und Ausländer in der Schweiz – Bericht 2008 (German)] (1196 [[KiB]]), Swiss Federal Statistical Office, page 12.</ref> Most of these (60%) are from European Union or [[European Free Trade Association|EFTA]] countries.<ref name="bfs.admin.ch">[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/22/publ.Document.114724.pdf Ausländerinnen und Ausländer in der Schweiz – Bericht 2008 (German)] (1196 [[KiB]]), Swiss Federal Statistical Office, page 72.</ref> [[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%) as well as [[Portugal]] (11.3%).<ref name="bfs.admin.ch"/> Immigrants from [[Sri Lanka]], most of them former [[Sri Lankan Tamil|Tamil]] refugees, are the largest group among people of Asian origin.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/07/blank/key/01/01.Document.67321.xls Foreign population in Switzerland detailed by nationality, 1980–2006 (German)], Swiss Federal Statistical Office.</ref> Additionally, a 2008 study showed that 30.6% of the Swiss permanent resident population aged 15 or over, i.e. 1,965,000 persons, had an immigration background. A third of this population (651,000) have Swiss citizenship. Four fifths of persons with an immigration background are themselves immigrants (first generation of foreigners as well as native-born and naturalized Swiss citizens), whereas one fifth were born in Switzerland (second-generation foreigners as well as native-born and naturalized Swiss citizens).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/themen/01/07/blank/key/04.html |title= Permanent resident population aged 15 or over, by migration status,in 2008 |publisher=http://www.bfs.admin.ch |accessdate=2012-09-25}}</ref>
In the 2000s, domestic and international institutions expressed concern about what they perceived as an increase in [[xenophobia]], particularly in some political campaigns.  In reply to one critical report the Federal Council noted that "racism unfortunately is present in Switzerland", but stated that the high proportion of foreign citizens in the country, as well as the generally unproblematic integration of foreigners", underlined Switzerland's openness.<ref>[http://www.humanrights.ch/en/Switzerland/Human-Rights-in-Internal-Affairs/Racism/Studies/idart_5119-content.html Definitive report on racism in Switzerland by UN expert] humanrights.ch</ref>
 
{{Largest cities
| name        = Largest cities of Switzerland
| country      = Switzerland
| stat_ref    = [[List of cities in Switzerland]]
| list_by_pop  = <!-- link to the list of cities in the given country, if possible sorted by population -->
| class        = nav
| div_name    = Canton
| div_link    = <!-- the template will automatically create a link for "div_name of country" (e.g. Provinces of Chile), if this doesn't work you can use this field -->
| city_1 = Zurich | div_1 = Canton of Zurich | pop_1 = 372,047 | img_1 = Grossmuenster Wasserkirche .jpg
| city_2 = Geneva | div_2 = Canton of Geneva | pop_2 = 191,803 | img_2 = Geneve 2005 001 Ork.ch.jpg
| city_3 = Basel | div_3 = Basel-Stadt | pop_3 = 169,536 | img_3 = Rhine Rhein Basel 2006 871.JPG
| city_4 = Bern | div_4 = Canton of Bern | pop_4 = 133,920 | img_4 = CH Bern Kramgasse.jpg
| city_5 = Lausanne | div_5 = Vaud | pop_5 = 127,821
| city_6 = Winterthur | div_6 = Canton of Zurich | pop_6 = 101,203
| city_7 = Lucerne | div_7 = Canton of Lucerne| pop_7 = 77,491
| city_8 = St. Gallen | div_8 = Canton of St. Gallen | pop_8 = 72,959
| city_9 = Lugano | div_9 = Ticino | pop_9 = 59,412
| city_10 = Biel/Bienne | div_10 = Canton of Bern  | pop_10 = 51,203
| city_11 = Thun | div_11 = Canton of Bern | pop_11 = 42,623
| city_12 = Köniz | div_12 = Canton of Bern  | pop_12 = 39,102
| city_13 = La Chaux-de-Fonds | div_13 = Canton of Neuchâtel | pop_13 = 37,523
| city_14 = Schaffhausen | div_14 = Canton of Schaffhausen | pop_14 = 34,943
| city_15 = Fribourg | div_15 = Canton of Fribourg | pop_15 = 34,897
| city_16 = Vernier, Switzerland{{!}}Vernier | div_16 = Canton of Geneva | pop_16 = 33,811
| city_17 = Chur | div_17 = Graubünden | pop_17 = 33,756
| city_18 = Neuchâtel | div_18 = Canton of Neuchâtel | pop_18 = 32,973
| city_19 = Uster | div_19 = Canton of Zurich | pop_19 = 32,285
| city_20 = Sion, Switzerland {{!}}Sion | div_20 = Valais | pop_20 = 30,363
}}<noinclude>
 
=== Health ===
{{Main|Healthcare in Switzerland}}
Swiss citizens are universally required to buy health insurance from private insurance companies, which in turn are required to accept every applicant. While the cost of the system is among the highest, the system compares well with other European countries in terms of health outcomes, so patients are largely satisfied with it. In 2006 life expectancy at birth was 79 years for men and 84 years for women.<ref name = WHO >[http://www.who.int/countries/che/en/index.html Switzerland] who.int. Retrieved on 2009-06-29</ref> It is among the highest in the world.<ref>[http://apps.who.int/whosis/database/country/compare.cfm?strISO3_select=CHE&strIndicator_select=LEX0Male,LEX0Female&language=english&order_by=FirstValue%20DESC Life expectancy at birth, 2006] who.int. Retrieved on 2009-06-29</ref><ref>[http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/29/52/36960035.pdf OECD Health Data 2006] oecd.org. Retrieved on 2009-06-29</ref> However, spending on health is particularly high, with 11.5% of [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] (2003) and, from 1990, a steady increase is observed, reflecting the high prices of the services provided.<ref name = OECD>[http://www.oecd.org/document/47/0,2340,en_2649_201185_37562223_1_1_1_1,00.html OECD and WHO survey of Switzerland’s health system] oecd.org. Retrieved on 2009-06-29</ref> With aging populations and new healthcare technologies, health spending will likely continue to rise.<ref name = OECD/>
 
=== Urbanization ===
{{Main|Cities of Switzerland}}
 
[[File:Bisse de Clavau.jpg|thumb|Urbanization in the [[Rhone|Rhone Valley]] (outskirts of [[Sion, Switzerland|Sion]])]]
Between two thirds and three quarters of the population live in urban areas.<ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/geography/town_and_country_planning/where_people_live/ Where people live] swissworld.org. Retrieved on 2009-06-26</ref><ref name = Cities>[http://www.are.admin.ch/dokumentation/00121/00224/index.html?lang=de&msg-id=27412 Städte und Agglomerationen unter der Lupe] admin.ch. Retrieved on 2009-06-26</ref> 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<ref>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/front/Swiss_countryside_succumbs_to_urban_sprawl.html?siteSect=106&sid=9823369&cKey=1223485367000&ty=st Swiss countryside succumbs to urban sprawl] swissinfo.ch. Retrieved on 2009-06-30</ref> and there are growing concerns about land use.<ref>[http://www.gfs-zh.ch/content.php?pid=201%0A Enquête représentative sur l’urbanisation de la Suisse (Pronatura)] gfs-zh.ch. Retrieved on 2009-06-30</ref> However from the beginning of the 21st century, the population growth in urban areas is higher than in the countryside.<ref name = Cities/>
 
Switzerland has a dense network of cities, where large, medium and small cities are complementary.<ref name = Cities/> The [[Swiss plateau|plateau]] is very densely populated with about 450 people per km<sup>2</sup> and the landscape continually shows signs of man's presence.<ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/geography/the_three_regions/the_swiss_plateau/ Swiss plateau] swissworld.org. Retrieved on 2009-06-29</ref> The weight of the largest metropolitan areas, which are [[Zurich]], [[Geneva]]–[[Lausanne]], [[Basel]] and [[Bern]] tend to increase.<ref name = Cities/> In international comparison the importance of these urban areas is stronger than their number of inhabitants suggests.<ref name = Cities/> In addition the two main centers of Zurich and Geneva are recognized for their particular great quality of life.<ref>[http://www.mercer.com/qualityofliving Quality of living] mercer.com. Retrieved on 2009-06-26</ref>
 
=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Switzerland}}
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Switzerland - 2010 Census<ref>Tristan Dennone. ''[http://www.lemondedesreligions.fr/actualite/l-atheisme-gagne-les-suisses-21-06-2012-2552_118.php L'athéisme gagne en Suisse]''. Le Monde des Religions.fr</ref>
|left1=religion
|right1=percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholics]]|DarkOrchid|38.8}}
{{bar percent|[[Protestantism|Protestants]]|DodgerBlue|30.9}}
{{bar percent|[[Irreligion|No religion]]|SlateGray|20.1}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|LimeGreen|4.5}}
{{bar percent|Other|Black|5.7}}
}}
 
Switzerland has no official [[state religion]], though most of the [[cantons of Switzerland|cantons]] (except [[Canton of Geneva|Geneva]] and [[Canton of Neuchâtel|Neuchâtel]]) recognize official churches, which are either the [[Catholic Church]] or the (Protestant) [[Swiss Reformed Church]]. These churches, and in some cantons also the [[Old Catholic Church]] and [[Jewish]] congregations, are financed by official taxation of adherents.<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35487.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2004&nbsp;– Switzerland], U.S. Department of State.</ref>
 
 
As of the 2010 census [[Christianity]] is the predominant religion of Switzerland, divided between the Catholic Church (38.8% of the population) and various Protestant denominations (30.9%). [[Geneva]] converted to Protestantism in 1536, just before [[John Calvin]] arrived there. [[Immigration to Switzerland|Immigration]] has brought [[Islam]] (4.5%) and [[Eastern Orthodoxy]] (around 2%) as sizeable minority religions.<ref name="people">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sz.html#People |title=CIA World Factbook section on Switzerland |publisher=Cia.gov |accessdate=2011-05-29}}</ref> As of the 2000 census other Christian minority communities include Neo-[[Pietism]] (0.44%), [[Pentecostalism]] (0.28%, mostly incorporated in the [[Schweizer Pfingstmission]]), [[Methodism]] (0.13%), the [[New Apostolic Church]] (0.45%), [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] (0.28%), other [[Protestant]] denominations (0.20%), the [[Old Catholic Church]] (0.18%), other Christian denominations (0.20%). Minor non-Christian minority groups are [[Hinduism]] (0.38%), [[Buddhism]] (0.29%), [[Judaism]] (0.25%) and "other religions" (0.11%). 4.3% did not make a statement.<ref name=FSO>{{Cite book
|last=Bovay
|first=Claude
|coauthors=Raphaël Broquet
|title=Recensement fédéral de la population 2000
|url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/fr/index/news/publikationen.Document.50517.pdf
|format=PDF
|accessdate=21 August 2010
|date=December 2004
|publisher=[[Federal Statistical Office (Switzerland)|Federal Statistical Office]]
|location=Neuchâtel
|language=French
|isbn=3-303-16074-0
|page=132
|chapter=Introduction}}</ref> The 2010 Eurobarometer poll<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf|title=Special Eurobarometer, biotechnology, page 204|date=Fieldwork: Jan-Feb 2010|format=PDF}}</ref> found 44% to be [[Theism|theist]], 39% expressing belief in "a spirit or life force" and 11% [[Atheism|atheist]]. Greeley (2003) found that 27% of the population does not believe in a God.<ref>Greeley, Andrew. 2003. Religion in Europe at the End of the Second Millennium. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers</ref>
 
The country was historically about evenly balanced between Catholic and Protestant, with a complex patchwork of majorities over most of the country. One canton, Appenzell, was officially divided into Catholic and Protestant sections in 1597.<ref>{{cite book | last = Reclus | first = Élisée | authorlink = Élisée Reclus | title = The Earth and Its Inhabitants | publisher = D. Appleton and Company |year=1881}}</ref> The larger cities (Bern, Geneva, Zurich and Basel) used to be predominantly Protestant. [[Central Switzerland]], as well as 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 rejected by 78.9% of the voters.<ref>[http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/va/19800302/index.html Volksabstimmung vom 2. März 1980] admin.ch. Retrieved on 2010</ref>
 
== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Switzerland}}
{{See also|Music of Switzerland|Swiss folklore|Alpine culture}}
[[File:Vals06.JPG|thumb|[[Alphorn]] concert in [[Vals, Switzerland|Vals]]]]
Three of Europe's major languages are official in Switzerland. Swiss culture is characterised by diversity, which is reflected in a wide range of traditional customs.<ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/culture/ Swiss culture] swissworld.org. Retrieved on 2009-12-01</ref> A region may be in some ways strongly culturally connected to the neighbouring country that shares its language, the country itself being rooted in western [[Culture of Europe|European culture]].<ref>[http://delche.ec.europa.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Homepage_Dokumente/Presse_und_Information/Reden/2008-11-13_European_Year_of_Intercultural_Dialogue_2008__AFS_Intercultural_Programmes_Kaefigturm.pdf European Year of Intercultural Dialogue] Dr Michael Reiterer. Retrieved on 2009-12-01</ref> The linguistically isolated [[Romansh language|Romansh]] culture in [[Graubünden]] in eastern Switzerland constitutes an exception, it survives only in the upper valleys of the Rhine and the Inn and strives to maintain its rare linguistic tradition.
 
Switzerland is home to many notable contributors to literature, art, architecture, music and sciences. In addition the country attracted a number of creative persons during time of unrest or war in Europe.<ref>[http://www.traveldocs.com/ch/culture.htm Switzerland: culture] traveldocs.com. Retrieved on 2009-12-01</ref>
Some 1000 museums are distributed through the country; the number has more than tripled since 1950.<ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/leisure/relaxation/museums/ Museums] swissworld.org. Retrieved on 2009-12-02</ref> Among the most important cultural performances held annually are the [[Lucerne Festival]],<ref>[http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/l/lucerne_festival/index.html Lucerne Festival] nytimes.com. Retrieved on 2010-12-15</ref> the [[Montreux Jazz Festival]]<ref>[http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/switzerland-s-prestigious-music-festival-montreux-jazz-festival Switzerland’s Prestigious Music Festival-Montreux Jazz Festival] nowpublic.com. Retrieved on 2009-12-02</ref> and the [[Locarno International Film Festival]].<ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/culture/film/film_festivals/ Film festivals] swissworld.org. Retrieved on 2009-12-02</ref>
 
Alpine symbolism has played an essential role in shaping the history of the country and the Swiss national identity.<ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/culture/swissness/mountains_and_hedgehogs/ Mountains and hedgehogs] swissworld.org. Retrieved on 2009-12-01</ref><ref>[http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FCSS%2FCSS40_04%2FS0010417598001686a.pdf&code=f5973a22cda752eed69390f92ddf4fcd In Search of Natural Identity: Alpine Landscape and the Reconstruction of the Swiss Nation], Oliver Zimmer, London School of Economics and Political Science</ref> Nowadays some concentrated mountain areas have a strong highly energetic [[ski resort]] culture in winter, and a [[hiking]] (wandering) or [[Mountain biking]] culture in summer. Other 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. A traditional farmer and herder culture also predominates in many areas and small farms are omnipresent outside the cities. 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 [[yodel]]ing and the accordion an epitome of traditional [[Music of Switzerland|Swiss music]].<ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/culture/music/folk_music/ Folk music] swissworld.org. Retrieved on 2009-12-02</ref><ref>[http://www.europe-cities.com/en/648/switzerland/culture/ Culture of Switzerland] europe-cities.com. Retrieved on 2009-12-14</ref>
 
=== Literature ===
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was not only a writer but also an influential philosopher of the eighteenth-century<ref>[http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/switzerland/ Art in literature] cp-pc.ca. Retrieved on 2009-12-14</ref> (his statue in [[Geneva]]).
 
As the Confederation, from its foundation in 1291, was almost exclusively composed of German-speaking regions, the earliest forms of literature are in German. In the 18th century French became the fashionable language in Bern and elsewhere, while the influence of the French-speaking allies and subject lands was more marked than before.<ref>From [[Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition]], [[Wikisource:1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Switzerland/Literature|Swiss literature]]</ref>
 
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: Requiem for the Detective Novel|The Pledge]]), released in 2001 as a Hollywood film.<ref name = Literature>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/culture/literature/german_speaking_authors/ Literature] swissworld.org, Retrieved on 2009-06-23</ref>
 
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).<ref name = Literature/> Also Italian and Romansh-speaking authors contributed but in more modest way given their small number.
 
Probably the most famous Swiss literary creation, ''[[Heidi]]'', the story of an orphan girl who lives with her grandfather in the Alps, is one of the most popular children's books 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.<ref name = Literature/>
 
=== Media ===
{{Main|Media of Switzerland}}
The freedom of the press and the right to free expression is guaranteed in the federal constitution of Switzerland.<ref name = Media>[http://www.ch.ch/private/00085/00090/00479/00480/index.html?lang=en Press and the media] ch.ch. Retrieved on 2009-06-25</ref> The [[Schweizerische Depeschenagentur|Swiss News Agency]] (SNA) broadcasts information around-the-clock in three of the four 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.<ref name = Media/>
 
Switzerland has historically boasted the greatest number of newspaper titles published in proportion to its population and size.<ref name = Press>[http://www.pressreference.com/Sw-Ur/Switzerland.html Press in Switzerland] pressreference.com. Retrieved on 2009-06-25</ref> The most influential newspapers are the German-language [[Tages-Anzeiger]] and [[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]] NZZ, and the French-language [[Le Temps]], but almost every city has at least one local newspaper. The cultural diversity accounts for a large number of newspapers.<ref name = Press/>
 
The government exerts greater control over broadcast media than print media, especially due to finance and licensing.<ref name = Press/> 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]], [[Zurich]] and [[Lugano]]. An extensive cable network also allows most Swiss to access the programs from neighboring countries.<ref name = Press/>
 
=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sport in Switzerland}}
[[File:Allalinhorn 4027 2007 04 17.JPG|thumb|Ski area over the glaciers of [[Saas-Fee]]]]
[[Skiing]], [[snowboarding]] and [[mountaineering]] are among the most popular sports in Switzerland, the nature of the country being particularly suited for such activities.<ref>[http://www.europe-cities.com/en/672/switzerland/sport/ Sport in Switzerland] europe-cities.com. Retrieved on 2009-12-14</ref> Winter sports are practiced by the natives and tourists since the second half of the 19th century with the invention of [[bobsleigh]] in [[St. Moritz]].<ref>[http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=39 A brief history of bobsleigh] fibt.com. Retrieved on 2009-11-02</ref> The first [[FIS Alpine World Ski Championships|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]].
 
[[File:Innenaufnahme Vaillant Arena Davos.JPG|thumb|left|[[Spengler Cup]] in [[Davos]]]]
Many Swiss are fans of [[Association football|football]] and the national team or '[[Switzerland national football team|Nati]]' is widely supported. Switzerland was the joint host, with Austria, of the [[Euro 2008]] tournament. Many Swiss also follow [[ice hockey]] and support one of the 12 clubs in the [[National League A|League A]]. In April 2009, Switzerland hosted the [[2009 IIHF World Championship]] for the 10th time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship-oc09/home-oc/tournament-information.html |title=IIHF World Championships 2009 official website |publisher=Iihf.com |date=10 May 2009 |accessdate=2010-04-29}}</ref> The National League A is the most attended league in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|author=Geering |url=http://www.hockeyarenas.net/index.php3?ctID=ch&size=0&page=0701&c=eu&ctID=eu&atType=0&show=25&tdSaison=2011 |title=Hockeyarenas.net |publisher=Hockeyarenas.net |accessdate=2011-11-03}}</ref> The numerous lakes make Switzerland an attractive place for sailing. The largest, [[Lake Geneva]], is the home of the sailing team [[Alinghi]] which was the first European team to win the [[America's Cup]] in 2003 and which successfully defended the title in 2007. Tennis has become an increasingly popular sport, and Swiss players such as [[Martina Hingis]] and [[Roger Federer]] have won multiple [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slams]].
 
[[File:Federer Cincinnati (2007).jpg|thumb|upright|In an eight-year span, [[Roger Federer]] has won a record 17 Grand Slam singles titles, making him the most successful men's tennis player ever.<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/gallery/featured/GAL1157546/1/index.htm Roger Federer's Grand Slam Titles] sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved on 2010-06-14</ref>]]
[[Motorsport]] racecourses and events were banned in Switzerland following the [[1955 Le Mans disaster]] with exception to events such as [[Hillclimbing]]. However, this ban was overturned in June 2007.<ref>{{cite web | title = Switzerland lifts ban on motor racing | url = http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Switzerland_lifts_ban_on_motor_racing | publisher = GrandPrix.com & DueMotori.com | date = 6 June 2007 | accessdate = 23 September 2008}}</ref> During this period, the country still produced successful racing drivers such as [[Clay Regazzoni]], [[Sebastian Buemi]], [[Jo Siffert]] and successful [[World Touring Car Championship]] driver [[Alain Menu]]. [[A1 Team Switzerland|Switzerland]] also won the [[A1 Grand Prix|A1GP World Cup of Motorsport]] in [[2007–08 A1 Grand Prix season|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.<ref>[http://www.swissroots.org/swissroots/en/stories/heritage/Heritage/Swiss%20Customs/Hornussen%20Baseball%20Swissstyle Hornussen] swissroots.org. Retrieved on 2010-01-25</ref> [[Steinstossen]] is the Swiss variant of [[stone put]], a competition in throwing a heavy stone. Practiced only among the alpine population since [[prehistory|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&nbsp;kg stone named ''Unspunnenstein''.<ref>[http://www.interlaken.ch/erlebnisse/sommer/festivals/unspunnenfest/tradition-und-geschichte.html?L=3 Tradition and history] interlaken.ch. Retrieved on 2010-01-25</ref>
 
=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Swiss cuisine}}
The 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.<ref>[[Zürcher Geschnetzeltes]] ''Zürcher Geschnetzeltes'', engl.: sliced meat Zurich style</ref>
<ref>[http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/countries/flavors-of-switzerland/ Flavors of Switzerland] theworldwidegourmet.com. Retrieved on 2009-06-24</ref> Traditional Swiss cuisine uses ingredients similar to those in other European countries, as well as unique [[dairy product]]s and [[cheese]]s such as [[Gruyère (cheese)|Gruyère]] or [[Emmental (cheese)|Emmental]], produced in the valleys of [[Gruyères]] and [[Emmental]]. The number of fine-dining establishments is high, particularly in western Switzerland.<ref>[http://servicesv2.webmichelin.com/frontnews/servlet/GetElement?elementCode=56670 Michelin Guide Switzerland 2010 attests to the high quality of gourmet cooking with one new 2 star restaurant and 8 new one star] Press information, Michelin. Retrieved on 2009-12-14</ref><ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2005-04-26-swiss-food_x.htm Swiss region serves up food with star power] usatoday.com. Retrieved on 2009-12-14</ref>
 
[[Swiss chocolate|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 [[Chocolate#Tempering|tempering]] which enabled its production on a high quality level. Also a breakthrough was the invention of milk chocolate in 1875 by [[Daniel Peter]]. The Swiss are the world's largest consumers of chocolate.<ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/switzerland/swiss_specials/swiss_chocolate/swiss_breakthroughs/ Chocolate] swissworld.org. Retrieved on 2009-06-24</ref><ref>[http://www.germanworldonline.com/index.php/swisschocolatehistory/ Swiss Chocolate] germanworldonline.com. Retrieved on 2010-06-14</ref>
 
The most popular alcoholic drink in Switzerland is wine. Switzerland is notable for the variety of grapes grown because of the large variations in [[terroir]]s, with their specific mixes of soil, air, altitude and light. [[Swiss wine]] is produced mainly in [[Valais (wine region)|Valais]], [[Vaud]] ([[Lavaux]]), [[Geneva (wine region)|Geneva]] and [[Ticino (wine region)|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.<ref>[http://www.swisswine.ch/english/bienv/main.asp Wine-producing Switzerland in short] swisswine.ch. Retrieved on 2009-06-24</ref><ref>[http://www.winebiz.com.au/statistics/world.asp Table 38. Top wine consuming nations per capita, 2006] winebiz.com. Retrieved on 2010-06-14</ref>
 
 
== Notes ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em|group=note}}
 
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
 
== Bibliography ==
* Church, Clive H. (2004) ''The Politics and Government of Switzerland''. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-69277-2.
* Dalton, O.M. (1927) ''The History of the Franks, by Gregory of Tours''. Oxford: The Clarendon Press.
* Fahrni, Dieter. (2003) ''An Outline History of Switzerland. From the Origins to the Present Day''. 8th enlarged edition. Pro Helvetia, Zürich. ISBN 3-908102-61-8
* [[Historical Dictionary of Switzerland]] (2002–). Published electronically and in print simultaneously in three national languages of Switzerland.

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Switzerland (German: Schweiz; French: Suisse; Italian: Svizzera; Romansh: Svizra), officially the Swiss Confederation (Latin: Confoederatio Helvetica, abbreviated to CH), is a country in western Europe. The country is known for its banking industry, and used to be a haven for millionaires to open a bank account because of its policy to protect the privacy of all account holders. Switzerland is also known for being a neutral country since early 19th century. It has not been involved in any wars and has opted out of political organizations like the European Union and NATO.

The capital of Switzerland is Berne. The country has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh.

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