Switzerland

COUNTRY INFORMATION


Official name

Swiss Confederation


Capital

Bern


Coordinates

47°00’ N, 8°00’ E


Location

Switzerland is located in Central Europe and shares borders with France on the west, Germany on the north, Austria and Liechtenstein on the east and Italy on the southeast.


Area

Total area: 41 290 sq km
Land area: 39 770 sq km
Water area: 1 520 sq km


Land boundaries

1 852 km


Coastline

0 km


Administrative division

Switzerland is divided into 26 cantons.


Political system

Switzerland is a confederation. President, the chief of state and the head of government, is elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council (germ.: Bundesrat, fr.: Conseil Federal, it.: Consiglio Federale) for a one-year term. Federal Assembly (germ.: Bundesversammlung, fr.: Assemblee Federale, it.: Assemblea Federale) is bicameral and consists of the Council of States and the National Council.


Population

7 604 467


Ethnic groups

German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, other 7%


Religions

Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 35%, Muslim 4%, Orthodox 2%, other 17%