Europe

Switzerland
Last reviewed: 19 October 2012

Country information

See entire profile

Map of Switzerland

Area: 41,284 sq km (15,984 sq miles)
Population: 7.9 million (2011)
Capital City: Berne
Languages: German (64%), French (19%), Italian (8%), Rumantsch (1%), Other (8%)
Religion(s): Roman Catholic (41.8%), Protestant (35.3%), Muslim (4.3%), none (11.1%)
Currency: Swiss franc (SFr or CHF)
Major political parties (party acronym - party president): People's Party (SVP - Toni Brunner), Social Democrats (SP - Christian Levrat), Liberal Democrats (FDP, Phillip Muller), Christian Democrats (CVP - Christophe Darbellay), GreenParty (Adèle Thorens and Regula Rytz), Green Liberals (GLP - Martin Baumle), Democrats (BDP - Martin Landolt)
Government: Seven member Federal Council
Political system: Federal Republic with strong regional (cantonal) governments
President of the Confederation 2012 and Minister of Finance: Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf (BDP; Councillor since 2007)
Minister of foreign affairs: Didier Burkhalter (FDP; Councillor since 2009)
Minister for the economy: Johann Schneider-Ammann (FDP; Councillor since 2010)
Minister for transport, communications & energy: Doris Leuthard (CVP; Councillor since 2006)
Minister for the interior: Alain Berset (SP; Councillor since 2012)
Minister of defence, civil protection & sports: Ueli Maurer (SVP; Councillor since 2001)
Minister for justice & police: Simonetta Sommaruga (SP; Councillor since 2010)
Membership of international groupings/organisations: Council of Europe, EAPC/PfP, EBRD, EFTA, IBRD, IMF, OECD, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, UNHCR, WTO, Schengen