Switzerland

 

 

Essential Information             

Area: 41,293 sq km

Population: 8.0 million (July 2013 est.)

Capital: Berne

Principal Towns: The conurbations of Zurich, Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne and Winterthur have populations of over 100,000 inhabitants.

Languages: German, French, Italian and Romansch are the official languages. English is widely spoken, particularly in business and commerce.

Gross Domestic Product: $362.4 billion (2012 est.)

Gross Domestic Product: $629.5 billion (2012 est.) (PPP)

GDP per capita (Nominal): $78,726 (2012 est.)

GDP per capita (PPP): $54,600 (2012 est.)

International reserves (of foreign exchange and gold): $331.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Climate: Switzerland's climate is a mixture of the major European climatic zones, due to the Alps, and is thus highly variable from place to place. Generally the summers are mild, about 25°C, and the winters cool at about 5°C.

 

 

Demography

Population: 7,996,026 (July 2013 est.)

Ethnic groups: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%

Age Distribution (2013 est.):

0-14 years: 15.2%

15-24 years: 11.6%

25-54 years: 44%

55-64 years: 12%

65 years and over: 17.3%

Population Growth: 0.85% (2013 est.)

Education: Of total population 99% age 15 and over can read and write (2003).