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{{Short description|Country in Central Europe}}
{{redirect|Swiss Confederation|other uses|Switzerland (disambiguation)|and|Swiss Confederation (disambiguation)}}
{{Pp-semi-indef}}
{{Pp-move}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Swiss Confederation
| common_name            = Switzerland
| native_name            = {{collapsible list
|titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:center;line-height:normal;font-size:85%;
|title = {{resize|1.0 em|Five official names}}
|{{center|
{{smalldiv|{{ubl|{{native name|de|{{nowrap|Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft}}}}|{{native name|fr|Confédération suisse}}|{{native name|it|Confederazione Svizzera}}|{{native name|rm|Confederaziun svizra}}|''Confoederatio helvetica'' ([[Latin]])}}}}
 }}
}}
| image_flag             = Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
| image_coat             = Coat of Arms of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
| national_motto         = (unofficial)<br />"[[Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno]]"
| national_anthem        = "[[Swiss Psalm]]"<div style="padding-top:0.5em;">{{center|[[File:Swiss Psalm (official instrumental).ogg]]}}</div>
| image_map              = Europe-Switzerland.svg
| map_caption            = {{map caption |location_color=green |region=Europe |region_color=green and dark grey}}
| capital                = {{plainlist|
* None ([[de jure]])
* [[Bern]] (de facto){{efn|name=fedcit|Bern is referred to as "federal city" ({{lang-de|Bundesstadt|links=no}}; {{lang-fr|ville fédérale|links=no}}; {{lang-it|città federale|links=no}}; {{lang-rm|citad federala|links=no}}). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities ([[Bellinzona]], [[Lausanne]], [[Lucerne]], [[Neuchâtel]], [[St. Gallen]] a.o.).}}<ref name="Bundesstadt" /><ref name="deFacto">{{Cite journal |last=Holenstein |first=André |year=2012 |title=Die Hauptstadt existiert nicht |journal=UniPress – Forschung und Wissenschaft an der Universität Bern |type=scientific article |language=de |location=Bern|publisher=Department Communication, [[University of Bern]]|volume=152 (Sonderfall Hauptstatdtregion) |pages=16–19 |doi=10.7892/boris.41280 |s2cid=178237847 |quote=Als 1848 ein politisch-administratives Zentrum für den neuen Bundesstaat zu bestimmen war, verzichteten die Verfassungsväter darauf, eine Hauptstadt der Schweiz zu bezeichnen und formulierten stattdessen in Artikel 108:『Alles, was sich auf den Sitz der Bundesbehörden bezieht, ist Gegenstand der Bundesgesetzgebung.』Die Bundesstadt ist also nicht mehr und nicht weniger als der Sitz der Bundesbehörden. |trans-quote=In 1848, when a political and administrative centre was being determined for the new federation, the founders of the constitution abstained from designating a capital city for Switzerland and instead formulated in Article 108: "Everything, which relates to seat of the authorities, is the subject of the federal legislation." The federal city is therefore no more and no less than the seat of the federal authorities.}}</ref>}}
| coordinates            = {{Coord|46|57|N|7|27|E|type:city}}
| largest_city           = [[Zurich]]
| official_languages     = {{hlist|[[German language| German]]|[[French language| French]]|[[Italian language| Italian]]|[[Romansh language|Romansh]]}}
| englishmotto           = "One for all, all for one"
| religion_year          = 2022
| religion_ref           = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Religion |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/population/languages-religions/religions.html |publisher=[[Federal Statistical Office (Switzerland)|Swiss Federal Statistical Office]] |type=official statistics: population age 15+, observation period 2022 |access-date=30 May 2020 |archive-date=24 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424160448/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/population/languages-religions/religions.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| religion               = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap; |
{{Tree list}}
* 58.2% [[Christianity]]
** 32.1% [[Catholic Church in Switzerland|Catholicism]]
** 20.5% [[Protestant Church of Switzerland|Calvinism]]
** 5.6% other [[List of Christian denominations|Christian]]
{{Tree list/end}}
|33.5% [[Irreligion|no religion]] |5.9% [[Islam in Switzerland|Islam]] |1.5% [[Religion in Switzerland|other]] |0.9% unanswered}}
| demonym                = {{ubl|{{lang-en|[[Swiss people|Swiss]]}}|{{lang-de|link=no|Schweizer/Schweizerin}}|{{lang-fr|link=no|Suisse/Suissesse}}|{{lang-it|svizzero/svizzera}} or {{lang|it|elvetico/elvetica}}|{{lang-rm|Svizzer/Svizra}}}}
| government_type        = Federal [[List of countries by system of government#Assembly-independent republics|assembly-independent]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Shugart |first=Matthew Søberg |date=December 2005 |title=Semi-Presidential Systems: Dual Executive And Mixed Authority Patterns |journal=French Politics |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=323–351 |doi=10.1057/palgrave.fp.8200087 |s2cid=73642272|doi-access=free  | issn = 1476-3419 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Elgie |first=Robert |date=2016 |title=Government Systems, Party Politics, and Institutional Engineering in the Round |journal=Insight Turkey |volume=18 |issue=4 |pages=79–92 |issn=1302-177X |jstor=26300453}}</ref> [[directorial republic]]
| leader_title1          = [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Federal Council]]
| leader_name1           = {{unbulleted list
 | [[Viola Amherd]] ([[President of the Swiss Confederation|President]])
 | [[Karin Keller-Sutter]] ([[President of the Swiss Confederation|Vice President]])
 | [[Guy Parmelin]]
 | [[Ignazio Cassis]] 
 | [[Albert Rösti]]
 | [[Élisabeth Baume-Schneider]]
 | [[Beat Jans]]
 }}
| leader_title2          = {{nowrap|[[Chancellor of Switzerland|Federal Chancellor]]}}
| leader_name2           = [[Viktor Rossi]]
| legislature            = [[Federal Assembly (Switzerland)|Federal Assembly]]
| upper_house            = [[Council of States (Switzerland)|Council of States]]
| lower_house            = [[National Council (Switzerland)|National Council]]
| sovereignty_type       = [[History of Switzerland|History]]
| established_event1     = [[Growth of the Old Swiss Confederacy|Founded]]
| established_date1      = 1 August 1291{{efn|name=rütlischwur|Traditional date. The original date of the [[Rütli Oath]] was 1307 (reported by [[Aegidius Tschudi]] in the 16th century) and is just one among several comparable treaties between more or less the same parties during that period. The date of the [[Federal Charter of 1291]] was selected in 1891 for the official celebration of the "Confederacy's 600th anniversary".}}
| established_event2     = Sovereignty recognised ([[Peace of Westphalia]])
| established_date2      = 24 October 1648
| established_event3     = [[Federal Treaty]]
| established_date3      = 7 August 1815
| established_event4     = [[Switzerland as a federal state|Federal state]]
| established_date4      = 12 September 1848{{efn|name=federal constitution|A solemn declaration of the {{lang|de|[[Tagsatzung]]}} declared the Federal Constitution adopted on 12 September 1848. A resolution of the {{lang|de|Tagsatzung}} of 14 September 1848 specified that the powers of the institutions provided for by the 1815 Federal Treaty would expire at the time of the constitution of the [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Federal Council]], which took place on 16 November 1848.}}<ref>{{HDS|9811|Federal constitution|date=3 May 2011 |author=Kley, Andreas}}</ref>
| area_km2               = 41,285
| area_rank              = 132nd
| area_sq_mi             = 15,940 <!--Do not remove per [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers]]-->
| percent_water          = 4.34<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surface water and surface water change |url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER# |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324133453/https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER |archive-date=24 March 2021 |access-date=11 October 2020 |publisher=[[OECD|Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD)}}</ref>
| population_estimate    = {{formatnum:8902308}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bevölkerungsstand am Ende des 2. Quartals 2023 &#124; Bundesamt für Statistik |date=20 September 2023 |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/bevoelkerung.gnpdetail.2023-0208.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920202832/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/bevoelkerung.gnpdetail.2023-0208.html |archive-date=20 September 2023 |access-date=20 September 2023}}</ref>
| population_census      = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 8,327,126<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/population.assetdetail.1401565.html |title=Switzerland's population 2015 |date=22 November 2016 |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Swiss Confederation |issue=1 Population |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland |access-date=7 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220075134/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/population.assetdetail.1401565.html |archive-date=20 December 2016 |format=PDF |url-status=live |editor=Jacqueline Kucera |editor2=Athena Krummenacher |series=Swiss Statistics}}</ref>
| population_estimate_year = 2023
| population_estimate_rank = 99th
| population_census_year = 2015
| population_density_km2 = 207
| population_density_rank = 48th
| GDP_PPP                = {{increase}} $816.456&nbsp;billion<ref name="IMFWEO.CH">{{Cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/April/weo-report?c=146,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2022&ey=2029&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2024 Edition. (Switzerland) |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=www.imf.org |date=16 April 2024 |access-date=16 April 2024 |archive-date=28 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628013214/https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/April/weo-report?c=146,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2022&ey=2029&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year           = 2024
| GDP_PPP_rank           = 35th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = {{increase}} $91,932<ref name="IMFWEO.CH" />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 6th
| GDP_nominal            = {{increase}} $938.458&nbsp;billion<ref name="IMFWEO.CH" />
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2024
| GDP_nominal_rank       = 20th
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $105,669<ref name="IMFWEO.CH" />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 5th
| Gini                   = 31.1 <!--number only-->
| Gini_year              = 2022
| Gini_change            = decrease <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini_ref               = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income – EU-SILC survey |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu |access-date=31 March 2024 |archive-date=9 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009091832/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
| HDI                    = 0.967 <!--number only-->
| HDI_year               = 2022<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change             = steady <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_ref                = <ref>{{Cite web |date=13 March 2024 |title=Human Development Report 2023/2024 |url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313164319/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf |archive-date=13 March 2024 |access-date=13 March 2024 |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] |language=en}}</ref>
| HDI_rank               = 1st
| currency               = [[Swiss franc]]
| currency_code          = CHF
| time_zone              = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset             = +1
| utc_offset_DST         = +2
| time_zone_DST          = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| date_format            = dd.mm.yyyy ([[Anno Domini]])
| drives_on              = right
| calling_code           = [[Telephone numbers in Switzerland|+41]]
| patron_saint           = St [[Nicholas of Flüe]]
| iso3166code            = CH
| cctld                  = [[.ch]], [[.swiss]]
| today                  = 
}}
<!--NOTE: Edits to the introduction are frequently reverted. Please make sure to use the Edit summary below before saving any change to the lede and/or consider asking on the talk page if you are not sure.
The lead section should briefly summarize the MOST IMPORTANT points covered in the article.-->

'''Switzerland'''<!--Do not add English pronunciation per [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Lead section]].--><!-- Native names moved further down in the lead per MOS:FORLANG -->, officially the '''Swiss Confederation''', is a [[landlocked country]] located in west-central [[Europe]].{{efn|name=CH_defintion|There are several definitions. See [[Geography of Switzerland#Western or Central Europe]].}}<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Berner |first1=Elizabeth Kay |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bRDbbGQP0xgC&pg=PA194 |title=Global Environment: Water, Air, and Geochemical Cycles – Second Edition |last2=Berner |first2=Robert A. |date=22 April 2012 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-1-4008-4276-6 |language=en |access-date=23 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922021612/https://books.google.com/books?id=bRDbbGQP0xgC&pg=PA194 |archive-date=22 September 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> It is bordered by [[Italy]] to the south, [[France]] to the west, [[Germany]] to the north and [[Austria]] and [[Liechtenstein]] to the east. Switzerland is geographically divided among the [[Swiss Plateau]], the [[Swiss Alps|Alps]] and the [[Jura Mountains|Jura]]; the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, whereas most of the country's population of 9 million are concentrated on the plateau, which hosts [[List of cities in Switzerland|its largest cities]] and economic centres, including [[Zurich]], [[Geneva]], and [[Basel]].<ref name="20min.ch">{{Cite web |title=BFS: 9 Millionen Menschen in der Schweiz – 20 Minuten |date=20 September 2023 |url=https://www.20min.ch/story/bundesamt-fuer-statistik-nun-leben-offiziell-9-millionen-menschen-in-der-schweiz-980611863297 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922021614/https://www.20min.ch/story/bundesamt-fuer-statistik-nun-leben-offiziell-9-millionen-menschen-in-der-schweiz-980611863297 |archive-date=22 September 2023 |access-date=20 September 2023}}</ref>

Switzerland originates from the [[Old Swiss Confederacy]] [[Growth of the Old Swiss Confederacy|established]] in the [[Late Middle Ages]], following a series of military successes against [[Duchy of Austria|Austria]] and [[Duchy of Burgundy|Burgundy]]; the [[Federal Charter of 1291]] is considered the country's founding document. Swiss independence from the [[Holy Roman Empire]] was formally recognised in the [[Peace of Westphalia]] in 1648. Switzerland has maintained a policy of [[Swiss neutrality|armed neutrality]] since the 16th century and has not fought an international war [[Switzerland in the Napoleonic era|since 1815]]. It joined the United Nations only in 2002 but pursues an active foreign policy that includes frequent involvement in [[peace building]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Thomas Fleiner |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-S1fHJiawHUC&pg=PA28 |title=Swiss Constitutional Law |last2=Alexander Misic |last3=Nicole Töpperwien |date=5 August 2005 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-90-411-2404-3 |page=28 |access-date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412045122/https://books.google.com/books?id=-S1fHJiawHUC&pg=PA28 |archive-date=12 April 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Switzerland is the birthplace of the [[International Committee of the Red Cross|Red Cross]] and hosts the headquarters or offices of most major [[International organisations in Europe|international institutions]], including the [[World Trade Organization|WTO]], the [[World Health Organization|WHO]], the [[International Labour Organization|ILO]], [[FIFA]], and the [[United Nations|UN]]. It is a founding member of the [[European Free Trade Association]] (EFTA), but not part of the [[European Union]] (<span class="ltr">EU</span>), the [[European Economic Area]], or the [[eurozone]]; however, it participates in the [[European single market]] and the [[Schengen Area]]. Switzerland is a [[federal republic]] composed of [[Cantons of Switzerland|26 cantons]], with federal authorities based in [[Bern]].{{efn|name=fedcit}}<ref name="deFacto" /><ref name="Bundesstadt">{{HDS|10102|Federal city|author=Georg Kreis|date=20 March 2015}}</ref>

Switzerland is one of the world's most developed countries, with the highest nominal [[List of countries by wealth per adult|wealth per adult]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global wealth databook 2019 |url=https://www.credit-suisse.com/media/assets/corporate/docs/about-us/research/publications/global-wealth-databook-2019.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023104250/https://www.credit-suisse.com/media/assets/corporate/docs/about-us/research/publications/global-wealth-databook-2019.pdf |archive-date=23 October 2019 |access-date=17 June 2020 |publisher=[[Credit Suisse]]}}Archived . The country data comes from Table 3.1 on page 117. The region data comes from the end of that table on page 120.</ref> and the [[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|eighth-highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ghosh |first=Subir |date=9 October 2010 |title=US is still by far the richest country, China fastest growing |url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/298716 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112131438/http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/298716 |archive-date=12 January 2016 |access-date=14 December 2015 |website=Digital Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bowers |first=Simon |date=19 October 2011 |title=Franc's rise puts Swiss top of rich list |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/oct/19/currency-appreciation-makes-swiss-wealthiest |url-status=live |access-date=14 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112131447/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/oct/19/currency-appreciation-makes-swiss-wealthiest |archive-date=12 January 2016}}</ref> Switzerland ranks first in the [[Human Development Index]] since 2021 and also [[International rankings of Switzerland|performs highly on several international metrics]], including [[Global Competitiveness Report|economic competitiveness]] and [[Democracy Index|democratic governance]]. Cities such as Zurich, Geneva and Basel rank among the highest in terms of quality of life,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bachmann |first=Helena |date=23 March 2018 |title=Looking for a better quality of life? Try these three Swiss cities |work=USA Today |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/03/23/swiss-cities-rank-high-quality-life/448843002/ |url-status=live |access-date=14 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109043029/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/03/23/swiss-cities-rank-high-quality-life/448843002/ |archive-date=9 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Chloe |date=20 May 2019 |title=These cities offer the best quality of life in the world, according to Deutsche Bank |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/20/these-cities-offer-the-best-quality-of-life-deutsche-bank-says.html |url-status=live |access-date=14 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623014627/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/20/these-cities-offer-the-best-quality-of-life-deutsche-bank-says.html |archive-date=23 June 2019}}</ref> albeit with some of the highest [[Cost of living|costs of living]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 November 2020 |title=Coronavirus: Paris and Zurich become world's most expensive cities to live in because of COVID-19 |publisher=Euronews |url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/11/18/coronavirus-paris-and-zurich-become-world-s-most-expensive-cities-to-live-in-because-of-co |url-status=live |access-date=14 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212091604/https://www.euronews.com/2020/11/18/coronavirus-paris-and-zurich-become-world-s-most-expensive-cities-to-live-in-because-of-co |archive-date=12 December 2020}}</ref>

It has four main linguistic and cultural regions: German, French, Italian and [[Romansh language|Romansh]]. Although most Swiss are German-speaking, national identity is fairly cohesive, being rooted in a common historical background, shared values such as [[federalism]] and [[direct democracy]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vatter |first=Adrian |url=http://www.nomos-shop.de/Vatter-politische-System-Schweiz/productview.aspx?product=21055 |title=Das politische System der Schweiz |publisher=UTB Verlag |year=2014 |isbn=978-3-8252-4011-0 |series=Studienkurs Politikwissenschaft |location=Baden-Baden |language=de |trans-title=The Political System of Switzerland |access-date=20 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222105727/http://www.nomos-shop.de/Vatter-politische-System-Schweiz/productview.aspx?product=21055 |archive-date=22 December 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=April 2023}} and [[Alps|Alpine]] symbolism.<ref name="Zimmer-2004">{{Cite journal |last=Zimmer |first=Oliver |date=12 January 2004 |title=In Search of Natural Identity: Alpine Landscape and the Reconstruction of the Swiss Nation |journal=Comparative Studies in Society and History |location=London |volume=40 |issue=4 |pages=637–665 |doi=10.1017/S0010417598001686 |s2cid=146259022 |orig-year=originally published: October 1998}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lang |first=Josef |date=14 December 2015 |title=Die Alpen als Ideologie |language=de |work=[[Tages-Anzeiger]] |location=Zurich, Switzerland |url=http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/schweiz/standard/die-alpen-als-ideologie/story/22155483 |url-status=live |access-date=14 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151215013611/http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/schweiz/standard/die-alpen-als-ideologie/story/22155483 |archive-date=15 December 2015}}</ref> Swiss identity transcends language, ethnicity, and religion, leading to Switzerland being described as a {{Lang|de|[[What Is a Nation?#Willensnation|Willensnation]]}} ("nation of volition") rather than a [[nation state]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Schmock |first=Nico |url=https://www.grin.com/document/454871 |title=Die Schweiz als "Willensnation"? Die Kernelemente des Schweizer Selbstverständnisses |date=30 January 2019 |publisher=GRIN Verlag |isbn=978-3-668-87199-1 |language=de |access-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122160456/https://www.grin.com/document/454871 |archive-date=22 January 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> Due to its [[Languages of Switzerland|linguistic diversity]], Switzerland is known by multiple native names: {{Lang|de|Schweiz}} {{IPA-de|ˈʃvaɪts|}}{{efn|Audio pronunciations: {{audio|De-Schweiz.ogg|Germany|help=no}}, {{audio|De-at-Schweiz.ogg|Austria|help=no}}.}} (German);{{efn|name=CH_name|Swiss Standard German spelling and pronunciation. The [[Swiss German]] name is sometimes spelled as {{lang|gsw|Schwyz}} or {{lang|gsw|Schwiiz}}, pronounced {{IPA-gsw|ˈʃʋiːts|}}. ''[[Canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]]'' is also the standard German (and international) name of one of the Swiss cantons.}} {{Lang|ang|Suisse}} {{IPA-fr|sɥis(ə)||LL-Q150 (fra)-0x010C-Suisse.wav}} (French); {{lang|it|Svizzera}} {{IPA-it|ˈzvittsera|}} (Italian); and {{Lang|rm|Svizra}} {{IPA-rm|ˈʒviːtsrɐ, ˈʒviːtsʁɐ|}}{{efn|name=CH_romansh|The latter is the common [[Sursilvan]] pronunciation.}} ([[Romansh language|Romansh]]). On [[Coins of the Swiss franc|coins]] and [[Postage stamps and postal history of Switzerland|stamps]], the Latin name, {{Lang|la|Confoederatio Helvetica}}—frequently shortened to "[[Helvetia]]"—is used instead of the spoken languages.

== Etymology ==
{{Main|Name of Switzerland}}
{{anchor|Etymology}}The English name ''Switzerland'' is a portmanteau of ''Switzer'', an obsolete term for a [[Swiss people|Swiss]] person which was in use during the 16th to 19th centuries, and ''land''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=swiss {{!}} Etymology, origin and meaning of swiss by etymonline |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/swiss |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430171445/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Swiss |archive-date=30 April 2011 |access-date=15 September 2022 |website=www.etymonline.com |language=en}}</ref> The English adjective ''Swiss'' is a [[loanword]] from French ''{{lang|fr|Suisse}}'', also in use since the 16th century. The name ''Switzer'' is from the [[Alemannic German|Alemannic]] ''{{lang|gsw|Schwiizer}}'', in origin an inhabitant of ''[[Schwyz]]'' and its [[Canton of Schwyz|associated territory]], one of the {{Lang|de|[[Waldstätte]]}} cantons which formed the nucleus of the [[Old Swiss Confederacy]]. The Swiss began to adopt the name for themselves after the [[Swabian War]] of 1499, used alongside the term for "Confederates", {{Lang|de|[[Eidgenossen]]}} (literally: ''comrades by oath''), used since the 14th century. {{anchor|CH}}The [[Data codes for Switzerland#Country|data code for Switzerland]], CH, is derived from [[Latin]] {{Lang|la|[[Confoederatio Helvetica]]}} (''Helvetic Confederation'').

The toponym ''Schwyz'' itself was first attested in 972, as [[Old High German]] ''{{lang|goh|Suittes}}'', perhaps related to ''{{lang|goh|swedan}}'' 'to burn' (cf. [[Old Norse]] {{Lang|non|svíða}} 'to singe, burn'), referring to the area of forest that was burned and cleared to build.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Room |first=Adrian |url=https://archive.org/details/placenamesofworl00room |title=Placenames of the world : origins and meanings of the names for over 5000 natural features, countries, capitals, territories, cities, and historic sites |publisher=McFarland |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-7864-1814-5 |location=Jefferson, N.C. |oclc=54385937 |author-link=Adrian Room}}</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>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Switzerland |encyclopedia=Catholic Encyclopedia |publisher=New Advent |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14358a.htm |access-date=15 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122153740/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14358a.htm |archive-date=22 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=On Schwyzers, Swiss and Helvetians |url=http://www.bar.admin.ch/archivgut/00591/00601/00602/index.html?lang=en# |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805105934/http://www.bar.admin.ch/archivgut/00591/00601/00602/index.html?lang=en%23 |archive-date=5 August 2010 |website=admin.ch}}</ref> The [[Swiss German]] name of the country, ''{{lang|gsw|Schwiiz}}'', is homophonous to that of the canton and the settlement, but distinguished by the use of the definite article (''{{lang|gsw|d'Schwiiz}}'' for the Confederation,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Züritütsch, Schweizerdeutsch |url=http://www.schweizer-deutsch.ch/uploads/media/einige_Beispielseiten_2007-07-05_01.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112131458/http://www.schweizer-deutsch.ch/uploads/media/einige_Beispielseiten_2007-07-05_01.pdf |archive-date=12 January 2016 |access-date=26 January 2010 |website=schweizerdeutsch.ch |page=2}}</ref> but simply ''{{lang|gsw|Schwyz}}'' for the canton and the town).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kanton Schwyz: Kurzer historischer Überblick |url=http://www.sz.ch/xml_1/internet/de/application/d2/d56/d756/f759.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815131226/https://www.sz.ch/xml_1/internet/de/application/d2/d56/d756/f759.cfm |archive-date=15 August 2016 |access-date=26 January 2010 |website=sz.ch}}</ref> The long [iː] of Swiss German is historically and still often today spelled {{angle bracket|y}} rather than {{angle bracket|ii}}, preserving the original identity of the two names even in writing.

The Latin name {{Lang|la|Confoederatio Helvetica}} was [[Neologism|neologised]] and introduced gradually after the [[Switzerland as a federal state|formation of the federal state]] in 1848, harking back to the Napoleonic [[Helvetic Republic]]. It appeared on coins from 1879, inscribed on the [[Federal Palace of Switzerland|Federal Palace]] in 1902 and after 1948 used in the official seal<ref>{{Cite web |title=Confoederatio helvetica (<span class="ltr">CH</span>) |url=https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/articles/009827/2020-09-15/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927075128/http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/d/D9827.php |archive-date=27 September 2015 |access-date=15 September 2022 |website=hls-dhs-dss.ch |language=de}}, Historical Lexicon of Switzerland.</ref> (e.g., the [[ISO 4217|ISO banking code]] "CHF" for the [[Swiss franc]], and the country top-level domain ".ch", are both taken from the state's Latin name). {{Lang|la|[[Helvetica]]}} is derived from the ''[[Helvetii]]'', a [[Gaulish tribe]] living on the [[Swiss Plateau]] before the [[Switzerland in the Roman era|Roman era]].

''[[Helvetia]]'' appeared as a [[national personification]] of the Swiss confederacy in the 17th century in a 1672 play by Johann Caspar Weissenbach.<ref>{{HDS|16440|Helvetia}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Switzerland}}
The state of Switzerland took its present form with the adoption of the [[Swiss Federal Constitution]] in 1848. Switzerland's precursors established a defensive alliance in 1291, forming a loose [[confederation]] that persisted for centuries.

=== Beginnings ===
{{Main|Early history of Switzerland|Switzerland in the Roman era}}
The oldest traces of hominid existence in Switzerland date to about 150,000 years ago.<ref name="Early">{{Cite web |title=History |url=http://www.swissworld.org/en/history/prehistory_to_romans/prehistoric_times/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100419174957/http://www.swissworld.org/en/history/prehistory_to_romans/prehistoric_times/ |archive-date=19 April 2010 |access-date=27 June 2009 |website=swissworld.org.}}</ref> The oldest known farming settlements in Switzerland, which were found at [[Gächlingen]], date to around 5300 BC.<ref name="Early" />

[[File:Theater Kaiseraugst.jpg|thumb|Founded in 44 BC by [[Lucius Munatius Plancus]], [[Augusta Raurica]] (near Basel) was the first Roman settlement on the Rhine and is now among the most important archaeological sites in Switzerland.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 September 2005 |title=Switzerland's Roman heritage comes to life |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/switzerland-s-roman-heritage-comes-to-life/4707054 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915103928/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/switzerland-s-roman-heritage-comes-to-life/4707054 |archive-date=15 September 2022 |access-date=15 September 2022 |website=swissinfo.ch}}</ref>]]

The earliest known tribes formed the [[Hallstatt culture|Hallstatt]] and [[La Tène culture]]s, 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 influenced by [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] and [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] civilisations. One of the most important tribal groups was the [[Helvetii]]. Steadily harassed by [[Germanic peoples|Germanic tribes]], in 58 BC, the Helvetii decided to abandon the Swiss Plateau and migrate to western [[Gallia]]. [[Julius Caesar]]'s armies pursued and defeated them at the [[Battle of Bibracte]], in today's eastern France, forcing the tribe to move back to its homeland.<ref name="Early" /> In 15 BC, [[Tiberius]] (later 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 first became part of Rome's [[Gallia Belgica]] province and then of its [[Germania Superior]] province. The eastern portion of modern Switzerland was integrated into the [[Roman province]] of [[Raetia]]. Sometime around the start of the [[Common Era]], the Romans maintained a large camp called [[Vindonissa]], now a ruin at the confluence of the [[Aare]] and [[Reuss (river)|Reuss]] rivers, near the town of [[Windisch, Switzerland|Windisch]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trumm |first=Judith |title=Vindonissa |url=https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/articles/012287/2015-04-22/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503210248/https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/articles/012287/2015-04-22/ |archive-date=3 May 2022 |access-date=3 May 2022 |website=[[Historical Dictionary of Switzerland]] |language=de}}</ref>

The first and second century AD was an age of prosperity on the Swiss Plateau. Towns such as [[Aventicum]], [[Iulia Equestris]] and [[Augusta Raurica]], reached a remarkable size, while hundreds of agricultural estates ([[Villae rusticae]]) were established in the countryside.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

Around 260 AD, the fall of the [[Agri Decumates]] territory north of the [[Rhine]] transformed today's Switzerland into a frontier land of the Empire. Repeated raids by the [[Alamanni]] tribes provoked the ruin of the Roman towns and economy, forcing the population to shelter near Roman fortresses, like the [[Castrum Rauracense]] near Augusta Raurica. The Empire built another line of defence at the north border (the so-called Donau-Iller-Rhine-Limes). At the end of the fourth century, the increased Germanic pressure forced the Romans to abandon the linear defence concept. The Swiss Plateau was finally open to [[Germanic tribes]].{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

In the [[Early Middle Ages]], from the end of the fourth 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 fifth century and the [[valleys of the Alps]] in the eighth century, forming [[Alamannia|Alemannia]]. Modern-day Switzerland was 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 sixth century, following [[Clovis I]]'s victory over the Alemanni at [[Tolbiac]] in 504 AD, and later Frankish domination of the Burgundians.<ref name="Nationsencyclopedia-Hist">{{Cite web |title=Switzerland history |url=http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Switzerland-HISTORY.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301050628/http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Switzerland-HISTORY.html |archive-date=1 March 2014 |access-date=27 November 2009 |website=Nations Encyclopedia}}</ref><ref name="Nationsonline">{{Cite web |title=Brief History of Switzerland |url=http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Switzerland-history.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508043011/http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Switzerland-history.htm |archive-date=8 May 2014 |access-date=27 November 2009 |website=Nations Online}}</ref>

Throughout the rest of the sixth, seventh and eighth centuries, 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 {{lang|de|[[Waldstätte]]n}}) were accorded the [[Imperial immediacy]] to grant the empire direct control over the mountain passes. With the extinction of its male line in 1263, the Kyburg dynasty fell in AD 1264. The Habsburgs under [[Rudolph I of Habsburg|King Rudolph I]] (Holy Roman Emperor in 1273) laid claim to the Kyburg lands and annexed them, extending their territory to the eastern Swiss Plateau.<ref name="Nationsencyclopedia-Hist" />

=== Old Swiss Confederacy ===

{{Main|Old Swiss Confederacy}}
{{Further|Growth of the Old Swiss Confederacy|Reformation in Switzerland|Early Modern Switzerland}}

[[File:Old Swiss Confederation.jpg|thumb|upright=1|right|The Old Swiss Confederacy from 1291 (dark green) to the sixteenth century (light green) and its associates (blue). In the other colours shown are the subject territories.]]
[[File:Bundesbrief.jpg|thumb|right|The 1291 ''Bundesbrief'' (federal charter)]]

The Old Swiss Confederacy was an alliance among the valley communities of the central Alps. The Confederacy was governed by [[Swiss nobility|nobles]] and [[Patrician (post-Roman Europe)|patricians]] of various cantons who facilitated management of common interests and ensured peace on mountain trade routes. The [[Federal Charter of 1291]] is considered the confederacy's founding document, even though similar alliances likely existed decades earlier. The document was agreed among the [[Medieval commune|rural communes]] of [[Canton of Uri|Uri]], [[Canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]], and [[Unterwalden]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Greanias |first=Thomas |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/255970548 |title=Geschichte der Schweiz und der Schweizer |publisher=Schwabe |year=2004 |isbn=978-3-7965-2067-9 |location=Basel |oclc=255970548}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=April 2023}}<ref name="Brief">{{Cite web |title=A Brief Survey of Swiss History |url=http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/ocea/vaus/infoch/chhist.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626222448/http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/ocea/vaus/infoch/chhist.html |archive-date=26 June 2009 |access-date=22 June 2009 |publisher=Federal Department of Foreign Affairs}}</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 obtained through the end of the 15th century.<ref name="Brief" /> The expansion led to increased power and wealth for the confederation. By 1460, the confederates controlled most of the territory south and west of the Rhine to the Alps and the [[Jura mountains]], and the [[University of Basel]] was founded (with a faculty of medicine) establishing a tradition of chemical and medical research. This increased 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" /> In 1501, Basel<ref>{{Cite web |title=Der Basler Bundesbrief vom 9. Juni 1501 |url=https://www.baselland.ch/themen/c_d/chronik-bl/chronik-1990er/chronik-1997/chronik-september-1997/downloads/bundesbrief-1501.pdf/@@download/file/bundesbrief-1501.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514022408/https://www.baselland.ch/themen/c_d/chronik-bl/chronik-1990er/chronik-1997/chronik-september-1997/downloads/bundesbrief-1501.pdf/@@download/file/bundesbrief-1501.pdf |archive-date=14 May 2022 |access-date=3 May 2022}}</ref> and Schaffhausen joined the Old Swiss Confederacy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=E.Hofer |first=Roland |title=Schaffhausen (Kanton) |url=https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/articles/007388/2017-05-11/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503210244/https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/articles/007388/2017-05-11/ |archive-date=3 May 2022 |access-date=3 May 2022 |website=[[Historical Dictionary of Switzerland]] |language=de}}</ref>

The Confederacy acquired a reputation of invincibility during these earlier wars, but [[Growth of the Old Swiss Confederacy|expansion of the confederation]] 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 recognised Switzerland's independence from the Holy Roman Empire and its [[neutral country|neutrality]].<ref name="Nationsencyclopedia-Hist" /><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 [[Roman Catholicism in Switzerland|Catholic]] and [[Protestantism in Switzerland|Protestant]] cantons persisted, erupting in further violence at the [[First War of Villmergen]], in 1656, and the [[Toggenburg War]] (or Second War of Villmergen), in 1712.<ref name="Brief" />

=== Napoleonic era ===
{{Main|Switzerland in the Napoleonic era|Helvetic Republic|Act of Mediation}}

[[File:Acte de Médiation mg 0643.jpg|thumb|The Act of Mediation was Napoleon's attempt at a compromise between the [[Ancien Régime]] and a Republic.]]
In 1798, the [[French Revolution|revolutionary French]] government invaded Switzerland and imposed a new unified constitution.<ref name="Brief" /> This centralised the government of the country, effectively abolishing the cantons: moreover, [[Mulhouse|Mülhausen]] left Switzerland and the [[Valtellina]] valley became part of the [[Cisalpine Republic]]. The new regime, known as the Helvetic Republic, was highly unpopular. An invading foreign army had imposed and destroyed centuries of tradition, making Switzerland nothing more than a French [[satellite state]]. The fierce French suppression of the [[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.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

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 [[Act of Mediation]] was the result, 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.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Linder |first1=Wolf |last2=Vatter |first2=Adrian |date=2001 |title=Institutions and outcomes of Swiss federalism: The role of the cantons in Swiss politics |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01402380108425435 |journal=[[West European Politics]] |language=en |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=95 |doi=10.1080/01402380108425435 |issn=0140-2382 |access-date=11 June 2024 |archive-date=22 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622141822/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01402380108425435 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1815 the [[Congress of Vienna]] fully re-established Swiss independence, and the European powers recognised permanent Swiss neutrality.<ref name="Nationsencyclopedia-Hist" /><ref name="Nationsonline" /><ref name="Brief" /> Swiss troops served foreign governments until 1860 when they fought in the [[Siege of Gaeta (1860)|siege of Gaeta]]. The treaty 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 saw only minor adjustments thereafter.<ref>{{HDS|7841|Swiss border ("Les principales rectifications postérieures à 1815 concernent la vallée des Dappes en 1862 (frontière Vaud-France, env. 7,5 km2), la valle di Lei en 1952 (Grisons-Italie, 0,45 km2), l'Ellhorn en 1955 (colline revendiquée par la Suisse pour des raisons militaires, Grisons-Liechtenstein) et l'enclave allemande du Verenahof dans le canton de Schaffhouse en 1967.")}}. It should be noticed that in [[Lago di Lei|valle di Lei]], Italy got in exchange a territory of the same area. [http://www.admin.ch/opc/it/classified-compilation/19520241/196306260000/0.132.454.21.pdf See here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521110525/http://www.admin.ch/opc/it/classified-compilation/19520241/196306260000/0.132.454.21.pdf |date=21 May 2014}}</ref>

=== Federal state ===
{{Main|Restoration and Regeneration (Switzerland)|Switzerland as a federal state}}
[[File:Bern, Federal Palace, 1857.jpg|thumb|The first [[Federal Palace]] in Bern (1857). One of the three cantons presiding over the [[Tagsatzung]] (former legislative and executive council), Bern was chosen as the permanent seat of federal legislative and executive institutions in 1848, in part because of its closeness to the French-speaking area.<ref name="Bundesstadt" />]]

The restoration of power to the patriciate was only temporary. After a period of unrest with repeated violent clashes, such as the [[Züriputsch]] of 1839, civil war (the ''[[Sonderbundskrieg]]'') broke out in 1847 when some Catholic cantons tried to set up a separate alliance (the ''Sonderbund'').<ref name="Brief" /> The war lasted less than a month, causing fewer than 100 casualties, most of which were through [[friendly fire]]. The Sonderbundskrieg had a significant impact on the psychology and society of Switzerland.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}{{who|date=September 2022}}

The war convinced most Swiss of the need for unity and strength. Swiss from all strata of society, whether Catholic or Protestant, from the liberal or conservative current, realised that the cantons would profit more from merging their economic and religious interests.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

Thus, while the rest of Europe saw [[revolutions of 1848|revolutionary uprisings]], the Swiss drew up a constitution that provided for a [[Swiss Federal Constitution|federal layout]], much of it inspired by the [[United States Constitution|American example]]. This constitution provided 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|Council of States]], two representatives per canton) and a [[lower house]] (the [[National Council of Switzerland|National Council]], with representatives elected from across the country). [[Referendum]]s were made mandatory for any amendments.<ref name="Nationsonline" /> This new constitution ended the legal power of [[Swiss nobility#Current situation|nobility in Switzerland]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Noblesse en Suisse |url=http://www.diesbach.com/sghcf/n/noblesse.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192147/http://www.diesbach.com/sghcf/n/noblesse.html |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=22 October 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Gotthard Eröffnungszug Bellinzona.jpg|thumb|left|Inauguration in 1882 of the [[Gotthard rail tunnel]] connecting the southern canton of Ticino, the longest in the world at the time]]
A single system of weights and measures was introduced, and in 1850 the [[Swiss franc]] became the Swiss [[single currency]], complemented by the WIR franc in 1934.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The WIR, the supplementary Swiss currency since 1934 |url=https://www.theeconomyjournal.eu/texto-diario/mostrar/758830/wir-moneda-complementaria-suiza-activo-desde-1934 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612070424/https://www.theeconomyjournal.eu/texto-diario/mostrar/758830/wir-moneda-complementaria-suiza-activo-desde-1934 |archive-date=12 June 2021 |access-date=12 June 2021 |website=The Economy Journal |language=en}}</ref> Article 11 of the constitution forbade sending troops to serve abroad, marking the end of foreign service. It came with the expectation of serving the [[Holy See]], and 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]].{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

An important clause of the constitution was that it could be entirely rewritten, if necessary, thus enabling it to evolve as a whole rather than being modified one amendment at a time.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ducrest |first1=Jean Pierre |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/702317703 |title=Histoire de la Suisse |last2=Dorand |first2=Michel |publisher=Editions Fragnière |year=1987 |oclc=702317703}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=April 2023}}

This need soon proved itself when the rise in population and the [[Industrial Revolution]] that followed led to calls to modify the constitution accordingly. The population rejected an early draft 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 defence, trade, and legal matters.

In 1891, the constitution was revised with uncommonly strong elements of [[direct democracy]], which remain unique today.<ref name="Brief" />

=== Modern history ===
{{Main|Switzerland during the World Wars|Modern history of Switzerland}}

[[File:Ulrich Wille.jpg|thumb|General [[Ulrich Wille]], appointed commander-in-chief of the Swiss Army for the duration of World War I]]

Switzerland was not invaded during either of the world wars. During [[World War I]], Switzerland was home to the revolutionary and founder of the [[Soviet Union]] Vladimir Illych Ulyanov ([[Vladimir Lenin]]) who remained there until 1917.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2006 |title=Lenin and the Swiss non-revolution |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/vladimir-ilyich-ulyanov_lenin-and-the-swiss-non-revolution/12812 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208144512/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/vladimir-ilyich-ulyanov_lenin-and-the-swiss-non-revolution/12812 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |language=en}}</ref> Swiss neutrality was seriously questioned by the short-lived [[Grimm–Hoffmann affair]] in 1917. In 1920, Switzerland joined the [[League of Nations]], which was based in [[Geneva]], after it was exempted from military requirements.<ref name=":0" />

During [[World War II]], [[Operation Tannenbaum|detailed invasion plans]] were drawn up by the Germans,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Urner |first=Klaus |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/46472272 |title="Let's Swallow Switzerland": Hitler's Plans against the Swiss Confederation |publisher=Lexington Books |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-7391-0255-8 |location=Lanham, Maryland |pages=4, 7 |oclc=46472272}}</ref> but Switzerland was never attacked.<ref name="Brief2">{{Cite web |title=A Brief Survey of Swiss History |url=http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/ocea/vaus/infoch/chhist.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626222448/http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/ocea/vaus/infoch/chhist.html |archive-date=26 June 2009 |access-date=22 June 2009 |publisher=admin.ch}}</ref> Switzerland was able to remain independent through a combination of military deterrence, concessions to Germany, and good fortune, as larger events during the war intervened.<ref name="Nationsonline" /><ref name="Stonebrooks">{{Cite web |title=Book Review: Halbrook, Stephen P. ''Target Switzerland: Swiss Armed Neutrality in World War II''. Rockville Centre, NY: Sarpedon, 1998 |url=http://stonebooks.com/archives/981111.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201171926/http://stonebooks.com/archives/981111.shtml |archive-date=1 December 2009 |access-date=2 December 2009 |website=Stone & Stone}}</ref> General [[Henri Guisan]], appointed the [[General (Switzerland)|commander-in-chief for the duration]] of the war ordered a general mobilisation of the armed forces. The Swiss military strategy changed from static defence at the borders to organised long-term attrition and withdrawal to strong, well-stockpiled positions high in the Alps, known as the [[National Redoubt (Switzerland)|Reduit]]. Switzerland was an important base for espionage by both sides and often mediated communications between the [[Axis Powers|Axis]] and [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] powers.<ref name="Stonebrooks" />

Switzerland's trade was blockaded by both the Allies and the Axis. Economic cooperation and extension of credit to [[Nazi Germany]] 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 (together with [[Liechtenstein]]) entirely isolated from the wider world by Axis-controlled territory. Over the course of the war, Switzerland interned over 300,000 refugees<ref name="Asylum">{{HDS|10374|Asylum}}</ref> aided by the [[International Red Cross]], based in Geneva. Strict immigration and [[Right of asylum|asylum]] policies and the financial relationships with Nazi Germany raised controversy, only at the end of the 20th century.<ref name="UEK Report">{{Cite book |url=http://www.uek.ch/en/schlussbericht/synthesis/ueke.pdf |title=Final Report of the Independent Commission of Experts Switzerland |publisher=Pendo Verlag |year=2002 |isbn=978-3-85842-603-1 |location=Zurich |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530053737/http://www.uek.ch/en/schlussbericht/synthesis/ueke.pdf |archive-date=30 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|521}}

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. Between 1940 and 1945, [[Bombings of Switzerland in World War II|Switzerland was bombed by the Allies]], causing fatalities and property damage.<ref name="Stonebrooks" /> Among the cities and towns bombed were [[Basel]], [[Brusio]], [[Chiasso]], [[Cornol]], Geneva, [[Koblenz, Switzerland|Koblenz]], [[Niederweningen]], [[Rafz]], [[Renens]], [[Samedan]], [[Schaffhausen]], [[Stein am Rhein]], [[Tägerwilen]], [[Thayngen]], [[Vals, Switzerland|Vals]], and Zurich. Allied forces maintained that the bombings, which violated the 96th [[Article of War]], resulted from navigation errors, equipment failure, weather conditions, and pilot errors. The Swiss expressed fear and concern that the bombings were intended to put pressure on Switzerland to end economic cooperation and neutrality with Nazi Germany.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Helmreich |first=JE |title=Diplomacy of Apology |url=http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj00/sum00/helmreich.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070505083348/http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj00/sum00/helmreich.html |archive-date=5 May 2007 |access-date=5 May 2007}}</ref> Court-martial proceedings took place in England. The US paid SFR 62M for reparations.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

Switzerland's attitude towards [[Switzerland during the World Wars#Refugees|refugees]] was complicated and controversial; over the course of the war, it admitted as many as 300,000 refugees<ref name="Asylum" /> while refusing tens of thousands more,<ref name="UEK Report" />{{rp|107}} including Jews persecuted by the Nazis.<ref name="UEK Report" />{{rp|114}}

After the war, the Swiss government exported credits through the charitable fund known as the {{lang|de|Schweizerspende}} and donated to the [[Marshall Plan]] to help Europe's recovery, efforts that ultimately benefited the [[Economy of Switzerland|Swiss economy]].<ref name="UEK Report" />{{rp|521}}

During the [[Cold War]], Swiss authorities [[Switzerland and weapons of mass destruction|considered the construction]] of a Swiss [[nuclear bomb]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=States Formerly Possessing or Pursuing Nuclear Weapons |url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Nwfaq/Nfaq7-4.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126234705/http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Nwfaq/Nfaq7-4.html |archive-date=26 January 2015 |access-date=6 March 2014}}</ref> Leading nuclear physicists at the [[ETH Zurich|Federal Institute of Technology Zurich]] such as [[Paul Scherrer]] made this a realistic possibility.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Patrick |date=8 April 2019 |title=Als die Schweiz eine Atombombe wollte |url=https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/2019/04/plaene-fuer-eine-schweizer-atombombe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511180845/https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/2019/04/plaene-fuer-eine-schweizer-atombombe/ |archive-date=11 May 2022 |access-date=3 May 2022 |website=[[Swiss National Museum]] |language=de-DE}}</ref> In 1988, the [[Paul Scherrer Institute]] was founded in his name to explore the therapeutic uses of [[neutron scattering]] technologies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vuilleumier |first=Marie |date=15 October 2018 |title=Paul Scherrer Institut seit 30 Jahren im Dienst der Wissenschaft |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/wissen-technik/wissenschaftliche-forschung_paul-scherrer-institut-seit-30-jahren-im-dienst-der-wissenschaft/44475052 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503204037/https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/wissen-technik/wissenschaftliche-forschung_paul-scherrer-institut-seit-30-jahren-im-dienst-der-wissenschaft/44475052 |archive-date=3 May 2022 |access-date=3 May 2022 |website=[[Swissinfo]] |language=de}}</ref> Financial problems with the defence budget and ethical considerations prevented the substantial funds from being allocated, and the [[Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]] of 1968 was seen as a valid alternative. Plans for building nuclear weapons were dropped by 1988.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Westberg |first=Gunnar |date=9 October 2010 |title=Swiss Nuclear Bomb |url=http://peaceandhealthblog.com/2010/10/09/swiss-nuclear-bomb/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305115926/http://peaceandhealthblog.com/2010/10/09/swiss-nuclear-bomb/ |archive-date=5 March 2014 |access-date=6 March 2014 |publisher=[[International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War]]}}</ref> Switzerland joined the [[Council of Europe]] in 1963.<ref name="Nationsonline" />

[[File:Bundesrat_der_Schweiz_2003.jpg|thumb|In 2003, by granting the [[Swiss People's Party]] a second seat in the governing cabinet, the Parliament altered the [[Magic formula (Swiss politics)|coalition]] that had dominated Swiss politics since 1959.]]
Switzerland was the last Western republic (the [[Principality of Liechtenstein]] followed in 1984) to grant women the [[Suffrage|right to vote]]. Some Swiss cantons approved this in 1959, while at the federal level, it was achieved in 1971<ref name="Brief2" /><ref name="FCO2">{{Cite web |date=19 October 2012 |title=Country Profile: Switzerland |url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/europe/switzerland?profile=today |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116072104/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/europe/switzerland?profile=today |archive-date=16 January 2013 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=Foreign & Commonwealth Office}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=April 2023}} and, after resistance, in the last canton [[Appenzell Innerrhoden]] (one of only two remaining ''[[Landsgemeinde]]'', along with [[Canton of Glarus|Glarus]]) in 1990. After obtaining suffrage at the federal level, women quickly rose in political significance. The first woman on the seven-member [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Federal Council]] executive was [[Elisabeth Kopp]], who served from 1984 to 1989,<ref name="Brief2" /> and the first female president was [[Ruth Dreifuss]] in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parlamentsgeschichte |url=https://www.parlament.ch/de/%C3%BCber-das-parlament/parlamentsgeschichte/parlamentsgeschichte-detail?historyId=353 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503205539/https://www.parlament.ch/de/%C3%BCber-das-parlament/parlamentsgeschichte/parlamentsgeschichte-detail?historyId=353 |archive-date=3 May 2022 |access-date=3 May 2022 |website=www.parlament.ch}}</ref>

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="Brief2" />

In 2002 Switzerland became a full member of the United Nations, leaving [[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 not the [[European Economic Area]] (EEA). An application for membership in the [[European Union]] was sent in May 1992, but did not advance since rejecting the EEA in December 1992<ref name="Brief2" /> when Switzerland conducted a referendum on the EEA. Several referendums on the EU issue ensued; due to opposition from the citizens, the membership application was withdrawn. Nonetheless, Swiss law is gradually changing to conform with that of the EU, and the government signed [[Bilateralism|bilateral agreements]] with the European Union. Switzerland, together with Liechtenstein, has been surrounded by the EU since Austria's entry in 1995. On 5 June 2005, Swiss voters agreed by a 55% majority to join the [[Schengen treaty]], a result that EU commentators regarded as a sign of support.<ref name="Nationsonline" /> In September 2020, a referendum calling for a vote to end the pact that allowed a free movement of people from the [[European Union]] was introduced by the [[Swiss People's Party]] (SVP).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henley |first=Jon |date=25 September 2020 |title=Swiss to vote on whether to end free movement deal with EU |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/25/swiss-vote-whether-end-free-movement-deal-with-eu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925042602/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/25/swiss-vote-whether-end-free-movement-deal-with-eu |archive-date=25 September 2020 |access-date=25 September 2020 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> However, voters rejected the attempt to retake control of immigration, defeating the motion by a roughly 63%–37% margin.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chazan |first=David |date=27 September 2020 |title=Large majority of Swiss reject bid to rein in immigration from EU, says exit poll |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/27/large-majority-swiss-reject-bid-rein-immigration-eu-says-exit/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/27/large-majority-swiss-reject-bid-rein-immigration-eu-says-exit/ |archive-date=10 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 9 February 2014, 50.3% of Swiss voters approved a ballot [[Popular initiative (Switzerland)|initiative]] launched by the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) to [[Federal popular initiative "Against mass immigration"|restrict immigration]]. This initiative was mostly backed by rural (57.6% approval) and suburban groups (51.2% approval), and isolated towns (51.3% approval) as well as by a strong majority (69.2% approval) in Ticino, while metropolitan centres (58.5% rejection) and the French-speaking part (58.5% rejection) rejected it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 February 2014 |title=Abstimmungen – Indikatoren, Abstimmung vom 9. Februar 2014: Initiative 'Gegen Masseneinwanderung' |url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/03/blank/key/2014/013.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421050627/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/03/blank/key/2014/013.html |archive-date=21 April 2014 |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office, Neuchâtel 2014 |language=de, fr}}</ref> In December 2016, a political compromise with the EU was attained that eliminated quotas on EU citizens, but still allowed favourable treatment of Swiss-based job applicants.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maurice |first=Eric |date=22 December 2016 |title=EU and Switzerland agree on free movement |url=https://euobserver.com/rule-of-law/136398 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208144500/https://euobserver.com/rule-of-law/136398 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=EUobserver |language=en}}</ref> On 27 September 2020, 62% of Swiss voters rejected the anti-free movement referendum by SVP.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 September 2020 |title=Switzerland referendum: Voters reject end to free movement with EU |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54316316 |url-status=live |access-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928032301/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54316316 |archive-date=28 September 2020}}</ref>

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Switzerland}}
[[File:Reliefkarte Schweiz.png|thumb|Physical map of Switzerland (in German)]]

Extending across the north and south side of the [[Alps]] in [[Western Europe|west]]-central Europe, Switzerland encompasses diverse landscapes and climates across its {{convert|41285|km2|sqmi}}.<ref name="Geo">{{Cite web |title=Swiss Geography |url=http://www.swissworld.org/en/geography/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008130616/http://www.swissworld.org/en/geography |archive-date=8 October 2014 |access-date=12 October 2014 |website=swissworld.org |publisher=Presence Switzerland, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs}}</ref>

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 Central Plateau, and the [[Jura mountains]] on the west. The Alps are a mountain range running across the central and south of the country, constituting about 60% of the country's area. The majority of the population live on the Swiss Plateau. The Swiss Alps host many glaciers, covering {{convert|1063|km2|mi2}}. From these originate the headwaters of several major rivers, such as the [[Rhine]], [[Inn (river)|Inn]], [[Ticino (river)|Ticino]] and [[Rhône]], which flow in the four cardinal directions, spreading across Europe. The hydrographic network includes several of the largest bodies of fresh water in Central and Western Europe, among which are [[Lake Geneva]] (Lac Léman in French), [[Lake Constance]] (Bodensee in German) and [[Lake Maggiore]]. Switzerland has more than 1500 lakes and contains 6% of Europe's freshwater stock. Lakes and glaciers cover about 6% of the national territory. Lake Geneva is the largest lake and is shared with France. The Rhône is both the main source and outflow of Lake Geneva. Lake Constance is the second largest and, like Lake Geneva, an intermediate step by the Rhine at the border with Austria and Germany. While the Rhône flows into the [[Mediterranean Sea]] at the French [[Camargue]] region and the Rhine flows into the [[North Sea]] at [[Rotterdam]], about {{convert|1000|km|abbr=off}} apart, both springs are only about {{convert|22|km|abbr=off}} apart in the Swiss Alps.<ref name="Geo" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Map Gallery Switzerland: Physical Geography of Switzerland |url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/thematische_karten/maps/raum_und_umwelt/naturraum_schweiz.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013071837/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/thematische_karten/maps/raum_und_umwelt/naturraum_schweiz.html |archive-date=13 October 2014 |access-date=12 October 2014 |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland}}</ref>

{{Multiple image
 | align = left
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 300
 | image1 = Haute route, panorama version.jpg
 | caption1 =
 | image2 = View from Pilatus, retouched.jpg
 | caption2 = Contrasted landscapes between the regions of the [[Matterhorn]] and [[Lake Lucerne]]
}}

Forty-eight mountains are {{convert|4000|m|ft}} or higher in height.<ref name="Geo" /> 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 the best known. Both are located within the [[Pennine Alps]] in the canton of [[Valais]], on the border with Italy. 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}}) [[Eiger]] and [[Mönch]] peaks, and its many picturesque valleys. In the southeast the long [[Engadin]] Valley, encompassing [[St. Moritz]], 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="Geo" />

The Swiss Plateau has greater open and hilly landscapes, partly forested, partly open pastures, usually with grazing herds or vegetable and fruit fields, but it is still hilly. Large lakes and the biggest Swiss cities are found there.<ref name="Geo" />

Switzerland contains two small [[enclave]]s: [[Büsingen]] belongs to Germany, while [[Campione d'Italia]] belongs to Italy.<ref>[http://enclaves.webs.com/westerneurope.htm Enclaves of the world] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918074336/http://enclaves.webs.com/westerneurope.htm |date=18 September 2009}} enclaves.webs.com. Retrieved on 15 December 2009</ref> Switzerland has no exclaves.

=== Climate ===
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map CHE present.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen–Geiger climate classification]] map for Switzerland]]

The Swiss climate is generally [[temperate climate|temperate]], but can vary greatly across localities,<ref name="Climate">{{Cite web |title=Swiss Climate |url=http://www.meteoschweiz.admin.ch/web/en/climate.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629144859/http://www.meteoschweiz.admin.ch/web/en/climate.html |archive-date=29 June 2007 |access-date=12 October 2014 |publisher=Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss, Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA, Swiss Confederation}}</ref> from glacial conditions on the mountaintops to the near-[[Mediterranean climate]] at Switzerland's southern tip. Some valley areas in the southern part of Switzerland offer cold-hardy palm trees. Summers tend to be warm and humid at times with periodic rainfall, ideal for pastures/grazing. The less humid winters in the mountains may see weeks-long intervals of stable conditions. At the same time, the lower lands tend to suffer from [[Inversion (meteorology)|inversion]] during such periods, hiding the sun.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

A weather phenomenon known as the [[foehn wind|föhn]] (with an identical effect to the [[chinook wind]]) can occur any time and is characterised by an unexpectedly warm wind, bringing low relative humidity air to the north of the Alps during rainfall periods on the south-facing slopes. This works both ways across the alps but is more efficient if blowing from the south due to the steeper step for oncoming wind. 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 moisture 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="FederalClimateMaps">{{Cite web |title=Swiss climate maps |url=http://www.meteoschweiz.admin.ch/web/en/climate/climate_today/swiss_climate_maps.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223205106/http://www.meteoschweiz.admin.ch/web/en/climate/climate_today/swiss_climate_maps.html |archive-date=23 February 2010 |access-date=12 October 2014 |publisher=Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss, Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA, Swiss Confederation}}</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="FederalClimateMaps" /> 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. They can vary from year to year with no strict and predictable periods.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

=== Environment ===
Switzerland contains two terrestrial ecoregions: [[Western European broadleaf forests]] and [[Alps conifer and mixed forests]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Dinerstein |first1=Eric |last2=Olson |first2=David |last3=Joshi |first3=Anup |last4=Vynne |first4=Carly |last5=Burgess |first5=Neil D. |last6=Wikramanayake |first6=Eric |last7=Hahn |first7=Nathan |last8=Palminteri |first8=Suzanne |last9=Hedao |first9=Prashant |last10=Noss |first10=Reed |last11=Hansen |first11=Matt |last12=Locke |first12=Harvey |last13=Ellis |first13=Erle C |last14=Jones |first14=Benjamin |last15=Barber |first15=Charles Victor |display-authors=1 |year=2017 |title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm |journal=BioScience |volume=67 |issue=6 |pages=534–545 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014 |issn=0006-3568 |pmc=5451287 |pmid=28608869 |last16=Hayes |first16=Randy |last17=Kormos |first17=Cyril |last18=Martin |first18=Vance |last19=Crist |first19=Eileen |last20=Sechrest |first20=Wes |last21=Price |first21=Lori |last22=Baillie |first22=Jonathan E. M. |last23=Weeden |first23=Don |last24=Suckling |first24=Kierán |last25=Davis |first25=Crystal |last26=Sizer |first26=Nigel |last27=Moore |first27=Rebecca |last28=Thau |first28=David |last29=Birch |first29=Tanya |last30=Potapov |first30=Peter |last31=Turubanova |first31=Svetlana |last32=Tyukavina |first32=Alexandra |last33=de Souza |first33=Nadia |last34=Pintea |first34=Lilian |last35=Brito |first35=José C. |last36=Llewellyn |first36=Othman A. |last37=Miller |first37=Anthony G. |last38=Patzelt |first38=Annette |last39=Ghazanfar |first39=Shahina A. |last40=Timberlake |first40=Jonathan |last41=Klöser |first41=Heinz |last42=Shennan-Farpón |first42=Yara |last43=Kindt |first43=Roeland |last44=Lillesø |first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow |last45=van Breugel |first45=Paulo |last46=Graudal |first46=Lars |last47=Voge |first47=Maianna |last48=Al-Shammari |first48=Khalaf F. |last49=Saleem |first49=Muhammad}}</ref>

Switzerland's many small valleys separated by high mountains often host unique ecologies. The mountainous regions themselves offer a rich range of plants not found at other altitudes. The climatic, geological and topographical conditions of the alpine region make for a fragile ecosystem that is particularly sensitive to [[climate change]].<ref name="Climate" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Environment: Impact of climate change |url=http://www.swissworld.org/en/environment/climate_change/impact_of_climate_change/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115110407/http://www.swissworld.org/en/environment/climate_change/impact_of_climate_change/ |archive-date=15 November 2014 |access-date=12 October 2014 |website=swissworld.org |publisher=Presence Switzerland, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs}}</ref> According to the [[Environmental Performance Index|2014 Environmental Performance Index]], Switzerland ranks first among 132 nations in safeguarding the environment, due to its high scores on environmental public health, its heavy reliance on renewable sources of energy ([[hydropower]] and [[Geothermal energy|geothermal]] energy), and its level of [[greenhouse gas emissions]].<ref>{{Cite web |year=2014 |title=2014 Environmental Performance Index |url=http://epi.yale.edu/epi/country-rankings |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140129142747/http://epi.yale.edu/epi/country-rankings |archive-date=29 January 2014 |access-date=12 October 2014 |website=epi.yale.edu/epi |publisher=Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy, Yale University, and Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Columbia University}}</ref> In 2020 it was ranked third out of 180 countries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 EPI Results |url=https://epi.yale.edu/epi-results/2020/component/epi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903071953/https://epi.yale.edu/epi-results/2020/component/epi |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=20 November 2020 |website=Environmental Performance Index|date=3 June 2020 }}</ref> The country pledged to cut [[GHG emissions]] by 50% by 2030 compared to the level of 1990 and plans to reach zero emissions by 2050.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farand |first=Chloé |date=25 February 2020 |title=Switzerland reaffirms 2030 climate plan to UN, works on net zero 2050 goal |agency=Climate Home News |url=https://www.climatechangenews.com/2020/02/25/switzerland-joins-nations-confirming-un-will-enhance-climate-action-plans/#:~:text=Under%20the%202015%20plan%2C%20Switzerland,70%2D85%25%20by%202050. |url-status=live |access-date=20 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124144249/https://www.climatechangenews.com/2020/02/25/switzerland-joins-nations-confirming-un-will-enhance-climate-action-plans/#:~:text=Under%20the%202015%20plan%2C%20Switzerland,70%2D85%25%20by%202050. |archive-date=24 November 2020}}</ref>

However, access to [[biocapacity]] in Switzerland is far lower than the world average. In 2016, Switzerland had 1.0 hectares<ref name="GFN">{{Cite web |title=Country Trends |url=http://data.footprintnetwork.org/#/countryTrends?cn=211&type=BCpc,EFCpc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808050235/http://data.footprintnetwork.org/#/countryTrends?cn=211&type=BCpc,EFCpc |archive-date=8 August 2017 |access-date=17 October 2019 |publisher=Global Footprint Network}}</ref> of biocapacity per person within its territory, 40 per cent less than world average of 1.6. In contrast, in 2016, Swiss consumption required 4.6 hectares of biocapacity – their [[ecological footprint]], 4.6 times as much as Swiss territory can support. The remainder comes from other countries and the shared resources (such as the atmosphere impacted by greenhouse gas emissions).<ref name="GFN" /> Switzerland had a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 3.53/10, ranking it 150th globally out of 172 countries.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Grantham |first1=H. S. |last2=Duncan |first2=A. |last3=Evans |first3=T. D. |last4=Jones |first4=K. R. |last5=Beyer |first5=H. L. |last6=Schuster |first6=R. |last7=Walston |first7=J. |last8=Ray |first8=J. C. |last9=Robinson |first9=J. G. |last10=Callow |first10=M. |last11=Clements |first11=T. |last12=Costa |first12=H. M. |last13=DeGemmis |first13=A. |last14=Elsen |first14=P. R. |last15=Ervin |first15=J. |display-authors=1 |year=2020 |title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material |journal=Nature Communications |volume=11 |issue=1 |page=5978 |bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G |doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3 |issn=2041-1723 |pmc=7723057 |pmid=33293507 |last16=Franco |first16=P. |last17=Goldman |first17=E. |last18=Goetz |first18=S. |last19=Hansen |first19=A. |last20=Hofsvang |first20=E. |last21=Jantz |first21=P. |last22=Jupiter |first22=S. |last23=Kang |first23=A. |last24=Langhammer |first24=P. |last25=Laurance |first25=W. F. |last26=Lieberman |first26=S. |last27=Linkie |first27=M. |last28=Malhi |first28=Y. |last29=Maxwell |first29=S. |last30=Mendez |first30=M. |last31=Mittermeier |first31=R. |last32=Murray |first32=N. J. |last33=Possingham |first33=H. |last34=Radachowsky |first34=J. |last35=Saatchi |first35=S. |last36=Samper |first36=C. |last37=Silverman |first37=J. |last38=Shapiro |first38=A. |last39=Strassburg |first39=B. |last40=Stevens |first40=T. |last41=Stokes |first41=E. |last42=Taylor |first42=R. |last43=Tear |first43=T. |last44=Tizard |first44=R. |last45=Venter |first45=O. |last46=Visconti |first46=P. |last47=Wang |first47=S. |last48=Watson |first48=J. E. M.}}</ref>

=== Urbanisation ===
{{Main|Cities of Switzerland{{!}}Towns of Switzerland}}

[[File:Sion de la Bisse de Clavau.jpg|thumb|Urbanisation in the [[Rhone]] Valley (outskirts of [[Sion, Switzerland|Sion]])]]
About 85% of the population live in urban areas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population – facts and figures |url=https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/gesellschaft/bevoelkerung/die-bevoelkerung---fakten-und-zahlen.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417062719/https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/gesellschaft/bevoelkerung/die-bevoelkerung---fakten-und-zahlen.html |archive-date=17 April 2023 |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=Federal Department of Foreign Affairs |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Cities">{{Cite web |title=Städte und Agglomerationen unter der Lupe |url=http://www.are.admin.ch/dokumentation/00121/00224/index.html?lang=de&msg-id=27412 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815054502/http://www.are.admin.ch/dokumentation/00121/00224/index.html?lang=de&msg-id=27412 |archive-date=15 August 2010 |access-date=26 June 2009 |website=Bundesamt für Raumentwicklung |language=de}}</ref> Switzerland went from a largely rural country to an urban one from 1930 to 2000. After 1935 urban development claimed as much of the Swiss landscape as it did during the prior 2,000 years. [[Urban sprawl]] affects the plateau, 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 30 June 2009</ref> raising concerns about land use.<ref>[http://www.gfs-zh.ch/content.php?pid=201%0A Enquête représentative sur l'urbanisation de la Suisse (Pronatura)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430115919/http://www.gfs-zh.ch/content.php?pid=201%0A|date=30 April 2011}} gfs-zh.ch. Retrieved on 30 June 2009.</ref> During the 21st century, population growth in urban areas is higher than in the countryside.<ref name="Cities" />

Switzerland has a dense network of complementary large, medium and small towns.<ref name="Cities" /> The plateau is densely populated with about 400 people per km<sup>2</sup> and the landscape shows uninterrupted signs of human presence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Urban and rural areas |url=https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/gesellschaft/bevoelkerung/stadt-und-land.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417064221/https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/gesellschaft/bevoelkerung/stadt-und-land.html |archive-date=17 April 2023 |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=Federal Department of Foreign Affairs |language=en}}</ref> The weight of the largest metropolitan areas – [[Zurich]], Geneva–[[Lausanne]], [[Basel]] and [[Bern]] – tend to increase.<ref name="Cities" />{{Clarify|date=January 2023}} The importance of these urban areas is greater than their population suggests.<ref name="Cities" /> These urban centers are recognised for their high quality of life.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quality of Living City Ranking {{pipe}} Mercer |url=https://mobilityexchange.mercer.com/Insights/quality-of-living-rankings |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418074611/https://mobilityexchange.mercer.com/Insights/quality-of-living-rankings |archive-date=18 April 2018 |access-date=4 July 2020 |website=mobilityexchange.mercer.com}}</ref>

The average population density in 2019 was {{convert|215.2|PD/km2|PD/sqmi}}.<ref name="BFS-cantons2019">{{Cite web |date=17 March 2021 |title=Regionalportraits 2021: Cantons |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfsstatic/dam/assets/15864449/master |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715183232/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfsstatic/dam/assets/15864449/master |archive-date=15 July 2021 |access-date=15 July 2021 |website=Federal Statistical Office |publisher=Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA |page=79 (81 in PDF) |language=en}} ''Note: page number refers to report pagination; PDF viewer displays pages two numbers higher.''</ref>{{rp|79}} In the largest canton by area, [[Graubünden]], lying entirely in the Alps, population density falls to {{convert|28.0|PD/km2|PD/sqmi}}.<ref name="BFS-cantons2019" />{{rp|30}} In the [[canton of Zurich]], with its large urban capital, the density is {{convert|926.8|/km2|/sqmi}}.<ref name="BFS-cantons2019" />{{rp|76}}

== Government and politics ==
<!--Please add new information into relevant articles of the series-->
{{Main|Politics of Switzerland}}
[[File:Bundeshaus Bern 2009, Flooffy.jpg|thumb|The [[Federal Palace]], seat of the [[Federal Assembly of Switzerland|Federal Assembly]] and the [[Swiss Federal Council|Federal Council]]]]
The [[Swiss Federal Constitution|Federal Constitution]] adopted in 1848 is the legal foundation of Switzerland's federal state.<ref name="Politics">{{Cite web |title=Switzerland's political system |url=https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/political-system-of-switzerland.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620145907/https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/political-system-of-switzerland.html |archive-date=20 June 2016 |access-date=24 June 2016 |publisher=The Federal Council |location=Bern, Switzerland}}</ref> A new Swiss Constitution was adopted in 1999 that did not introduce notable changes to the federal structure. It outlines rights of individuals and citizen participation in public affairs, divides the powers between the Confederation and the cantons and defines federal jurisdiction and authority. Three main bodies govern on the federal level:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Federalism |url=https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/political-system-of-switzerland/swiss-federalism.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714130916/https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/political-system-of-switzerland/swiss-federalism.html |archive-date=14 July 2016 |access-date=24 June 2016 |publisher=The Federal Council |location=Bern, Switzerland}}</ref> the [[bicameralism|bicameral]] parliament (legislative), the [[Swiss Federal Council|Federal Council]] (executive) and the [[Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland|Federal Court]] (judicial).

=== Parliament ===
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]], reflecting each canton's population. Members serve part-time for four years (a ''Milizsystem'' or [[citizen legislature]]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 December 2009 |title=Die Legislative ist ein Miliz-Parlament – SWI swissinfo.ch |url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/die-legislative-ist-ein-miliz-parlament/162442 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220123831/http://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/die-legislative-ist-ein-miliz-parlament/162442 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |access-date=13 December 2016}}</ref> 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 [[Popular initiative|initiative]]s, introduce amendments to the federal constitution, thus making Switzerland a [[direct democracy]].<ref name="Politics" />

=== Federal Council ===
[[File:Bundesratsfoto 2024.jpg|thumb|The [[Swiss Federal Council]] in 2024 (from left to right) [[Viktor Rossi]] ([[Chancellor of Switzerland|Federal chancellor]]), [[Élisabeth Baume-Schneider]], [[Ignazio Cassis]], [[Karin Keller-Sutter]], [[Viola Amherd]] ([[President of the Swiss Confederation|President]] in 2024), [[Guy Parmelin]], [[Albert Rösti]], [[Beat Jans]]]]
The Federal Council directs the federal government, the [[Federal administration of Switzerland|federal administration]], and serves as a collective [[head of state]]. It is a collegial body of seven members, elected for a four-year term by the Federal Assembly, which also oversees 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 executes representative functions. 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 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 the electorate and representation in the federal parliament. The classic distribution of two CVP/PDC, two SPS/PSS, two FDP/PRD and one SVP/UDC as it stood from 1959 to 2003 was known as the "[[Magic formula (Swiss politics)|magic formula]]". Following the [[2015 Swiss Federal Council election|2015 Federal Council elections]], the seven seats in the Federal Council were distributed as follows:

* 1 seat for the [[The Centre (political party)|Center Party (Die Mitte)]],{{Efn|Formerly the Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP/PCD), which merged with the BDP party to form the Centre party in 2019|name=The Centre}}
* 2 seats for the [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|Free Democratic Party (FDP/PRD)]],
* 2 seats for the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party (SPS/PSS)]],
* 2 seats for the [[Swiss People's Party]] (SVP/UDC).

=== Supreme Court ===
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>{{Cite web |title=The federal courts |url=https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/political-system-of-switzerland/federal-courts.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714130829/https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/federal-council/political-system-of-switzerland/federal-courts.html |archive-date=14 July 2016 |access-date=24 June 2016 |publisher=The Federal Council |location=Bern, Switzerland}}</ref>

=== Direct democracy ===
{{Main|Voting in Switzerland}}
[[File:Landsgemeinde Glarus 2006.jpg|thumb|The [[Landsgemeinde]] is an old form of [[direct democracy]], still in practice in two cantons.]]
[[Direct democracy]] and [[federalism]] are hallmarks of the Swiss political system.<ref name="CHPS">{{Cite book |url=http://www.nzz-libro.ch/handbuch-der-schweizer-politik-manuel-de-la-politique-suisse.html |title=Handbuch der Schweizer Politik – Manuel de la politique suisse |publisher=Verlag Neue Zürcher Zeitung, NZZ libro |year=2014 |isbn=978-3-03823-866-9 |editor-last=Peter Knoepfel |edition=5 |location=Zurich, Switzerland |language=de, fr |access-date=24 June 2016 |editor-last2=Yannis Papadopoulos |editor-last3=Pascal Sciarini |editor-last4=Adrian Vatter |editor-last5=Silja Häusermann |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714131228/http://www.nzz-libro.ch/handbuch-der-schweizer-politik-manuel-de-la-politique-suisse.html |archive-date=14 July 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Swiss citizens are subject to three legal jurisdictions: the municipality, canton and federal levels. The 1848 and 1999 Swiss Constitutions define a system of direct democracy (sometimes called half-direct or representative direct democracy because it includes institutions of a [[representative democracy]]). The instruments of this system at the federal level, known as popular rights ({{lang-de|link=no|Volksrechte}}, {{lang-fr|link=no|droits populaires}}, {{lang-it|diritti popolari}}),<ref>{{HDS|48664|Popular rights|author=Andreas Gross|date=22 April 2015}}</ref> include the right to submit a federal initiative and a referendum, both of which may overturn parliamentary decisions.<ref name="Politics" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kaufmann |first=Bruno |date=18 May 2007 |title=How direct democracy makes Switzerland a better place |work=The Telegraph |location=London, UK |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1435383/How-direct-democracy-makes-Switzerland-a-better-place.html |url-status=live |access-date=9 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207063551/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1435383/How-direct-democracy-makes-Switzerland-a-better-place.html |archive-date=7 December 2009}}</ref>

By calling a federal referendum, a group of citizens may challenge a law passed by parliament by gathering 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. Any eight cantons can also call a constitutional referendum on federal law.<ref name="Politics" />

Similarly, the federal ''constitutional initiative'' allows citizens to put a [[constitutional amendment]] to a national vote, if 100,000 voters sign the proposed amendment within 18 months.{{efn|name=initiative 1999|Since 1999, an initiative can also be in the form of a general proposal to be elaborated by Parliament. Still, because it is considered less attractive for various reasons, this initiative has yet to be used}} The Federal Council and the Federal Assembly can supplement the proposed amendment with a counterproposal. Then, voters must indicate a preference on the ballot if both proposals are accepted. Constitutional amendments, whether introduced by initiative or in parliament, must be accepted by a [[double majority]] of the national popular vote and the popular cantonal votes.{{efn|name=majority cantonal votes|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 name="CHPS" />

=== Cantons ===
{{Main|Cantons of Switzerland}}{{See also|Spatial planning in Switzerland}}
The Swiss Confederation consists of 26 cantons:<ref name="Politics" /><ref name="CHAuthorities">{{Cite web |title=Addresses of administrative authorities |url=https://www.ch.ch/en/addresses-administrative-authorities/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714131444/https://www.ch.ch/en/addresses-administrative-authorities/ |archive-date=14 July 2016 |access-date=24 June 2016 |publisher=ch.ch, A service of the Confederation, cantons and communes |location=Bern, Switzerland}}</ref>
{| style="float:left; border:0; margin:2.6em 0 0;"
|-
| style="vertical-align:top; text-align:left;"|[[File:Kantone der Schweiz.svg|500 px|Swiss cantons]]
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%;"
|- style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
! colspan="2" | Canton !! ID !! Capital
! style="width: 0.1em; border-top: none !important; border-bottom: none !important; background: transparent;" |
! colspan="2" | Canton !! ID !! Capital
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:CHE Aargau COA.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Aargau]] || 19 || [[Aarau]]
| rowspan="13" style="width: 0.1em; border-top: none; border-bottom: none; background: transparent;" | 
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Nidwalden matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| *[[Nidwalden]] || 7 || [[Stans]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Appenzell Ausserrhoden matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| *[[Appenzell Ausserrhoden]] || 15 || [[Herisau]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Obwalden matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| *[[Obwalden]] || 6 || [[Sarnen]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Appenzell Innerrhoden matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| *[[Appenzell Innerrhoden]] || 16 || [[Appenzell (town)|Appenzell]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Schaffhausen matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Schaffhausen|Schaffhausen]] || 14 || [[Schaffhausen]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Coat of arms of Kanton Basel-Landschaft.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| *[[Basel-Landschaft]] || 13 || [[Liestal]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Schwyz matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]] || 5 || [[Schwyz]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Basel-Stadt matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| *[[Basel-Stadt]] || 12 || [[Basel]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Solothurn matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Solothurn|Solothurn]] || 11 || [[Solothurn]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Bern matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Bern|Bern]] || 2 || [[Bern]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Coat of arms of canton of St. Gallen.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of St. Gallen|St. Gallen]] || 17 || [[St. Gallen]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Freiburg matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]] || 10 || [[Fribourg]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Thurgau matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Thurgau]] || 20 || [[Frauenfeld]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Genf matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Geneva|Geneva]] || 25 || [[Geneva]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Tessin matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Ticino]] || 21 || [[Bellinzona]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Glarus matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Glarus|Glarus]] || 8 || [[Glarus]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Uri matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Uri|Uri]] || 4 || [[Altdorf, Uri|Altdorf]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Graubünden.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Grisons]] || 18 || [[Chur]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Wallis matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Valais]] || 23 || [[Sion, Switzerland|Sion]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Jura matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Jura|Jura]] || 26 || [[Delémont]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Waadt matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Vaud]] || 22 || [[Lausanne]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Luzern matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Lucerne|Lucerne]] || 3 || [[Lucerne]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Zug matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Zug|Zug]] || 9 || [[Zug]]
|-
| style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Neuenburg matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Neuchâtel|Neuchâtel]] || 24 || [[Neuchâtel]] || style="border-right:0;"| [[File:Wappen Zürich matt.svg|14px|class=noviewer]] || style="border-left:0;"| [[Canton of Zurich|Zurich]] || 1 || [[Zurich]]
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki><small>These cantons are known as half-cantons.</small>

The cantons are [[federated state]]s. They have a permanent constitutional status and, in comparison with other countries, a high degree of independence. Under the Federal Constitution, all 26 cantons are equal in status, except that 6 (referred to often as the [[Cantons of Switzerland#Half-cantons|half-cantons]]) are represented by one councillor instead of two in the [[Swiss Council of States|Council of States]] and have only half a cantonal vote with respect to the required cantonal majority in [[Voting in Switzerland#Constitutional referendums (Popular initiatives)|referendums on constitutional amendments]]. Each canton has its own constitution and its own parliament, government, police and courts.<ref name="CHAuthorities" /> However, considerable differences define the individual cantons, particularly in terms of population and geographical area. Their populations vary between 16,003 (Appenzell Innerrhoden) and 1,487,969 (Zurich), and their area between {{convert|37|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} (Basel-Stadt) and {{convert|7105|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} ([[Canton of Grisons|Grisons]]).

==== Municipalities ====
{{Main|Municipalities of Switzerland}}
As of 2018 the cantons comprised 2,222 municipalities.

=== Federal City ===
Until 1848, the loosely coupled Confederation did not have a central political organisation. Issues thought to affect the whole Confederation were the subject of periodic meetings in various locations.<ref>{{HDS|10077|Confederal Diet|author=Andreas Würgler|date=25 September 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Bern 007 (35250800705).jpg|thumb|The [[Old City of Bern]]]]
In 1848, the federal constitution provided that details concerning federal institutions, such as their locations, should be addressed by the [[Federal Assembly of Switzerland|Federal Assembly]] (BV 1848 Art. 108). Thus on 28 November 1848, the Federal Assembly voted in the majority to locate the seat of government in Bern and, as a prototypical federal compromise, to assign other federal institutions, such as the [[ETH Zurich|Federal Polytechnical School]] (1854, the later ETH) to Zurich, and other institutions to Lucerne, such as the later [[SUVA]] (1912) and the Federal Insurance Court (1917).<ref name="Bundesstadt" /> Other federal institutions were subsequently attributed to [[Lausanne]] ([[Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland|Federal Supreme Court]] in 1872, and [[École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne|EPFL]] in 1969), [[Bellinzona]] ([[Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland|Federal Criminal Court]], 2004), and [[St. Gallen]] ([[Federal Administrative Court (Switzerland)|Federal Administrative Court]] and [[Federal Patent Court (Switzerland)|Federal Patent Court]], 2012).

The 1999 Constitution does not mention a Federal City and the Federal Council has yet to address the matter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 July 2006 |title=Bundesstadtstatus Stadt Bern |url=https://www.bk.admin.ch/themen/gesetz/07212/07416/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171010143933/https://www.bk.admin.ch/themen/gesetz/07212/07416/index.html |archive-date=10 October 2017 |access-date=11 May 2017 |publisher=Swiss Federal Chancellery |language=de, fr, it |type=official website |location=Bern, Switzerland}}</ref> Thus no city in Switzerland has the ''official'' status either of capital or of Federal City. Nevertheless, Bern is commonly referred to as "Federal City" ({{lang-de|link=no|Bundesstadt}}, {{lang-fr|link=no|ville fédérale}}, {{lang-it|città federale}}).

=== Foreign relations and international institutions ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Switzerland}}
[[File:United Nations Flags - cropped.jpg|thumb|The [[Palace of Nations, Geneva|Palace of Nations]], the European headquarters of the [[United Nations Office at Geneva|United Nations]] in Geneva]]
Traditionally, Switzerland avoids alliances that might entail military, political, or direct economic action and has been neutral since the end of its [[Growth of the Old Swiss Confederacy|expansion]] in 1515. Its [[Swiss neutrality|policy of neutrality]] was internationally recognised at the [[Congress of Vienna]] in 1815.<ref name="Neutrality">{{Cite web |title=Neutrality |url=https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/politik-geschichte/die-schweiz-und-die-welt/neutralitaet.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324092218/https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/politik-geschichte/die-schweiz-und-die-welt/neutralitaet.html |archive-date=24 March 2023 |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=Federal Department of Foreign Affairs |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Switzerland – Country history and economic development |encyclopedia=nationsencyclopedia.com |url=http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Europe/Switzerland-COUNTRY-HISTORY-AND-ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT.html |access-date=12 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206025947/http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Europe/Switzerland-COUNTRY-HISTORY-AND-ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT.html |archive-date=6 February 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Swiss neutrality]] has been questioned at times.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stephens |first=Thomas |date=12 February 2020 |title=Latest spy scandal 'shatters Swiss neutrality', say papers |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/press-review_latest-spy-scandal--shatters-swiss-neutrality---say-papers/45553888 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302121722/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/press-review_latest-spy-scandal--shatters-swiss-neutrality---say-papers/45553888 |archive-date=2 March 2020 |access-date=16 March 2020 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ICRC in WW II: the Holocaust |url=http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/misc/history-holocauste-020205.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904035727/http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/misc/history-holocauste-020205.htm |archive-date=4 September 2012 |access-date=28 August 2012}}.</ref> In 2002 Switzerland became a full member of the United Nations.<ref name="Neutrality" /> It was the first state to join it by [[2002 Swiss referendums|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" /> However, Switzerland does participate in the [[Schengen Area]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Schengen Visa Countries List – Schengen Area |url=http://www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-visa-countries-list/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204232612/http://www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-visa-countries-list/ |archive-date=4 December 2015 |access-date=4 December 2015 |website=Schengen VISA Information |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:Flag of the Red Cross.svg|thumb|upright|left|The colour-reversed Swiss flag became the symbol of the Red Cross Movement,<ref name="FCO2" />{{Failed verification|date=April 2023}} founded in 1863 by [[Henry Dunant]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Nobel Peace Prize 1901 |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1901/dunant/biographical/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208144501/https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1901/dunant/biographical/ |archive-date=8 February 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=NobelPrize.org |language=en-US}}</ref>]]

Many international institutions have headquarters in Switzerland, in part because of its policy of neutrality. [[Geneva]] is the birthplace of the [[Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement]], the [[Geneva Conventions]] and, since 2006, hosts the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]]. Even though Switzerland is one of the most recent countries to join the United Nations, the [[Palace of Nations, Geneva|Palace of Nations]] in Geneva is the second biggest centre for the United Nations after the [[Headquarters of the United Nations|headquarters]] in New York. Switzerland was a founding member and hosted the [[League of Nations]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=van Ginneken |first=Anique H. M. |title=Historical Dictionary of the League of Nations |publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]] |year=2006 |isbn=9780810865136 |pages=182 |language=en}}</ref>

Apart from the United Nations headquarters, the Swiss Confederation is host to many UN agencies, including 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]] and the [[World Intellectual Property Organization]].<ref name="Neutrality" /> The annual meetings of the [[World Economic Forum]] in [[Davos]] bring together business and political leaders from Switzerland and foreign countries to discuss important issues. The headquarters of the [[Bank for International Settlements]] (BIS) moved to [[Basel]] in 1930.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

Many sports federations and organisations are located in the country, including the [[International Handball Federation]] in Basel, the [[International Basketball Federation]] in Geneva, the Union of European Football Associations ([[UEFA]]) in [[Nyon]], the International Federation of Association Football ([[FIFA]]) and the [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] both 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] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503052352/http://www.ifsports-guide.ch/english/navigation/annuaire_en.html |date=3 May 2010}} if-sportsguide.ch. Retrieved on 25 January 2010</ref>

Switzerland is scheduled to become a member of the [[United Nations Security Council]] for the 2023–2024 period.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 June 2022 |title=Switzerland elected to UN Security Council |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/switzerland-elected-to-un-security-council/47661050 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609162030/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/switzerland-elected-to-un-security-council/47661050 |archive-date=9 June 2022 |access-date=9 June 2022 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch}}</ref>

==== Switzerland and the European Union ====
{{Further|Switzerland–European Union relations}}
Although not a member, Switzerland maintains relationships with the EU and European countries through bilateral agreements. The Swiss have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with those of the EU, in an effort to compete internationally. [[Future enlargement of the European Union#States not on the agenda|EU membership]] faces considerable negative popular sentiment. It is opposed by the conservative [[Swiss People's Party|SVP]] party, the largest party in the National Council, and not advocated by several other political parties. The membership application was formally withdrawn in 2016. The western French-speaking areas and the urban regions of the rest of the country tend to be more pro-EU, but do not form a significant share of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 February 2003 |title=Volksinitiative "Ja zu Europa!" |trans-title=Initiative "Yes to Europe!" |url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/03/blank/key/2001/01.Document.22675.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624200130/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/03/blank/key/2001/01.Document.22675.pdf |archive-date=24 June 2008 |access-date=15 June 2008 |publisher=BFS/OFS/UST |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 January 2003 |title=Volksinitiative "Ja zu Europa!", nach Kantonen. (Initiative "Yes to Europe!" by Canton). |url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/03/blank/key/2001/01.Document.85488.xls |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501043932/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/03/blank/key/2001/01.Document.85488.xls |archive-date=1 May 2011 |access-date=15 June 2008 |publisher=BFS/OFS/UST |language=de |format=XLS}}</ref>

[[File:EU and EFTA.svg|thumb|left|Members of the [[European Free Trade Association]] (green) participate in the [[European single market]] and are part of the [[Schengen Area]].]]
An Integration Office operates under the [[Federal Department of Foreign Affairs|Department of Foreign Affairs]] and the [[Federal Department of Economic Affairs|Department of Economic Affairs]]. Seven bilateral agreements liberalised trade ties, taking effect in 2001. This first series of bilateral agreements included the free movement of persons. A second series of agreements covering nine areas was signed in 2004, including the [[Schengen Treaty]] and the [[Dublin Convention]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bilateral agreements Switzerland-EU |url=http://www.europa.admin.ch/themen/00500/index.html?lang=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830131031/http://www.europa.admin.ch/themen/00500/index.html?lang=en |archive-date=30 August 2014 |access-date=8 May 2014 |website=www.europa.admin.ch |publisher=Swiss Directorate for European Affairs DEA, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA}}</ref>

In 2006, a referendum approved 1 billion francs of supportive investment in Southern and Central European countries in support of 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 faced EU and international pressure to reduce [[banking secrecy]] and raise tax rates to parity with the EU. Preparatory discussions involved four areas: the electricity market, participation in project [[Galileo positioning system|Galileo]], cooperating with the [[European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control]] and certificates of origin for food products.<ref>[http://www.europa.admin.ch/themen/00499/00503/index.html?lang=en Switzerland and the European Union] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815075936/http://www.europa.admin.ch/themen/00499/00503/index.html?lang=en |date=15 August 2010}} europa.admin.ch. Retrieved on 25 January 2010.</ref>{{Update inline|date=March 2023}}

Switzerland is a member of the Schengen passport-free zone. Land [[border checkpoint]]s apply on to goods movements, but not people.<ref>[http://www.euronews.net/2008/12/11/switzerland-in-schengen-end-to-passport-checks/ Switzerland in Schengen: end to passport checks] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523154739/http://www.euronews.net/2008/12/11/switzerland-in-schengen-end-to-passport-checks/ |date=23 May 2009}} euronews.net. Retrieved on 25 January 2010.</ref>

=== Military ===
{{Main|Swiss Armed Forces|Pontifical Swiss Guard}}
[[File:Switzerland - Air Force McDonnell Douglas FA-18C Hornet - cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|A Swiss Air Force [[F/A-18 Hornet]] at [[Axalp Air Show]]]]

The [[Swiss Armed Forces]], including the [[Ground Forces|Land Forces]] and the [[Swiss Air Force|Air Force]], are [[Conscription in Switzerland|composed mostly of conscripts]], male citizens aged from 20 to 34 (in exceptional cases up to 50) years. Being a [[landlocked]] country, Switzerland has no navy; however, on lakes bordering neighbouring countries, armed boats patrol. Swiss citizens are prohibited from serving in foreign armies, except for the [[Pontifical Swiss Guard|Swiss Guards]] of the [[Vatican City|Vatican]], or if they are [[dual citizen]]s of a foreign country and reside there.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

The Swiss militia system stipulates that soldiers keep their army-issued equipment, including [[Automatic firearm|fully automatic]] personal weapons, at home.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 March 2009 |title=Volksinitiative『Für den Schutz vor Waffengewalt』Home |url=http://www.schutz-vor-waffengewalt.ch/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301042301/http://www.schutz-vor-waffengewalt.ch/ |archive-date=1 March 2009 |access-date=8 February 2023}}</ref> Women can serve voluntarily. Men usually receive military conscription orders for training at the age of 18.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Militärdiestpflicht |url=http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/de/home/militaerdienst/rekrut/wehrpflicht.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213031154/http://www.vtg.admin.ch/internet/vtg/de/home/militaerdienst/rekrut/wehrpflicht.html |archive-date=13 December 2013 |access-date=15 January 2014 |publisher=Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport |language=de, fr, it}}</ref> About two-thirds of young Swiss are found suitable for service; for the others, various forms of alternative service are available.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 March 2008 |title=Zwei Drittel der Rekruten diensttauglich (Schweiz, NZZ Online) |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/zwei_drittel_der_rekruten_diensttauglich_1.687233.html |url-status=live |access-date=23 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304185339/https://www.nzz.ch/zwei_drittel_der_rekruten_diensttauglich-1.687233?reduced=true |archive-date=4 March 2021}}</ref> Annually, approximately 20,000 persons are trained in recruit centres for 18 to 21 weeks. The reform "Army XXI" was adopted by popular vote in 2003, replacing "Army 95", reducing the rolls 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>{{Cite web |title=VBS – Die Armee in Zahlen – Truppenbestände |url=http://www.vbs.admin.ch/internet/vbs/de/home/documentation/armeezahlen/eff.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909112719/http://www.vbs.admin.ch/internet/vbs/de/home/documentation/armeezahlen/eff.html |archive-date=9 September 2009 |access-date=8 February 2023}}</ref>

The newest reform of the military, {{lang|de|Weiterentwicklung der Armee}} (WEA; English: Further development of the Army), started in 2018 and was expected to reduce the number of army personnel to 100,000 by the end of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Weiterentwicklung der Armee |url=https://www.vtg.admin.ch/de/aktuell/themen/wea.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420193059/https://www.vtg.admin.ch/de/aktuell/themen/wea.html |archive-date=20 April 2021 |access-date=30 April 2021 |publisher=[[Swiss Armed Forces]] |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Weiterentwicklung der Armee-FAQ (Politik) |url=https://www.vtg.admin.ch/de/aktuell/themen/wea/faq.html#ui-collapse-252 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507053620/https://www.vtg.admin.ch/de/aktuell/themen/wea/faq.html#ui-collapse-252 |archive-date=7 May 2023 |access-date=17 April 2023 |website=Schweizer Armee |language=de |format=Click to expand the question 'Wie verändert sich der Sollbestand der Armee?'}}</ref>

[[File:SKdt-Fahrzeug - Schweizer Armee - Steel Parade 2006.jpg|thumb|left|Swiss-built [[Mowag Eagle]]s of the land forces]]
Overall, three general mobilisations have been declared to ensure the integrity and neutrality of Switzerland. The first mobilisation was held in response to the [[Franco-Prussian War]] of 1870–71; while the second was in response to the [[First World War]] outbreak in August 1914; the third mobilisation took place in September 1939 in response to the [[German attack on Poland]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 March 2020 |title=Swiss order biggest military mobilization since WWII to fight virus |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-swiss-idUSKBN2131D2 |access-date=22 October 2023 |archive-date=27 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127213032/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-swiss-idUSKBN2131D2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Because of its neutrality policy, the Swiss army does not take part in armed conflicts in other countries but joins some peacekeeping missions. Since 2000 the armed force department has maintained the [[Onyx (interception system)|Onyx]] intelligence gathering system to monitor satellite communications.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chapin |first=Emerson |date=2 September 1990 |title=Edwin Reischauer, Diplomat and Scholar, Dies at 79 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/02/obituaries/edwin-reischauer-diplomat-and-scholar-dies-at-79.html |url-status=live |access-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325053127/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/02/obituaries/edwin-reischauer-diplomat-and-scholar-dies-at-79.html |archive-date=25 March 2020 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

[[Gun politics in Switzerland]] are unique in Europe in that 2–3.5&nbsp;million guns are in the hands of civilians, giving the nation an estimate of 28–41 guns per 100 people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guns in Switzerland – Firearms, gun law and gun control |url=https://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/switzerland |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424224143/https://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/switzerland |archive-date=24 April 2021 |access-date=30 April 2021 |website=www.gunpolicy.org}}</ref> As per the Small Arms Survey, only 324,484 guns are owned by the military.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 2018 |title=Global Firearms Holdings Dynamic Map |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/de/weapons-and-markets/tools/global-firearms-holdings.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710010411/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/de/weapons-and-markets/tools/global-firearms-holdings.html |archive-date=10 July 2018 |access-date=9 July 2018 |website=smallarmssurvey.org |publisher=Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement |location=Geneva, Switzerland}}</ref> Only 143,372 are in the hands of soldiers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Die Armee in Zahlen |url=https://www.vbs.admin.ch/de/vbs/zahlen-fakten/armee.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205163220/https://www.vbs.admin.ch/de/vbs/zahlen-fakten/armee.html |archive-date=5 February 2020 |access-date=30 April 2021 |publisher=The Swiss Federal Council |language=de, fr, it}}</ref> However, ammunition is no longer issued.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 December 2007 |title=SR 514.101 Verordnung des VBS über die persönliche Ausrüstung der Armeeangehörigen (VPAA-VBS) vom 9. Dezember 2003 (Stand am 1. Januar 2015): Art. 7 Taschenmunition Ziff 1 |url=https://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classified-compilation/20031035/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228221111/https://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classified-compilation/20031035/index.html |archive-date=28 December 2016 |access-date=6 December 2016 |publisher=The Swiss Federal Council |language=de, fr, it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 September 2007 |title=Soldiers can keep guns at home but not ammo |url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/soldiers-can-keep-guns-at-home-but-not-ammo/970614 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207070323/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/soldiers-can-keep-guns-at-home-but-not-ammo/970614 |archive-date=7 December 2016 |access-date=7 December 2016 |website=[[Swissinfo]]}}</ref>

== Economy and labour law ==
{{Main|Economy of Switzerland|Economic history of Switzerland}}
{{See also|Banking in Switzerland|Federal budget of Switzerland}}
[[File:Basel - Roche-Turm mit Stadtansicht bei Abenddämmerung.jpg|thumb|The city of [[Basel]] ([[Roche Tower]]) is the capital of the country's pharmaceutical industry, which accounts for around 38% of Swiss exports worldwide.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aurel |first=Jörg |date=7 February 2017 |title=Was wäre die Schweiz ohne die Pharma? |url=https://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/starke-abhaengigkeit-von-einer-branche-was-waere-die-schweiz-ohne-die-pharma-ld.144096 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021212914/https://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/starke-abhaengigkeit-von-einer-branche-was-waere-die-schweiz-ohne-die-pharma-ld.144096 |archive-date=21 October 2019 |access-date=11 December 2020 |newspaper=Neue Zürcher Zeitung}}</ref>]]
[[File:Aerial view of Zurich.JPG|thumb|left|upright|The Greater [[Zurich]] Area, home to 1.5&nbsp;million inhabitants and 150,000 companies, is one of the most important economic centres in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Mayors: World's most powerful cities |url=http://www.citymayors.com/economics/power-cities.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510153333/http://citymayors.com/economics/power-cities.html |archive-date=10 May 2012 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=City Mayors}}</ref>]]
{{Pie chart
| caption= Origin of the capital at the 30 biggest Swiss corporations, 2018:<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 April 2019 |title=Fewer Swiss shares: Foreign investors own 60% of Swiss corporations |publisher=swissinfo.ch – a SRG SSR Swiss Broadcasting Corporation |location=Bern, Switzerland |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/foreign-investors-own-60--of-swiss-corporations/44880256 |url-status=live |access-date=12 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002204326/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/foreign-investors-own-60--of-swiss-corporations/44880256 |archive-date=2 October 2020}}</ref>{{efn|name=Rothschilds|Assumption made in the study: one third of the shares is "not allocable" and has been distributed equally among current regions.}}
| label1 = Switzerland
| value1 = 39
| color1 = red
| label2 = North America
| value2 = 33
| color2 = yellow
| label3 = Europe
| value3 = 24
| color3 = blue
| label4 = Rest of the world
| value4 = 4
| color4 = brown
}}

Switzerland has a stable, prosperous and high-tech economy. It is the world's wealthiest country per capita in multiple rankings. The country ranks as one of the [[Corruption Perceptions Index|least corrupt countries in the world]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Credit Suisse: Global wealth has soared 14% since 2010 to USD 231 trillion with the strongest growth in emerging markets |url=https://www.credit-suisse.com/news/en/media_release.jsp?ns=41874 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724065751/https://www.credit-suisse.com/news/en/media_release.jsp?ns=41874 |archive-date=24 July 2014 |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=Credit Suisse |language=en}}</ref><ref>[https://www.credit-suisse.com/upload/news-live/000000022454.pdf Table 2: Top 10 countries with the highest average wealth per adult in 2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114023617/https://www.credit-suisse.com/upload/news-live/000000022454.pdf |date=14 November 2012}}. Credit Suisse.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 October 2013 |title=Global Wealth Reaches New All-Time High |url=http://www.thefinancialist.com/global-wealth-reaches-new-all-time-high/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729234134/https://www.thefinancialist.com/global-wealth-reaches-new-all-time-high/ |archive-date=29 July 2016 |access-date=10 October 2013 |website=The Financialist |publisher=Credit Suisse}}</ref> while [[Banking in Switzerland|its banking sector]] is rated as "[[Corruption in Switzerland#Banking|one of the most corrupt in the world]]".<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 February 2018 |title=Switzerland, US 'The Most Corrupt' |url=https://wsimag.com/economy-and-politics/35987-switzerland-us-the-most-corrupt\ |website=Wall Street International Magazine}}{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It has the world's [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|twentieth largest economy]] by nominal GDP and the [[List of countries by GDP (PPP)|thirty-eighth largest]] by [[purchasing power parity]]. As of 2021, it is the [[List of countries by exports|thirteenth largest exporter]], and the [[List of countries by exports per capita|fifth largest]] per capita. Zurich and Geneva are regarded as [[global city|global cities]], ranked as [[Globalization and World Cities Research Network|Alpha and Beta]] respectively. Basel is the capital of Switzerland's pharmaceutical industry, hosting [[Novartis]], [[Roche]], and many other players. It is one of the world's most important centres for the life sciences industry.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jörg |first=Aurel |date=7 February 2017 |title=Was wäre die Schweiz ohne die Pharma? {{pipe}} NZZ |newspaper=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |url=https://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/starke-abhaengigkeit-von-einer-branche-was-waere-die-schweiz-ohne-die-pharma-ld.144096 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021212914/https://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/starke-abhaengigkeit-von-einer-branche-was-waere-die-schweiz-ohne-die-pharma-ld.144096 |archive-date=21 October 2019 |access-date=29 July 2020}}</ref>

Switzerland had the second-highest global rating in the [[Index of Economic Freedom]] 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Country Rankings: World & Global Economy Rankings on Economic Freedom |url=https://www.heritage.org/index/ranking |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705085015/https://www.heritage.org/index/ranking |archive-date=5 July 2018 |access-date=29 July 2023 |website=www.heritage.org |language=en}}</ref> while also providing significant public services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 Index of Economic Freedom: Switzerland |url=https://indexdotnet.azurewebsites.net/index/country/switzerland |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208144513/https://indexdotnet.azurewebsites.net/index/country/switzerland |archive-date=8 February 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=Index of Economic Freedom |publisher=The Heritage Foundation |language=en}}</ref> On a per capita basis, nominal GDP is higher than those of the larger Western and Central European economies and Japan,<ref>{{Cite web |title=CIA – The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424075526/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html |archive-date=24 April 2013 |access-date=28 April 2013 |publisher=Cia.gov}}</ref> while [[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|adjusted for purchasing power]], Switzerland ranked 11th in 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424075526/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html |archive-date=24 April 2013 |access-date=1 July 2020 |website=www.cia.gov}}</ref> fifth in 2018<ref>{{Cite web |title=GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) {{!}} Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812191422/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true |archive-date=12 August 2020 |access-date=1 July 2020 |website=data.worldbank.org}}</ref> and ninth in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=80&pr.y=11&sy=2020&ey=2024&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512,668,914,672,612,946,614,137,311,546,213,674,911,676,314,548,193,556,122,678,912,181,313,867,419,682,513,684,316,273,913,868,124,921,339,948,638,943,514,686,218,688,963,518,616,728,223,836,516,558,918,138,748,196,618,278,624,692,522,694,622,962,156,142,626,449,628,564,228,565,924,283,233,853,632,288,636,293,634,566,238,964,662,182,960,359,423,453,935,968,128,922,611,714,321,862,243,135,248,716,469,456,253,722,642,942,643,718,939,724,734,576,644,936,819,961,172,813,132,726,646,199,648,733,915,184,134,524,652,361,174,362,328,364,258,732,656,366,654,144,336,146,263,463,268,528,532,923,944,738,176,578,534,537,536,742,429,866,433,369,178,744,436,186,136,925,343,869,158,746,439,926,916,466,664,112,826,111,542,298,967,927,443,846,917,299,544,582,941,474,446,754,666,698&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701201341/https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=80&pr.y=11&sy=2020&ey=2024&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C546%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C314%2C548%2C193%2C556%2C122%2C678%2C912%2C181%2C313%2C867%2C419%2C682%2C513%2C684%2C316%2C273%2C913%2C868%2C124%2C921%2C339%2C948%2C638%2C943%2C514%2C686%2C218%2C688%2C963%2C518%2C616%2C728%2C223%2C836%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C962%2C156%2C142%2C626%2C449%2C628%2C564%2C228%2C565%2C924%2C283%2C233%2C853%2C632%2C288%2C636%2C293%2C634%2C566%2C238%2C964%2C662%2C182%2C960%2C359%2C423%2C453%2C935%2C968%2C128%2C922%2C611%2C714%2C321%2C862%2C243%2C135%2C248%2C716%2C469%2C456%2C253%2C722%2C642%2C942%2C643%2C718%2C939%2C724%2C734%2C576%2C644%2C936%2C819%2C961%2C172%2C813%2C132%2C726%2C646%2C199%2C648%2C733%2C915%2C184%2C134%2C524%2C652%2C361%2C174%2C362%2C328%2C364%2C258%2C732%2C656%2C366%2C654%2C144%2C336%2C146%2C263%2C463%2C268%2C528%2C532%2C923%2C944%2C738%2C176%2C578%2C534%2C537%2C536%2C742%2C429%2C866%2C433%2C369%2C178%2C744%2C436%2C186%2C136%2C925%2C343%2C869%2C158%2C746%2C439%2C926%2C916%2C466%2C664%2C112%2C826%2C111%2C542%2C298%2C967%2C927%2C443%2C846%2C917%2C299%2C544%2C582%2C941%2C474%2C446%2C754%2C666%2C698&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a= |archive-date=1 July 2020 |access-date=1 July 2020 |website=www.imf.org}}</ref>

The 2016 World Economic Forum's [[Global Competitiveness Report]] ranked Switzerland's economy as the world's most competitive;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Competitiveness Report 2016–2017 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GCR2016-2017/05FullReport/TheGlobalCompetitivenessReport2016-2017_FINAL.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226014728/http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GCR2016-2017/05FullReport/TheGlobalCompetitivenessReport2016-2017_FINAL.pdf |archive-date=26 February 2017 |publisher=World Economic Forum}}</ref> as of 2019, it ranks fifth globally.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 October 2019 |title=2019 Global Competitiveness Report 4.0 |url=https://www.weforum.org/reports/how-to-end-a-decade-of-lost-productivity-growth |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602001020/https://www.weforum.org/reports/how-to-end-a-decade-of-lost-productivity-growth |archive-date=2 June 2020 |access-date=30 May 2020 |publisher=[[World Economic Forum|WEF]] |location=Geneva, Switzerland}}</ref> The [[European Union]] labeled it Europe's most innovative country and the most innovative country in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2023, as it had done in 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.<ref>{{Cite book |last=WIPO |title=Global Innovation Index 2023, 15th Edition |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/index.html |access-date=17 October 2023 |date=18 April 2024 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |doi=10.34667/tind.46596 |isbn=978-92-805-3432-0 |language=en |archive-date=22 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022042128/https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo-pub-2000-2022-en-main-report-global-innovation-index-2022-15th-edition.pdf |title=Global Innovation Index 2022, 15th Edition |first4=Sacha |publisher=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]] |year=2022 |isbn=978-92-805-3432-0 |editor-last=Dutta |editor-first=Soumitra |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.46596 |access-date=16 November 2022 |editor-last2=Lanvin |editor-first2=Bruno |editor-last3=León |editor-first3=Lorena Rivera |editor-last4=Wunsch-Vincent |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930033511/https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo-pub-2000-2022-en-main-report-global-innovation-index-2022-15th-edition.pdf |archive-date=30 September 2022 |url-status=live |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first4=Sacha |title=Global Innovation Index 2021 |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2021/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120103718/https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2021/ |archive-date=20 November 2021 |website=[[WIPO]] |language=en |editor-last1=Dutta |editor-first1=Soumitra |editor-last2=Lanvin |editor-first2=Bruno |editor-last3=León |editor-first3=Lorena Rivera |editor-last4=Wunsch-Vincent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 July 2016 |title=European Innovation Scoreboard – European Commission |url=http://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/innovation/facts-figures/scoreboards_en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220155451/http://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/innovation/facts-figures/scoreboards_en |archive-date=20 December 2016 |access-date=13 December 2016}}</ref> It ranked 20th of 189 countries in the [[Ease of Doing Business Index]]. Switzerland's slow growth in the 1990s and the early 2000s increased support for economic reforms and harmonisation with the European Union.<ref name="economicsurvey2007">{{Cite web |title=Policy Brief: Economic Survey of Switzerland, 2007 |url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/39/8/39539300.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624200128/http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/39/8/39539300.pdf |archive-date=24 June 2008 |publisher=[[OECD]] |format=PDF; 326 [[KiB]]}}</ref><ref>[http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/29/49/40202407.pdf Economic Policy Reforms: Going for Growth 2008 – Switzerland Country Note] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624150623/http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/29/49/40202407.pdf|date=24 June 2009}}. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2008, {{ISBN|978-92-64-04284-1}}</ref> In 2020, [[International Institute for Management Development|IMD]] placed Switzerland first in attracting skilled workers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 March 2021 |title=The IMD World Talent Ranking 2020 |url=https://www.imd.org/wcc/world-competitiveness-center-rankings/world-talent-ranking-2020/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308124452/https://www1.imd.org/wcc/world-competitiveness-center-rankings/world-talent-ranking-2020/ |archive-date=8 March 2021 |access-date=1 March 2021 |publisher=IMD International Institute for Management Development |location=Lausanne, Switzerland}}</ref>

For much of the 20th century, Switzerland was the wealthiest country in Europe by a considerable margin (per capita GDP).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/westerneurope2000000unse/page/645/mode/2up |title=Western Europe |publisher=Routledge |year=2002 |isbn=978-1-85743-152-0 |pages=645–646}}</ref> Switzerland 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]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wong Sak Hoi |first=Geraldine |date=29 July 2019 |title=Fact check: Are most Swiss residents rich? |publisher=swissinfo.ch – a SRG SSR Swiss Broadcasting Corporation |location=Bern, Switzerland |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/fact-check_are-most-swiss-residents-rich-/45113786 |url-status=live |access-date=12 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220003122/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/fact-check_are-most-swiss-residents-rich-/45113786 |archive-date=20 February 2020}}</ref> In 2018, the canton of Basel-City had the highest GDP per capita, ahead of Zug and Geneva.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Schweiz – Bruttoinlandsprodukt (BIP) pro Kopf nach Kantonen 2017 |url=https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/442774/umfrage/bruttoinlandsprodukt-bip-pro-kopf-in-der-schweiz-nach-kantonen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104170121/https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/442774/umfrage/bruttoinlandsprodukt-bip-pro-kopf-in-der-schweiz-nach-kantonen/ |archive-date=4 November 2018 |access-date=8 June 2020 |website=Statista}}</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">Swiss Statistical Yearbook 2008 by [[Swiss Federal Statistical Office]]</ref>

Switzerland is home to several large multinational corporations. The largest by revenue are [[Glencore]], [[Gunvor (company)|Gunvor]],<!--A company registered in Cyprus is Swiss?--> [[Nestlé]], [[Mediterranean Shipping Company]], [[Novartis]], [[Hoffmann-La Roche]], [[ABB]], [[Mercuria Energy Group]] and [[Adecco]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 October 2008 |title=Six Swiss companies make European Top 100 |publisher=swissinfo.ch |url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/detail/Six_Swiss_companies_make_European_Top_100.html?siteSect=161&sid=7174196&cKey=1161172317000 |access-date=22 July 2008}}</ref> Also, notable are [[UBS]], [[Zurich Insurance]], [[Richemont]], [[Credit Suisse]], [[Barry Callebaut]], [[Swiss Re]], [[Rolex]], [[Tetra Pak]], [[Swatch Group]] and [[Swiss International Air Lines]].

Switzerland's most important economic sector is manufacturing. Manufactured products include specialty [[chemical industry|chemicals]], [[Pharmaceutical industry in Switzerland|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" /> The service sector – especially banking and insurance, [[Economy of Switzerland#Commodities trading|commodities trading]], tourism, and [[international organization|international organisations]] – is another important industry for Switzerland. Exported services amount to a third of exports.<ref name="yearbook2008" />

[[Agriculture in Switzerland|Agricultural protectionism]]—a rare exception to Switzerland's free trade policies—contributes to high [[food prices]]. Product market liberalisation is lagging behind many [[Member state of the European Union|EU countries]] according to the [[OECD]].<ref name="economicsurvey2007" /> Apart from agriculture, economic and trade barriers between the European Union and Switzerland are minimal, and Switzerland has free trade agreements with many countries. Switzerland is a member of the [[European Free Trade Association]] (EFTA).

Switzerland is considered as the "land of [[Cooperative]]s" with the ten largest cooperative companies accounting for more than 11% of GDP in 2018. They include [[Migros]] and [[Coop (Switzerland)|Coop]], the two largest retail companies in Switzerland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=von Wy |first=Benjamin |date=4 March 2023 |others=Illustration by Philip Schaufelberger |title=Switzerland: the land of cooperatives |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/switzerland--the-land-of-cooperatives/48325444 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305105640/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/switzerland--the-land-of-cooperatives/48325444 |archive-date=5 March 2023 |access-date=5 March 2023 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch}}</ref>

=== Taxation and government spending ===
{{see also|Taxation in Switzerland}} 
Switzerland is a [[tax haven]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Gabriel Zucman |author-link=Gabriel Zucman |last2=Thomas Torslov |last3=Ludvig Wier |date=June 2018 |title=The Missing Profits of Nations |url=http://gabriel-zucman.eu/missingprofits/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402221958/http://gabriel-zucman.eu/missingprofits/ |archive-date=2 April 2019 |access-date=17 August 2018 |publisher=[[National Bureau of Economic Research]], Working Papers |page=31 |quote=Appendix Table 2: Tax Havens}}</ref> The private sector economy dominates. It features low tax rates; [[List of countries by tax revenue to GDP ratio|tax revenue to GDP ratio is one of the smallest]] of [[developed country|developed countries]]. The [[Federal budget of Switzerland|Swiss Federal budget]] reached 62.8 billion Swiss francs in 2010, 11.35% of GDP; however, canton and municipality budgets are not counted as part of the federal budget. Total [[government spending]] is closer to 33.8% of GDP. The main sources of income for the federal government are the [[value-added tax]] (33% of tax revenue) and the direct federal tax (29%). The main areas of expenditure are in social welfare and finance/taxes. The expenditures of the Swiss Confederation have been growing from 7% of GDP in 1960 to 9.7% in 1990 and 10.7% in 2010. While the social welfare and finance sectors and tax grew from 35% in 1990 to 48.2% in 2010, a significant reduction of expenditures has been occurring in agriculture and national defence; from 26.5% to 12.4% (estimation for the year 2015).<ref>Federal Department of Finance. (2012/1). p. 82.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Voranschlag 2014 Finanzplan 2015–17 |url=http://www.efv.admin.ch/d/downloads/finanzberichterstattung/budget/kontext/Praes_Budget-2014_FP2015-17.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714115911/http://www.efv.admin.ch/d/downloads/finanzberichterstattung/budget/kontext/Praes_Budget-2014_FP2015-17.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=14 June 2014}}</ref>

=== Labour force ===
{{see also|Immigration to Switzerland}}
Slightly more than 5 million people work in Switzerland;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Work and income |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/work-income.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312075052/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/work-income.html |archive-date=12 March 2017 |access-date=13 March 2017}}</ref> 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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116072616/http://www.swissworld.org/en/economy/workers_and_jobs/trade_unions |archive-date=16 January 2013 |access-date=17 December 2012}}</ref> Switzerland has a more flexible [[job market|labor market]] than neighbouring countries and the unemployment rate is consistently low. The unemployment rate increased from 1.7% in June 2000 to 4.4% in December 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 January 2010 |title=Swiss jobless reach 12-year high – a mere 4.4 pct |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729195906/http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2010738861_apeuswitzerlandunemployment.html |archive-date=29 July 2013 |website=[[The Seattle Times]] |language=en-US |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> It then decreased to 3.2% in 2014 and held steady for several years,<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 September 2021 |title=Europe :: Switzerland – The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/switzerland/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610163007/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/switzerland/ |archive-date=10 June 2021 |access-date=23 January 2021 |website=www.cia.gov}}</ref> before further dropping to 2.5% in 2018 and 2.3% in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 January 2020 |title=Swiss unemployment drops to new low |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/labour-market-_swiss-unemployment-drops-to-new-low-/45484438 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212221658/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/labour-market-_swiss-unemployment-drops-to-new-low-/45484438 |archive-date=12 February 2020 |access-date=12 February 2020 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch}}</ref> Population growth (from net immigration) reached 0.52% of population in 2004, increased in the following years before falling to 0.54% again in 2017.<ref name="yearbook2008" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=31 August 2018 |title=Rückläufige Zuwanderung bremst Bevölkerungswachstum |work=Aargauer Zeitung |location=Aarau, Switzerland |url=https://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/schweiz/ruecklaeufige-zuwanderung-bremst-bevoelkerungswachstum-133017362 |url-status=live |access-date=12 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212221658/https://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/schweiz/ruecklaeufige-zuwanderung-bremst-bevoelkerungswachstum-133017362 |archive-date=12 February 2020}}</ref> The [[List of countries by immigrant population|foreign citizen population]] was 28.9% in 2015, about the same as in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2013 |title=The Conference Board Total Economy Database – Output, Labor, and Labor Productivity, 1950–2012 |url=http://www.conference-board.org/data/economydatabase/#GDP_perHourWorked |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708232452/http://www.conference-board.org/data/economydatabase/#GDP_perHourWorked |archive-date=8 July 2010 |access-date=12 July 2013 |publisher=[[The Conference Board]] |at=GDP per Hour, in 2012 EKS$ |format=Excel}}</ref>

In 2016, the median monthly gross income in Switzerland was 6,502 francs per month (equivalent to US$6,597 per month).<ref name="SWI-Are most">{{Cite web |last=Wong Sak Hoi |first=Geraldine |date=29 July 2019 |title=Are most Swiss residents rich? |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/fact-check_are-most-swiss-residents-rich-/45113786 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220003122/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/fact-check_are-most-swiss-residents-rich-/45113786 |archive-date=20 February 2020 |access-date=12 February 2020 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |language=en}}</ref> After rent, taxes and pension contributions, plus spending on goods and services, the average household has about 15% of its gross income left for savings. Though 61% of the population made less than the mean income, income inequality is relatively low with a [[Gini coefficient]] of 29.7, placing Switzerland among the top 20 countries. In 2015, the richest 1% owned 35% of the wealth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2016 |title=Inequality in Switzerland |url=https://lenews.ch/2016/02/01/inequality-in-switzerland/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223074827/https://lenews.ch/2016/02/01/inequality-in-switzerland/ |archive-date=23 December 2021 |access-date=23 December 2021 |website=Le News |language=en}}</ref> Wealth inequality increased through 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 September 2019 |title=Report warns of rising wealth inequality in Switzerland |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/-two-speed--society_report-warns-of-rising-wealth-inequality-in-switzerland/45248862 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223075301/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/-two-speed--society_report-warns-of-rising-wealth-inequality-in-switzerland/45248862 |archive-date=23 December 2021 |access-date=23 December 2021 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |language=en |agency=Keystone-SDA}}</ref>

About 8.2% of the population live below [[Poverty in Switzerland|the national poverty line]], defined in Switzerland as earning less than CHF3,990 per month for a household of two adults and two children, and a further 15% are at risk of poverty. Single-parent families, those with no post-compulsory education and those out of work are among the most likely to live below the poverty line. Although work is considered a way out of poverty, some 4.3% are considered working poor. One in ten jobs in Switzerland is considered low-paid; roughly 12% of Swiss workers hold such jobs, many of them women and foreigners.<ref name="SWI-Are most" />

== Education and science ==<!--Please consider adding other information into relevant articles of the series-->
{{Main|Education in Switzerland|Science and technology in Switzerland}}

[[File:11-11-24-basel-by-ralfr-035.jpg|thumb|The [[University of Basel]] is Switzerland's oldest university (1460).]]
[[File:Swiss scientists.jpg|thumb|upright|220px|Some Swiss scientists who played a key role in their discipline (clockwise):<br />[[Leonhard Euler]] (mathematics)<br />[[Louis Agassiz]] (glaciology)<br />[[Auguste Piccard]] (aeronautics)<br />[[Albert Einstein]] (physics)]]

Education in Switzerland is diverse, because the [[constitution of Switzerland]] delegates the operation for the school system to the [[Canton of Switzerland|cantons]].<ref name="Education">{{Cite web |title=Education |url=https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/bildung-wissenschaft/bildung.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322171159/https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/bildung-wissenschaft/bildung.html |archive-date=22 March 2023 |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=Federal Department of Foreign Affairs |language=en}}</ref> Public and private schools are available, including many private international schools.

=== Primary education ===
The minimum age for primary school is about six years, but most cantons provide a free "children's school" starting at age four or five.<ref name="Education" /> Primary school continues until grade four, five or six, depending on the school. Traditionally, the first foreign language in school was one of the other Swiss languages, although in 2000, English was elevated in a few cantons.<ref name="Education" /> At the end of primary school or at the beginning of secondary school, pupils are assigned according to their capacities into one of several sections (often three). The fastest learners are taught advanced classes to prepare for further studies and the [[matura]],<ref name="Education" /> while other students receive an education adapted to their needs.

=== Tertiary education ===
Switzerland hosts [[List of universities in Switzerland|12 universities]], ten of which are maintained at [[Cantons of Switzerland|cantonal]] level and usually offer non-technical subjects. It ranked 87th on the 2019 [[Academic Ranking of World Universities]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Basel {{pipe}} Academic Ranking of World Universities – 2020 {{pipe}} Shanghai Ranking – 2020 |url=http://www.shanghairanking.com/World-University-Rankings/University-of-Basel.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523190117/http://www.shanghairanking.com/World-University-Rankings/University-of-Basel.html |archive-date=23 May 2015 |access-date=25 May 2020 |website=www.shanghairanking.com}}</ref> The largest is the [[University of Zurich]] with nearly 25,000 students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Zurich in Switzerland – US News Best Global Universities |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/university-of-zurich-505287 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501211536/https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/university-of-zurich-505287 |archive-date=1 May 2021 |access-date=30 March 2023 |website=[[U.S. News & World Report]]}}</ref> The [[Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich]] (ETHZ) and the [[University of Zurich]] are listed 20th and 54th respectively, on the 2015 [[Academic Ranking of World Universities]].<ref>[http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2015.html Academic Ranking of World Universities 2015] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030134046/http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2015.html |date=30 October 2015}} Academic Ranking of World Universities. ShanghaiRanking Consultancy. 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2016.</ref>

The federal government sponsors two institutes: the [[Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich]] (ETHZ) in [[Zurich]], founded in 1855 and the {{Lang|fr|[[École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne]]|italic=no}} (EPFL) in [[Lausanne]], founded in 1969, formerly associated with the [[University of Lausanne]].{{efn|name=ETH ranking|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>{{Cite web |title=Shanghai Ranking 2008 Top 100 world universities in Natural Sciences and Mathematics |url=http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/ARWU-FIELD2008/SCI2008.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012051101/http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/ARWU-FIELD2008/SCI2008.htm |archive-date=12 October 2009 |access-date=2 November 2010 |publisher=Ed.sjtu.edu.cn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Thomas |first=Kim |date=1 October 2014 |title=Why does Switzerland do so well in university rankings? |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/oct/01/switzerland-university-rankings-invest-research-science |url-status=live |access-date=12 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003070806/http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/oct/01/switzerland-university-rankings-invest-research-science |archive-date=3 October 2014}}</ref>

Eight of the world's ten best hotel schools are located in Switzerland.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 March 2021 |title=Swiss hospitality schools top global ranking |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/sci-tech/swiss-hospitality-schools-top-global-ranking/46421170 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309025416/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/sci-tech/swiss-hospitality-schools-top-global-ranking/46421170 |archive-date=9 March 2021 |access-date=9 March 2021 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch}}</ref> In addition, various [[Universities of Applied Sciences]] are available. In business and management studies, the [[University of St. Gallen]], (HSG) is ranked 329th in the world according to [[QS World University Rankings]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 July 2015 |title=University of St.Gallen (HSG) |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-stgallen-hsg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729184518/http://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-stgallen-hsg |archive-date=29 July 2016 |website=Top Universities}}</ref> and the [[International Institute for Management Development]] (IMD), was ranked first in open programmes worldwide''.''<ref>[http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/executive-education-open-2015 Financial Times Executive Education Rankings – Open Programs – 2015] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816061403/http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/executive-education-open-2015 |date=16 August 2016}} Retrieved 8 July 2015</ref> Switzerland has the second highest rate (almost 18% in 2003) of foreign students in tertiary education, after Australia (slightly over 18%).<ref>{{Cite web |year=2005 |title=Chart C3.1. Percentage of foreign students in tertiary education (1998, 2003) in Education at a Glance, OECD indicators 2005 – Executive Summary |url=http://www.oecd.org/education/skills-beyond-school/35345692.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611100744/http://www.oecd.org/education/skills-beyond-school/35345692.pdf |archive-date=11 June 2016 |access-date=22 December 2013 |website=www.oecd.org/edu/eag2005 |publisher=OECD |page=44 |type=Study}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ecs.org/html/offsite.asp?document=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eoecd%2Eorg%2Fdataoecd%2F20%2F25%2F35345692%2Epdf Education at Glance 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723201800/http://www.ecs.org/html/offsite.asp?document=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oecd.org%2Fdataoecd%2F20%2F25%2F35345692.pdf |date=23 July 2013}} by the [[OECD]]: Percentage of foreign students in tertiary education.</ref>

The [[Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies]], located in [[Geneva]], is continental Europe's oldest graduate school of international and development studies. It is widely held to be one of its most prestigious.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 September 2010 |title=Graduate Institute of International Studies Geneva Overview {{pipe}} Study Abroad Programs |url=http://www.studyihub.com/the-graduate-institute-of-international-studies-geneva/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502042931/http://www.studyihub.com/the-graduate-institute-of-international-studies-geneva/ |archive-date=2 May 2013 |access-date=28 April 2013 |publisher=Studyihub.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=e-Perspectives, Kendra Magraw ('10) Accepted at Geneva's Prestigious IHEID – U of MN Law School |url=http://www.law.umn.edu/eperspectives/summer2010/news-and-events/kendra-magraw-10-accepted-at-genevas-prestigious-iheid/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709041656/http://www.law.umn.edu/eperspectives/summer2010/news-and-events/kendra-magraw-10-accepted-at-genevas-prestigious-iheid |archive-date=9 July 2010 |access-date=28 April 2013 |publisher=Law.umn.edu}}</ref>

=== Science ===
{{see also|List of Swiss Nobel laureates}}
Switzerland has birthed many Nobel Prize laureates. They include [[Albert Einstein]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Snygg |first=John |url={{GBurl|id=qlX3CqMUHpUC}} |title=A New Approach to Differential Geometry Using Clifford's Geometric Algebra |publisher=Springer |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-8176-8282-8 |page=38}}</ref> who developed his [[special relativity]] in Bern. Later, [[Vladimir Prelog]], [[Heinrich Rohrer]], [[Richard R. Ernst|Richard Ernst]], [[Edmond H. Fischer|Edmond Fischer]], [[Rolf Zinkernagel]], [[Kurt Wüthrich]] and [[Jacques Dubochet]] received Nobel science prizes. In total, 114 laureates across all fields have a relationship to Switzerland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mueller |first=Roland |title=Swiss Nobel Prize Winners / Nobel Prize Winners in Switzerland |url=http://www.muellerscience.com/SPEZIALITAETEN/Schweiz/SchweizerNobelpreistraeger.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110224041050/http://www.muellerscience.com/SPEZIALITAETEN/Schweiz/SchweizerNobelpreistraeger.htm |archive-date=24 February 2011 |access-date=29 May 2011 |publisher=Muellerscience.com}}</ref>{{efn|name=nobel prize|Nobel prizes in [[non-science]] categories included.}} The [[Nobel Peace Prize]] has been awarded nine times to organisations headquartered in Switzerland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mueller Science – Spezialitaeten: Schweizer Nobelpreisträger |url=http://www.muellerscience.com/SPEZIALITAETEN/Schweiz/SchweizerNobelpreistraeger.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110224041050/http://www.muellerscience.com/SPEZIALITAETEN/Schweiz/SchweizerNobelpreistraeger.htm |archive-date=24 February 2011 |access-date=31 July 2008}}</ref>

[[File:LHC, CERN.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Large Hadron Collider|LHC]] tunnel. CERN is the world's largest laboratory and also the birthplace of the [[World Wide Web]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to info.cern.ch |url=http://info.cern.ch/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105103513/http://info.cern.ch/ |archive-date=5 January 2010 |website=CERN}}</ref>]]

Geneva and the nearby French department of [[Ain]] co-host the world's largest laboratory, [[CERN]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=CERN – the largest laboratory in the world |url=http://www.swissworld.org/en/switzerland/resources/story_switzerland/cern_the_largest_laboratory_in_the_world/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429221447/http://www.swissworld.org/en/switzerland/resources/story_switzerland/cern_the_largest_laboratory_in_the_world |archive-date=29 April 2010 |access-date=29 April 2010 |website=Swissworld.org}}</ref> dedicated to [[particle physics]] research. Another important research centre is the [[Paul Scherrer Institute]].

Notable inventions include [[lysergic acid diethylamide]] (LSD), [[diazepam]] (Valium), the [[scanning tunneling microscope|scanning tunnelling microscope]] (Nobel prize) and [[Velcro]]. Some technologies enabled the exploration of new worlds such as the pressurised balloon of [[Auguste Piccard]] and the [[Bathyscaphe]] which permitted [[Jacques Piccard]] to reach the deepest point of the world's oceans.

The [[Swiss Space Office]] has been involved in various space technologies and programmes. 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 participate in the space industry, such as [[Oerlikon Space]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 November 2009 |title=Oerlikon Components Space – Oerlikon Space at a Glance |url=http://www.oerlikon.com/ecomaXL/index.php?site=SPACE_EN_company_overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091127232253/http://www.oerlikon.com/ecomaXL/index.php?site=SPACE_EN_company_overview |archive-date=27 November 2009 |access-date=8 February 2023}}</ref> or Maxon Motors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 January 2004 |title=5 Years on Mars |url=http://www.maxonmotor.ch/ch/en/media_releases_5619.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430001717/http://www.maxonmotor.ch/ch/en/media_releases_5619.html |archive-date=30 April 2011 |website=Maxonmotor}}</ref>

=== Energy ===
{{See also|Energy in Switzerland|||}}

[[File:Mauvoisin Dam.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Switzerland has the [[List of tallest dams in the world|tallest dams]] in Europe, among which the [[Mauvoisin Dam]], in the Alps. Hydroelectric power is the most important domestic source of energy in the country.]]

Electricity generated in Switzerland is 56% from [[hydroelectricity]] and 39% from [[nuclear power]], producing negligible CO<sub>2</sub>. On 18 May 2003, two [[anti-nuclear]] referendums were defeated: ''Moratorium Plus'', aimed at forbidding the building of new [[nuclear power plants]] (41.6% supported),<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 May 2003 |title=Vorlage Nr. 502: Übersicht: Volksinitiative 'Moratorium Plus – Für die Verlängerung des Atomkraftwerk-Baustopps und die Begrenzung des Atomrisikos (MoratoriumPlus)' |url=http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/va/20030518/det502.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228220425/https://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/va/20030518/det502.html |archive-date=28 December 2016 |access-date=6 December 2016 |publisher=Swiss Federal Chancellery |language=de, fr, it |type=official site |location=Bern, Switzerland}}</ref> and Electricity Without Nuclear (33.7% supported) after a moratorium expired in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 May 2003 |title=Vorlage Nr. 501: Übersicht:Volksinitiative 'Strom ohne Atom – Für eine Energiewende und schrittweise Stilllegung der Atomkraftwerke (Strom ohne Atom)' |url=http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/va/20030518/det501.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228220015/https://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/va/20030518/det501.html |archive-date=28 December 2016 |access-date=6 December 2016 |publisher=Swiss Federal Chancellery |language=de, fr, it |type=official site |location=Bern, Switzerland}}</ref> After the [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster|Fukushima nuclear disaster]], in 2011 the government announced plans to end the use of nuclear energy in the following 20 to 30 years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Enserink |first=Martin |date=25 May 2011 |title=Switzerland to Phase Out Nuclear Energy; E.U. Strikes Deal on 'Stress Tests' |work=Science |publisher=American Association for the Advancement of Science |location=Washington DC, U.S. |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/switzerland-phase-out-nuclear-energy-eu-strikes-deal-stress-tests |url-status=live |access-date=6 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201075935/http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2011/05/switzerland-phase-out-nuclear-energy-eu-strikes-deal-stress-tests |archive-date=1 December 2016}}</ref> In November 2016, Swiss voters rejected a [[Green Party of Switzerland|Green Party]] referendum to accelerate the phaseout of nuclear power (45.8% supported).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Geiser |first=Urs |title=Swiss nuclear plants to remain on grid |work=SWI swissinfo.ch – the international service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) |publisher=Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) |location=Zurich, Switzerland |url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/vote-november-27_power-on-or-off-for-swiss-nuclear-plants-/42703330 |url-status=live |access-date=28 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127231249/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/vote-november-27_power-on-or-off-for-swiss-nuclear-plants-/42703330 |archive-date=27 November 2016}}</ref> The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) is responsible for energy supply and energy use within the [[Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications]] (DETEC). The agency supports the [[2000-watt society]] initiative to cut the nation's energy use by more than half by 2050.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 January 2008 |title=Federal government energy research |url=http://www.bfe.admin.ch/forschungnetze/01223/index.html?lang=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224105623/http://www.bfe.admin.ch/forschungnetze/01223/index.html?lang=en |archive-date=24 February 2009}}</ref>

=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Switzerland}}
[[File:Lötschberg Tunnel.jpg|thumb|left|Entrance of the new [[Lötschberg Base Tunnel]], the third-longest railway tunnel in the world, under the old [[Lötschberg railway line]]. It was the first completed tunnel of the greater project [[NRLA]].]]
The densest rail network in Europe<ref name="FCO2" />{{Failed verification|date=April 2023}} spans {{convert|5250|km}} and carries over 596 million passengers annually as of 2015.<ref name="FSO-2016">{{Cite web |date=September 2016 |title=Öffentlicher Verkehr – Zeitreihen |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/mobility-transport/cross-sectional-topics/public-transport-rail-freight.assetdetail.su-d-11-TP-ZR.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220074207/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/mobility-transport/cross-sectional-topics/public-transport-rail-freight.assetdetail.su-d-11-TP-ZR.html |archive-date=20 December 2016 |access-date=6 December 2016 |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) |type=official site |format=XLS |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland}}</ref> In 2015, each Swiss resident travelled on average {{convert|2550|km}} by rail, more than any other European country.<ref name="FSO-2016" /> Virtually 100% of the network is electrified. 60% of the network is operated by the [[Swiss Federal Railways]] (SBB&nbsp;CFF&nbsp;FFS). Besides the second largest [[standard gauge]] railway company, [[BLS AG]], two railways companies operate on [[narrow gauge]] networks: the [[Rhaetian Railway]] (RhB) in Graubünden, which includes some World Heritage lines,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1276/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503140944/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1276 |archive-date=3 May 2017 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en}}</ref> and the [[Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn]] (MGB), which co-operates with RhB the [[Glacier Express]] between [[Zermatt]] and [[St. Moritz]]/[[Davos]]. Switzerland operates the [[List of longest tunnels|world's longest and deepest railway tunnel]] and the first flat, low-level route through the Alps, the {{convert|57.1|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} [[Gotthard Base Tunnel]], the largest part of the [[NRLA|New Railway Link through the Alps (NRLA)]] project.

Switzerland has a publicly managed, toll-free road network financed by highway permits as well as vehicle and petrol taxes. The Swiss autobahn/autoroute system requires the annual purchase of a [[vignette (road tax)|vignette]] (toll sticker)—for 40 [[Swiss franc]]s—to use its roadways, including passenger cars and trucks. The Swiss autobahn/autoroute network stretches for {{convert|1638|km|mi|abbr=on}} and has one of the highest motorway densities in the world.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 April 2003 |title=Switzerland |work=Xinhua |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-04/01/content_809596.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129073327/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-04/01/content_809596.htm |archive-date=29 January 2017}}</ref>

[[Zurich Airport]] is Switzerland's largest international flight gateway; it handled 22.8&nbsp;million passengers in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Airport Traffic Trends |url=http://www.anna.aero/european-airport-traffic-trends/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209041654/http://www.anna.aero/european-airport-traffic-trends/ |archive-date=9 February 2014 |access-date=12 July 2013 |website=anna.aero |language=en-GB}}</ref> The other international airports are [[Geneva Airport]] (13.9&nbsp;million passengers in 2012),<ref>[http://www.gva.ch/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-244/ Geneva Airport statistics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714130905/http://www.gva.ch/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-244/ |date=14 July 2016}} accessed 12 July 2013</ref> [[EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg]] (located in France), [[Bern Airport]], [[Lugano Airport]], [[St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport]] and [[Sion Airport]]. [[Swiss International Air Lines]] is the flag carrier. Its main hub is Zurich, but it is legally domiciled in Basel.

=== Environment ===
{{Main|Environment of Switzerland|Waste management in Switzerland}}
Switzerland has one of the best environmental records among developed nations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 January 2008 |title=Swiss sit atop ranking of greenest nations |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22802081 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525122322/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22802081 |archive-date=25 May 2018 |access-date=2 December 2009 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> It is a signatory to the [[Kyoto Protocol]]. With Mexico and South Korea, it forms the [[Environmental Integrity Group]] (EIG).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Party Groupings |url=http://unfccc.int/parties_and_observers/parties/negotiating_groups/items/2714.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605182740/http://unfccc.int/parties_and_observers/parties/negotiating_groups/items/2714.php |archive-date=5 June 2013 |access-date=2 December 2009 |website=UNFCCC}}</ref>

The country is active in recycling and anti-littering programs and is one of the world's top recyclers, recovering 66% to 96% of recyclable materials, varying across the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sammelregeln und Recyclingzahlen |url=http://www.swissrecycling.ch/deutsch/wregel.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423183826/http://swissrecycling.ch/deutsch/wregel.htm |archive-date=23 April 2010 |access-date=29 April 2010 |website=Swiss Recycling |language=de}}</ref> The 2014 Global Green Economy Index placed Switzerland among the top 10 green economies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2014 Global Green Economy Index |url=http://dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-Report2014.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028201432/http://dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-Report2014.pdf |archive-date=28 October 2014 |access-date=20 October 2014 |publisher=Dual Citizen LLC}}</ref>

Switzerland has an economic system for garbage disposal, which is based mostly on recycling and energy-producing [[incinerator]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Topic Waste |url=https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/de/home/themen/abfall.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429155125/https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/de/home/themen/abfall.html |archive-date=29 April 2018 |access-date=29 April 2018 |publisher=Federal Office for the Environment FOEN |language=de, fr, it, en |type=official site |location=Ittigen, Switzerland}}</ref> As in other European countries, the illegal disposal of garbage is heavily fined. In almost all Swiss municipalities, mandatory stickers or dedicated garbage bags allow the identification of disposable garbage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abfall – Déchets – Rifiuti |url=https://www.preisueberwacher.admin.ch/pue/de/home/themen/infrastruktur/abfall.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429092904/https://www.preisueberwacher.admin.ch/pue/de/home/themen/infrastruktur/abfall.html |archive-date=29 April 2018 |access-date=29 April 2018 |publisher=Preisüberwachung, Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research |language=de, fr, it |type=official site |location=Bern, Switzerland}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Switzerland|Swiss people|Crime in Switzerland}}
{{Further|List of Swiss people}}<!-- Needs info on age and sex profile --> 
[[File:Bevölkerungsdichte der Schweiz 2019.png|thumb|Population density in Switzerland (2019)]]
[[File:Ausländeranteil der Schweiz 2019.png|thumb|Percentage of foreigners in Switzerland (2019)]]
{{bar box
|float=right
|title=Resident population (age 15+) by migration status (2012/2021)<ref>{{Cite web |year=2022 |title=Entwicklung der Bevölkerung nach Migrationsstatus |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home.assetdetail.23245587.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013104704/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home.assetdetail.23245587.html |archive-date=13 October 2022 |access-date=10 October 2022 |publisher=[[Federal Statistical Office (Switzerland)|Swiss Federal Statistical Office]] |language=de, fr, it |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland}}</ref>
|titlebar=#AAF
|left1={{small|'''Migration status'''}}
|left2={{small|'''Year'''}}
|right1={{small|'''pct.'''}}
|right2={{small|'''Change'''}}
|width=400px
|bars=
{{bar percent 2|Without migration background|2021|Orange|59|2012|#FED8B1|65|-6%}}
{{bar percent 2|[[Immigrant generations#First generation|Immigrants: First Generation]]|2021|#6BA4B8|31|2012|LightBlue|28|+3%}}
{{bar percent 2|[[Immigrant generations#Second generation|Immigrants: Second Generation]]|2021|#29AB87|8|2012|LightGreen|7|+1%}}
{{bar percent 2|Migration status unknown|2021|Grey|1|2012|LightGrey|0|+1%}}
}}
In common with other developed countries, the Swiss population increased rapidly during the industrial era, quadrupling between 1800 and 1990 and has continued to grow.

The population is about 9 million (2023 est.).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Current situation and change |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistiken/bevoelkerung/stand-entwicklung.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711170449/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistiken/bevoelkerung/stand-entwicklung.html |archive-date=11 July 2021 |access-date=15 July 2021 |website=Federal Statistical Office |language=en}}</ref> Population growth was projected into 2035, due mostly to immigration. Like most of Europe, Switzerland faces an [[aging population|ageing population]], with a fertility rate close to [[Replacement fertility rate|replacement level]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Swiss population to grow 12.5 per cent by 2035 |date=29 March 2011 |url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-population-to-grow-12.5-per-cent-by-2035/29879180 |work=SWI |access-date=23 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725184243/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-population-to-grow-12.5-per-cent-by-2035/29879180 |url-status=live |archive-date=25 July 2016}}</ref> Switzerland has one of the world's oldest populations, with an average age of 42.5 years.<ref>{{Citation |title=World Factbook EUROPE : SWITZERLAND |date=12 July 2018 |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/switzerland/ |work=[[The World Factbook]] |access-date=23 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610163007/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/switzerland/ |url-status=live |archive-date=10 June 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

According to the [[World Factbook]], ethnic groups in Switzerland are as follows: Swiss 69.2%, German 4.2%, Italian 3.2%, Portuguese 2.5%, French 2.1%, Kosovan 1.1%, Turkish 1%, other 16.7% (2020 est).<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 January 2023 |title=SwitzerlandThe World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/switzerland/summaries/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716035142/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/switzerland/summaries/ |archive-date=16 July 2023 |access-date=16 July 2023 |website=-}}</ref> The [[Council of Europe]] figures suggest a population of around 30,000 [[Romani people]] in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://minorityrights.org/country/switzerland/#:~:text=Switzerland%20has%20a%20high%20proportion,Montenegrins%20(106%2C900)%20and%20others.|title=Switzerland|date=2 November 2023|access-date=10 May 2024|archive-date=4 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504081621/https://minorityrights.org/country/switzerland/#:~:text=Switzerland%20has%20a%20high%20proportion,Montenegrins%20(106%2C900)%20and%20others.|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Immigration===
{{main|Immigration to Switzerland}}
As of 2023, resident foreigners made up 26.3% of Switzerland's population.<ref name="20min.ch"/> Most of these (83%) were from European countries. Italy provided the largest single group of foreigners, providing 14.7% of total foreign population, followed closely by Germany (14.0%), Portugal (11.7%), France (6.6%), Kosovo (5.1%), Spain (3.9%), Turkey (3.1%), [[North Macedonia]] (3.1%), Serbia (2.8%), Austria (2.0%), United Kingdom (1.9%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (1.3%) and Croatia (1.3%). Immigrants from [[Sri Lanka]] (1.3%), most of them former [[Sri Lankan Tamil|Tamil]] refugees, were the largest group of Asian origin (7.9%).<ref>{{Cite web |year=2022 |title=Ständige ausländische Wohnbevölkerung nach Staatsangehörigkeit, 1980–2020 |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/population/migration-integration/foreign.assetdetail.18344247.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808101002/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/population/migration-integration/foreign.assetdetail.18344247.html |archive-date=8 August 2022 |access-date=8 August 2022 |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office |format=XLSX |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland}}</ref>

2021 figures show that 39.5% (compared to 34.7% in 2012) of the permanent resident population aged 15 or over (around 2.89&nbsp;million), had an immigrant background. 38% of the population with an immigrant background (1.1&nbsp;million) held Swiss citizenship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Migration and integration – Data, indicators, Nationality, Population with an immigration background, Permanent resident population aged 15 or over, by migration status, 2nd quarter 2012 |url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/themen/01/07/blank/key/04.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115195408/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/themen/01/07/blank/key/04.html |archive-date=15 November 2013 |access-date=22 December 2013 |website=www.bfs.admin.ch |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office, 2013 |language=en, de, fr, it |type=Statistics |location=Neuchâtel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2022 |title=Bevölkerung mit Migrationshintergrund im Jahr 2021 |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home.gnpdetail.2022-0549.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013104700/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home.gnpdetail.2022-0549.html |archive-date=13 October 2022 |access-date=10 October 2022 |publisher=[[Federal Statistical Office (Switzerland)|Swiss Federal Statistical Office]] |language=de, fr, it |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland}}</ref>

In the 2000s, domestic and international institutions expressed concern about what was perceived as an increase in [[xenophobia]]. 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 successful integration of foreigners, underlined Switzerland's openness.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definitive report on racism in Switzerland by UN expert |url=https://www.humanrights.ch/en/racism/definitive-report-racism-switzerland-expert |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415051310/http://www.humanrights.ch/en/Switzerland/Human-Rights-in-Internal-Affairs/Racism/Studies/idart_5119-content.html |archive-date=15 April 2012 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=humanrights.ch |language=en}}</ref> A follow-up study conducted in 2018 reported that 59% considered [[Immigration to Switzerland#Racism|racism a serious problem in Switzerland]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuenzi |first=Renat |date=4 June 2020 |title=How Swiss direct democracy deals with xenophobia |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/directdemocracy/foreigners-in-switzerland_how-swiss-direct-democracy-deals-with-xenophobia/45803622 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609211356/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/directdemocracy/foreigners-in-switzerland_how-swiss-direct-democracy-deals-with-xenophobia/45803622 |archive-date=9 June 2020 |access-date=9 June 2020 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch}}</ref> The proportion of the population that claimed to have been targeted by racial discrimination increased from 10% in 2014 to almost 17% in 2018, according to the Federal Statistical Office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turuban |first=Pauline |date=9 June 2020 |title=Is racism a problem in Switzerland? A look at the latest numbers |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/is-racism-a-problem-in-switzerland--a-look-at-the-2019-statistics/45824452 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609225525/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/is-racism-a-problem-in-switzerland--a-look-at-the-2019-statistics/45824452 |archive-date=9 June 2020 |access-date=9 June 2020 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch}}</ref>

===Largest cities===
{{Main|List of cities in Switzerland}}
{{Largest cities of Switzerland}}

===Languages===
{{Main|Languages of Switzerland}}
[[File:Karte Schweizer Sprachgebiete 2017.png|thumb|National languages in Switzerland (2016):<ref name="LangStat">{{Cite web |date=28 March 2018 |title=Sprachen / Lingue / Lingue |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/bevoelkerung/sprachen-religionen/sprachen.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114204354/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/bevoelkerung/sprachen-religionen/sprachen.html |archive-date=14 November 2018 |access-date=5 December 2018 |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office FSO |language=de, fr, it |type=official site |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland}}</ref>
{{legend|#f7c5b4|German (62.8%)}}
{{legend|#d9d4e9|French (22.9%)}}
{{legend|#b6ddc7|Italian (8.2%)}}
{{legend|#fffcc8|[[Romansh language|Romansh]] (0.5%)}}]]

Switzerland has four [[national language]]s: mainly German (spoken natively by 62.8% of the population in 2016); French (22.9%) spoken natively in the west; and Italian (8.2%) spoken natively in the south.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 January 2018 |title=CC 101 Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation of 18 April 1999, Art. 4 National languages |url=https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19995395/index.html#a4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621000507/https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19995395/index.html#a4 |archive-date=21 June 2016 |access-date=5 December 2018 |publisher=The federal Council |type=official site |location=Bern, Switzerland}}</ref><ref name="LangStat" /> The fourth national language, [[Romansh language|Romansh]] (0.5%), is a [[Romance languages|Romance language]] spoken locally in the southeastern trilingual [[canton of Grisons]], and is designated by Article 4 of the Federal Constitution as a national language along with German, French, and Italian. In Article 70 it is mentioned as an official language if the authorities communicate with persons who speak Romansh. However, federal laws and other official acts do not need to be decreed in Romansh.

In 2016, the languages most spoken at home among permanent residents aged 15 and older were [[Swiss German]] (59.4%), French (23.5%), [[Standard German]] (10.6%), and Italian (8.5%). Other languages spoken at home included English (5.0%), [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] (3.8%), [[Albanian language|Albanian]] (3.0%), Spanish (2.6%) and [[Serbo-Croatian|Serbian and Croatian]] (2.5%). 6.9% reported speaking another language at home.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 March 2018 |title=Die am häufigsten üblicherweise zu Hause gesprochenen Sprachen der ständigen Wohnbevölkerung ab 15 Jahren – 2012–2014, 2013–2015, 2014–2016 |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/kataloge-datenbanken/tabellen.assetdetail.4842942.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202070614/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/kataloge-datenbanken/tabellen.assetdetail.4842942.html |archive-date=2 December 2018 |access-date=5 December 2018 |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office FSO |language=de, fr, it |type=official site |format=XLS |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland}}</ref> In 2014 almost two-thirds (64.4%) of the permanent resident population indicated speaking more than one language regularly.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 October 2016 |title=Personen nach Anzahl Sprachen, die sie regelmässig verwenden – 2014 |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/bevoelkerung/sprachen-religionen/sprachen.assetdetail.1902120.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202070626/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/bevoelkerung/sprachen-religionen/sprachen.assetdetail.1902120.html |archive-date=2 December 2018 |access-date=5 December 2018 |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office FSO |language=de, fr, it |type=official site |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland}}</ref>

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>{{Cite web |title=The Parliamentary Services |url=http://www.parlament.ch/e/service-presse/parlamentsdienste/aufgaben/Pages/default.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113234418/http://www.parlament.ch/e/service-presse/parlamentsdienste/aufgaben/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date=13 November 2009 |access-date=29 July 2015 |publisher=The Federal Assembly |location=Bern, Switzerland}}</ref>

Aside from the official forms of their respective languages, the four linguistic regions of Switzerland also have local dialectal forms. The role played by dialects in each linguistic region varies dramatically: in German-speaking regions, [[Swiss German]] dialects have become more prevalent since the second half of the 20th century, especially in the media, and are used as an everyday language for many, while the [[Swiss Standard German|Swiss variety of Standard German]] is almost always used instead of dialect for written communication (c.f. [[Diglossia|diglossic usage of a language]]).<ref name="dialhls">{{Cite web |title=Dialekte |url=http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/d/D24595.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613092220/http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/d/D24595.php |archive-date=13 June 2015 |access-date=31 July 2015 |publisher=Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz |language=de |location=Bern, Switzerland}}</ref> Conversely, in the French-speaking regions, local [[Franco-Provençal]] dialects have almost disappeared (only 6.3% of the population of Valais, 3.9% of Fribourg, and 3.1% of Jura still spoke dialects at the end of the 20th century), while in the Italian-speaking regions, the use of [[Lombard language|Lombard]] dialects is mostly limited to family settings and casual conversation.<ref name="dialhls" />

The principal official languages have terms not used outside of Switzerland, known as [[Helvetism]]s. German Helvetisms are, roughly speaking, a large group of words typical of [[Swiss Standard German]] that do not appear in [[Standard German]], nor in other German dialects. These include terms from Switzerland's surrounding language cultures (German ''Billett''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Billette Schweiz. |url=http://www.sbb.ch/abos-billette/billette-schweiz.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704011118/https://www.sbb.ch/abos-billette/billette-schweiz.html |archive-date=4 July 2015 |access-date=31 July 2015 |publisher=SBB CFF FFS Swiss Federal Railways |language=de |location=Bern, Switzerland}}</ref> from French), from similar terms in another language (Italian ''azione'' used not only as ''act'' but also as ''discount'' from German ''Aktion'').<ref name="CHDuden">{{Cite book |url=http://www.duden.de/presse/weder-fisch-noch-vogel |title=Duden Schweizerhochdeutsch |publisher=Bibliographisches Institut GmbH |year=2012 |isbn=978-3-411-70417-0 |location=Berlin, Germany |language=de |access-date=31 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121000102/http://www.duden.de/presse/weder-fisch-noch-vogel |archive-date=21 January 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Swiss French]], while generally close to the French of France, also contains some Helvetisms. The most frequent characteristics of Helvetisms are in vocabulary, phrases, and pronunciation, although certain Helvetisms denote themselves as special in syntax and [[orthography]]. [[Duden]], the comprehensive German dictionary, contains about 3000 Helvetisms.<ref name="CHDuden" /> Current French dictionaries, such as the [[Petit Larousse]], include several hundred Helvetisms; notably, Swiss French uses different terms than that of France for the numbers 70 (''septante'') and 90 (''nonante'') and often 80 (''huitante'') as well.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Clyne |first=Michael G. |url={{GBurl|id=wawGFWNuHiwC|p=164}} |title=Pluricentric Languages: Differing Norms in Different Nations |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |year=1992 |isbn=978-3-11-012855-0 |location=Berlin, Germany |pages=164–165 |access-date=31 July 2015}}</ref>

Learning one of the other national languages is compulsory for all Swiss pupils, hence many Swiss are supposed to be at least [[Multilingualism|bilingual]], especially those belonging to linguistic minority groups.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Multilingualism |url=http://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/gesellschaft/sprachen/mehrsprachigkeit.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904015059/https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/gesellschaft/sprachen/mehrsprachigkeit.html |archive-date=4 September 2015 |access-date=31 July 2015 |publisher=Presence Switzerland, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, The Federal Administration |location=Bern, Switzerland}}</ref> Because the largest part of Switzerland is German-speaking, many French, Italian, and Romansh speakers migrating to the rest of Switzerland and the children of those non-German-speaking Swiss born within the rest of Switzerland speak German. While learning one of the other national languages at school is important, most Swiss learn English to communicate with Swiss speakers of other languages, as it is perceived as a neutral means of communication. English often functions as the de facto [[lingua franca]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stephens |first=Thomas |date=4 April 2021 |title=English as a common language in Switzerland: a positive or a problem? |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/english-as-a-common-language-in-switzerland--a-positive-or-a-problem-/46494332 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412050626/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/english-as-a-common-language-in-switzerland--a-positive-or-a-problem-/46494332 |archive-date=12 April 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |language=en}}</ref>

== Health ==
{{Main|Health in Switzerland|Healthcare in Switzerland}}
Swiss residents are 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, its health outcomes compare well with other European countries; patients have been reported as in general, highly satisfied with it.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 November 2014 |title=Patients are very satisfied with "Hospital Switzerland" |trans-title=Patienten mit "Spital Schweiz" sehr zufrieden |url=http://www.anq.ch/medien/medienmitteilung/patienten-mit-spital-schweiz-sehr-zufrieden/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402135913/http://www.anq.ch/medien/medienmitteilung/patienten-mit-spital-schweiz-sehr-zufrieden/ |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=1 April 2015 |publisher=ANQ Nationaler Verein für Qualitätsentwicklung in Spitälern und Kliniken |language=de |quote=Die Antworten erreichten auf einer Skala von 1 bis 10 durchschnittliche Werte zwischen 9 und 9,4. |location=Bern, Switzerland}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 October 2012 |title=Zufriedenheit durch Vertrauen: Kurzbericht zur grossen Ärztestudie |language=de |page=9 |publisher=gfs.bern, 20 Minuten Online, comparis.ch |location=Bern, Switzerland |url=http://www.comparis.ch/~/media/files/mediencorner/studies/2012/grosse-schweizer-aerzte-studie.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=9 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418150559/https://www.comparis.ch/~/media/files/mediencorner/studies/2012/grosse-schweizer-aerzte-studie.pdf |archive-date=18 April 2015 |quote=Mehrheitliche 91 Prozent sind mit 'ihrem' Hausarzt mehr oder weniger dezidiert zufrieden.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kütscher |first=Rico |date=28 June 2014 |title=Kundenzufriedenheit: Krankenkassen sollten Effizienz und Image verbessern |language=de |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung, NZZ |location=Zurich, Switzerland |url=http://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/krankenkassen-koennen-ihre-effizienz-und-ihr-image-verbessern-1.18332345 |url-status=live |access-date=8 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706212508/http://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/krankenkassen-koennen-ihre-effizienz-und-ihr-image-verbessern-1.18332345 |archive-date=6 July 2015 |quote=Wie es um die Kundenzufriedenheit in der Branche generell steht, zeigt eine 2013 im Auftrag von "K-Tipp" durchgeführte repräsentative Umfrage unter Versicherten, die in den vergangenen zwei Jahren Leistungen von ihrer Krankenkasse in Anspruch genommen haben. Beim Testsieger Concordia waren rund 73% der Versicherten "sehr zufrieden". Bei grossen Krankenkassen wie der CSS und Helsana betrug dieser Anteil 70% beziehungsweise 63%. Groupe Mutuel erreichte rund 50%, und die Billigkasse Assura kam auf 44%. Dies illustriert, dass die Zufriedenheit durchaus hoch ist – dass es aber auch Potenzial für Effizienzsteigerungen bei Krankenkassen gibt.}}</ref> In 2012, life expectancy at birth was 80.4 years for men and 84.7 years for women<ref>{{Cite web |year=2012 |title=Components of population change – Data, indicators: Deaths, mortality and life expectancy |url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/themen/01/06/blank/key/04.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116024714/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/themen/01/06/blank/key/04.html |archive-date=16 November 2013 |access-date=21 November 2013 |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office, Neuchâtel 2013}}</ref> – the world's highest.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2013 |title=The Human Capital Report, Insight Report |url=http://www.weforum.org/reports/human-capital-report |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005141129/http://www.weforum.org/reports/human-capital-report |archive-date=5 October 2013 |access-date=21 November 2013 |publisher=World Economic Forum |pages=480,12,14,478–481 |format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2013 |title=OECD.StatExtracts, Health, Health Status, Life expectancy, Total population at birth, 2011 |url=http://stats.oecd.org//Index.aspx?QueryId=51904 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211020917/http://stats.oecd.org//Index.aspx?QueryId=51904 |archive-date=11 December 2013 |access-date=22 November 2013 |website=stats.oecd.org/ |publisher=OECD's iLibrary}}</ref> However, spending on health at 11.4% of GDP (2010) is on par with Germany and France (11.6%) and other European countries, but notably less than the US (17.6%).<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 December 2012 |title=Statistical Data on Health and Accident Insurance |url=http://www.bag.admin.ch/themen/krankenversicherung/01156/index.html?lang=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005910/http://www.bag.admin.ch/themen/krankenversicherung/01156/index.html?lang=en |archive-date=3 December 2013 |access-date=21 November 2013 |publisher=Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) 2012 Edition (Flyer, A4, 2 pages) |page=2}}</ref> From 1990, costs steadily increased.<ref>{{Cite web |title=OECD and WHO survey of Switzerland's health system – OECD |url=https://www.oecd.org/general/oecdandwhosurveyofswitzerlandshealthsystem.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724103148/http://www.oecd.org/document/47/0,2340,en_2649_201185_37562223_1_1_1_1,00.html |archive-date=24 July 2009 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=OECD |language=en}}</ref>

It is estimated that one out of six Swiss persons suffers from [[mental illness]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dufour |first=Nicolas |date=12 April 2012 |title=La région lémanique affiche le plus haut taux de dépression |language=fr |work=[[Le Temps]] |url=https://www.letemps.ch/suisse/region-lemanique-affiche-plus-haut-taux-depression |url-status=live |access-date=6 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123175217/https://www.letemps.ch/suisse/region-lemanique-affiche-plus-haut-taux-depression |archive-date=23 January 2021}}</ref>

According to a survey conducted by Addiction Switzerland, fourteen per cent of men and 6.5% of women between 20 and 24 reported [[Cannabis in Switzerland|consuming cannabis]] in the past 30 days in 2020, and 4 Swiss cities were listed among the top 10 European cities for [[Legal status of cocaine|cocaine use]] as measured in wastewater, down from 5 in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Misicka |first=Susan |title=What people in Switzerland are addicted to |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/switzerland-addiction-tobacco-vaping-alcohol-drugs-gambling/45540200 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227174441/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/switzerland-addiction-tobacco-vaping-alcohol-drugs-gambling/45540200 |archive-date=27 February 2020 |access-date=16 March 2020 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch|date=5 February 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 March 2018 |title=Zurich is Europe's weekend cocaine capital |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/science-saturday_zurich-is-europe-s-weekend-cocaine-capital/43961046 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219094015/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/science-saturday_zurich-is-europe-s-weekend-cocaine-capital/43961046 |archive-date=19 December 2019 |access-date=27 February 2020 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch}}</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]]]]
Swiss culture is characterised by diversity, which is reflected in diverse traditional customs.<ref name="FDFA-Culture">{{Cite web |title=Culture |url=https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/gesellschaft/kultur.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322171159/https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/gesellschaft/kultur.html |archive-date=22 March 2023 |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=Federal Department of Foreign Affairs |language=en}}</ref> A region may be in some ways culturally connected to the neighbouring country that shares its language, all rooted in western [[Culture of Europe|European culture]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFS Intercultural Programmes Käfigturm |url=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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195550/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 |archive-date=21 February 2011}}</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 notable contributors to literature, art, architecture, music and sciences. In addition, the country attracted creatives during times of unrest or war.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Switzerland Culture |url=http://www.traveldocs.com/ch/culture.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505140718/http://www.traveldocs.com/ch/culture.htm |archive-date=5 May 2010 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=Travel Document Systems |language=en}}</ref> Some 1000 museums are found in the country.<ref name="FDFA-Culture" />

Among the most important cultural performances held annually are the [[Paléo Festival]], [[Lucerne Festival]],<ref>{{Cite news |title=Lucerne Festival |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/l/lucerne_festival/index.html |access-date=15 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111649/http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/l/lucerne_festival/index.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> the [[Montreux Jazz Festival]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Montreux Jazz Festival |url=http://www.montreuxjazz.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041224131448/http://www.montreuxjazz.com/ |archive-date=24 December 2004 |access-date=26 August 2013 |website=Montreux Jazz Festival |language=fr}}</ref> the [[Locarno International Film Festival]] and [[Art Basel]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Festivals |url=https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/gesellschaft/grossanlaesse/festivals.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417092823/https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/gesellschaft/grossanlaesse/festivals.html |archive-date=17 April 2023 |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=Federal Department of Foreign Affairs |language=en}}</ref>

Alpine symbolism played an essential role in shaping Swiss history and the Swiss national identity.<ref name="Zimmer-2004" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Alps |url=https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/umwelt/geografie/alpen.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323164907/https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/umwelt/geografie/alpen.html |archive-date=23 March 2023 |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=Federal Department of Foreign Affairs |language=en}}</ref> Many alpine areas and [[ski resort]]s attract visitors for [[winter sports]] as well as hiking and [[mountain biking]] in summer. The quieter seasons are spring and autumn. A traditional pastoral culture predominates in many areas, and small farms are omnipresent in rural areas. Folk art is nurtured in organisations across the country. Switzerland most directly in appears in music, dance, poetry, wood carving, and embroidery. The [[alphorn]], a trumpet-like musical instrument made of wood has joined [[yodel]]ing and the accordion as epitomes of traditional [[Music of Switzerland|Swiss music]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cultural creativity in Switzerland |url=https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/gesellschaft/kultur/kulturschaffen-schweiz.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324100137/https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/gesellschaft/kultur/kulturschaffen-schweiz.html |archive-date=24 March 2023 |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=Federal Department of Foreign Affairs |language=en}}</ref><ref>[http://www.europe-cities.com/en/648/switzerland/culture/ Culture of Switzerland] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130054142/http://www.europe-cities.com/en/648/switzerland/culture/ |date=30 January 2009}}. europe-cities.com. Retrieved on 14 December 2009.</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Switzerland}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Switzerland (age 15+, 2018–2020):<ref name="RelOverview2020">{{Cite web |date=21 March 2022 |title=Religion |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/population/languages-religions/religions.assetdetail.21784427.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126174429/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/population/languages-religions/religions.assetdetail.21784427.html |archive-date=26 January 2023 |access-date=10 August 2022 |publisher=[[Federal Statistical Office (Switzerland)|Swiss Federal Statistical Office]] |type=official statistics: population age 15+, observation period 2018–2020 |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland}}</ref>{{efn|name=national-survey}}
|label1 = [[Catholic Church in Switzerland|Roman Catholicism]]
|value1 = 34.4
|color1 = Purple
|label2 = [[Protestant Church of Switzerland|Swiss Protestantism]]
|value2 = 22.5
|color2 = DodgerBlue
|label3 = [[Protestantism|Other Protestants]]
|value3 = 2.7
|color3 = DeepSkyBlue
|label4 = [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern]] or [[Oriental Orthodox Churches|Oriental Orthodoxy]]
|value4 = 2.6
|color4 = Orchid
|label5 = [[Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland|Old Catholics]]
|value5 = 0.1
|color5 = #AFDBF5
|label6 = Other Christians
|value6 = 0.3
|color6 = Turquoise
|label7 = [[Irreligion|Unaffiliated]]
|value7 = 29.4
|color7 = WhiteSmoke
|label8 = [[Islam in Switzerland|Islam]]
|value8 = 5.4
|color8 = Green
|label9 = [[Hinduism in Switzerland|Hinduism]]
|value9 = 0.6
|color9 = Orange
|label10 = [[Buddhism in Switzerland|Buddhism]]
|value10 = 0.5
|color10 = Yellow
|label11 = [[Judaism in Switzerland|Judaism]]
|value11 = 0.2
|color11 = Blue
|label12 = Other religions
|value12 = 0.3
|color12 = Red
|label13 = Undetermined
|value13 = 1.1
|color13 = Black
}}

Christianity is the predominant religion according to national surveys of Swiss Federal Statistical Office{{efn|name=national-survey|Since 2010, statistics of religious affiliation in Switzerland provided by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office are based on a national structural survey of 200,000 people aged 15 years and older (corresponding to 2.5% of the total resident population). Data are [[extrapolation|extrapolated]] to obtain statistical results for the whole population (aged 15 years and older). These results are estimates subject to some degree of uncertainty indicated by a [[confidence interval]], but by merging samples (pooling) from several years it is possible to get more accurate results, including total number of Protestants and information about minority religions. Note: The figures of the structural survey are not entirely comparable to data collection before 2010 based on census figures (counting every person living in Switzerland) or to annual official numbers of church members.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Methodological basis for research and regional partners [Accuracy of results; Cumulated data-pooling] |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/population/surveys/se/methodological-basis-research-regional-partners.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518200712/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/population/surveys/se/methodological-basis-research-regional-partners.html |archive-date=18 May 2022 |access-date=10 August 2022 |publisher=[[Federal Statistical Office (Switzerland)|Swiss Federal Statistical Office]] |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland}}</ref>}} (about 67% of resident population in 2016–2018<ref name="SFOReligions">{{Cite web |year=2020 |title=Religions |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/population/languages-religions/religions.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424160448/https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/population/languages-religions/religions.html |archive-date=24 April 2020 |access-date=30 May 2020 |publisher=Federal Statistical Office FSO |type=official statistics |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland}}</ref> and 75% of Swiss citizens<ref>{{Cite web |year=2015 |title=Wohnbevölkerung nach Religionszugehörigkeit 1910–2013 |url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/05/blank/key/religionen.Document.21755.xls |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015170031/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/05/blank/key/religionen.Document.21755.xls |archive-date=15 October 2015 |access-date=14 October 2015 |website=www.bfs.admin.ch |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office |language=de |format=XLS |location=Neuchâtel}}</ref>), divided between the Catholic Church (35.8% of the population), the Swiss Reformed Church (23.8%), further [[Protestant]] churches (2.2%), [[Eastern Orthodoxy]] (2.5%), and other Christian denominations (2.2%).<ref name="SFOReligions" />

Switzerland has no official [[state religion]], though most of the [[cantons of Switzerland|cantons]] (except [[Canton of Geneva|Geneva]] and [[Canton of Neuchâtel|Neuchâtel]]) recognise official churches, either the [[Roman Catholicism in Switzerland|Catholic Church]] or the [[Swiss Reformed Church]]. These churches, and in some cantons the [[Old Catholic Church]] and Jewish congregations, are financed by official taxation of members.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2013 |title=Die Kirchensteuern August 2013 |url=http://www.estv.admin.ch/dokumentation/00079/00080/00736/index.html?lang=de&download=NHzLpZeg7t,lnp6I0NTU042l2Z6ln1acy4Zn4Z2qZpnO2Yuq2Z6gpJCDdYR6fGym162epYbg2c_JjKbNoKSn6A-- |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125112400/http://www.estv.admin.ch/dokumentation/00079/00080/00736/index.html?lang=de&download=NHzLpZeg7t%2Clnp6I0NTU042l2Z6ln1acy4Zn4Z2qZpnO2Yuq2Z6gpJCDdYR6fGym162epYbg2c_JjKbNoKSn6A-- |archive-date=25 January 2012 |access-date=5 April 2014 |website=www.estv.admin.ch |publisher=Schweizerische Steuerkonferenz SSK, Swiss Federal Tax Administration FTA, Federal Department of Finance FDF |language=de, fr, it |type=Document |format=PDF |location=Bern}}</ref> In 2020, the Roman Catholic Church had 3,048,475 registered and [[church tax]] paying members (corresponding to 35.2% of the total population), while the Swiss Reformed Church had 2,015,816 members (23.3% of the total population).<ref>{{Cite web |year=2022 |title=Kirchenmitgliedschaft in der römisch-katholischen und evangelisch-reformierten Kirche nach Kantonen (2020) |trans-title=Church membership in the Roman Catholic and Evangelical Reformed Churches by cantons (2020) |url=https://kirchenstatistik.spi-sg.ch/entwicklung-der-kirchenmitgliedschaft/#close |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429222506/https://kirchenstatistik.spi-sg.ch/entwicklung-der-kirchenmitgliedschaft/#close |archive-date=29 April 2020 |access-date=10 August 2022 |publisher=SPI |type=church statistics |location=St. Gallen}}</ref>{{efn|name=church-membership|Precise statistics about the membership of churches among the total population in Switzerland is only available for officially registered and [[church tax]] paying members of the [[Catholic Church in Switzerland]] and the [[Protestant Church of Switzerland]] (''[[Landeskirche]]n'').}}

26.3% of Swiss permanent residents are not affiliated with a religious community.<ref name="SFOReligions" />

As of 2020, according to a national survey conducted by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office,{{efn|name=national-survey}} Christian minority communities included Neo-[[Pietism]] (0.5%), [[Pentecostalism]] (0.4%, mostly incorporated in the [[Schweizer Pfingstmission]]), [[New Apostolic Church|Apostolic communities]] (0.3%), other Protestant denominations (1.1%, including [[Methodism]]), the [[Old Catholic Church]] (0.1%), other Christian denominations (0.3%). Non-Christian religions are [[Islam in Switzerland|Islam]] (5.3%),<ref name="SFOReligions" /> [[Hinduism]] (0.6%), [[Buddhism]] (0.5%), Judaism (0.25%) and others (0.4%).<ref name="RelOverview2020" />

Historically, the country was about evenly balanced between Catholic and Protestant, in a complex patchwork. During the [[Reformation]] Switzerland became home to many [[Protestant Reformers|reformers]]. [[Geneva]] converted to Protestantism in 1536, just before [[John Calvin]] arrived. In 1541, he founded the ''[[Republic of Geneva]]'' on his own ideals. It became known internationally as the ''Protestant Rome'' and housed such reformers as [[Theodore Beza]], [[William Farel]] or [[Pierre Viret]]. [[Zurich]] [[Reformation in Zurich|became]] another reform stronghold around the same time, with [[Huldrych Zwingli]] and [[Heinrich Bullinger]] taking the lead. Anabaptists [[Felix Manz]] and [[Conrad Grebel]] also operated there. They were later joined by the fleeing [[Peter Martyr Vermigli]] and [[Hans Denck]]. Other centres included [[Basel]] ([[Andreas Karlstadt]] and [[Johannes Oecolampadius]]), [[Bern]] ([[Berchtold Haller]] and [[Niklaus Manuel]]), and [[St. Gallen]] ([[Joachim Vadian]]). One canton, Appenzell, was officially divided into Catholic and Protestant sections in 1597. The larger cities and their cantons (Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich and Basel) used to be predominantly Protestant. [[Central Switzerland]], the [[Valais]], the [[Ticino]], [[Appenzell Innerrhoden|Appenzell Innerrhodes]], the [[Canton of Jura|Jura]], and [[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]] are 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.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}} A 1980 initiative calling for the complete [[separation of church and state]] was rejected by 78.9% of the voters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Volksabstimmung vom 02.03.1980 |url=http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/va/19800302/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010153145/https://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/va/19800302/index.html |archive-date=10 October 2017 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=www.bk.admin.ch |language=de}}</ref> Some traditionally Protestant cantons and cities nowadays have a slight Catholic majority, because since about 1970 a steadily growing minority were not affiliated with any religious body (21.4% in Switzerland, 2012) especially in traditionally Protestant regions, such as Basel-City (42%), canton of Neuchâtel (38%), canton of Geneva (35%), canton of Vaud (26%), or Zurich city (city: >25%; canton: 23%).<ref>{{Cite web |year=2014 |title=Ständige Wohnbevölkerung ab 15 Jahren nach Religions- / Konfessionszugehörigkeit, 2012 |url=http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/05/blank/key/religionen.Document.21757.xls |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106215454/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/05/blank/key/religionen.Document.21757.xls |archive-date=6 January 2012 |access-date=5 April 2014 |website=www.bfs.admin.ch |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office |language=de, fr, it |type=Statistics |format=XLS |location=Neuchâtel}}</ref>

=== Literature ===
{{Main|Literature of Switzerland}}
[[File:Jean-Jacques Rousseau (painted portrait).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]] was not only a writer but also an influential philosopher of the eighteenth century.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023|reason=Certainly true, but the source we had for this statement is no longer available.}}]]
The earliest forms of literature were in German, reflecting the language's early predominance. In the 18th century, French became fashionable in Bern and elsewhere, while the influence of the French-speaking allies and subject lands increased.<ref>{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Switzerland/Literature|display=Switzerland § Literature|volume=26|page=263|first=William Augustus Brevoort|last=Coolidge|author-link=W. A. B. Coolidge}}</ref>

Among the classic authors of Swiss literature are [[Jeremias Gotthelf]] (1797–1854) and [[Gottfried Keller]] (1819–1890); later writers are [[Max Frisch]] (1911–1991) and [[Friedrich Dürrenmatt]] (1921–1990), whose {{lang|de|Das Versprechen}} (''[[The Pledge: Requiem for the Detective Novel|The Pledge]]'') was released as a Hollywood film in 2001.<ref name="Literature">{{Cite web |title=Discover Switzerland |url=http://www.swissworld.org/en/culture/literature/german_speaking_authors/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611004600/http://www.swissworld.org/en/culture/literature/german_speaking_authors/ |archive-date=11 June 2009 |access-date=23 June 2009 |website=www.eda.admin.ch |language=en}}</ref>

Famous 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" /> Italian and Romansh-speaking authors also contributed to the Swiss literary landscape, generally in proportion to their 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 and has come to be a symbol of Switzerland. Her creator, [[Johanna Spyri]] (1827–1901), wrote a number of books on similar themes.<ref name="Literature" />

=== Media ===
{{Main|Media of Switzerland}}
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2024}}
[[Freedom of the press]] and the right to [[free expression]] is guaranteed in the constitution.<ref name="Media">[http://www.ch.ch/private/00085/00090/00479/00480/index.html?lang=en Press and the media] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204150520/http://www.ch.ch/private/00085/00090/00479/00480/index.html?lang=en |date=4 December 2008}} ch.ch. Retrieved on 25 June 2009</ref> The [[Schweizerische Depeschenagentur|Swiss News Agency]] (SNA) broadcasts information in three of the four national languages—on politics, economics, society and culture. The SNA supplies almost all Swiss media and foreign media with its reporting.<ref name="Media" />

In Switzerland, the most influential newspapers include the German-language {{lang|de|[[Tages-Anzeiger]]}} and ''[[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]]'', as well as the French-language ''[[Le Temps]]''. Additionally, almost every city has at least one local newspaper published in the predominant local language. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-28 |title=Media |url=https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/wirtschaft/taetigkeitsgebiete/medien.html |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=www.eda.admin.ch |language=en |archive-date=30 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530183516/https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home/wirtschaft/taetigkeitsgebiete/medien.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-05-07 |title=Switzerland media guide |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17982246 |access-date=2024-05-30 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=30 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530183516/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17982246 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The government exerts greater control over broadcast media than print media, especially due to financing and licensing.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, whose name was recently changed to [[Swiss Broadcasting Corporation|SRG SSR]], is charged with the production and distribution of radio and television content. SRG SSR studios are distributed across the various language regions. Radio content is produced in six central and four regional studios while video media are produced in [[Geneva]], [[Zurich]], [[Basel]], and [[Lugano]]. An extensive cable network allows most Swiss to access content from neighbouring countries.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sport in Switzerland}}
[[File:Allalinhorn 4027 2007 04 17.JPG|thumb|left|Ski area over the glaciers of [[Saas-Fee]]]]
[[Skiing]], [[snowboarding]] and [[mountaineering]] are among the most popular sports, reflecting the nature of the country<ref>[http://www.europe-cities.com/en/672/switzerland/sport/ Sport in Switzerland] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916001155/http://www.europe-cities.com/en/672/switzerland/sport/ |date=16 September 2010}} europe-cities.com. Retrieved on 14 December 2009</ref> Winter sports are practised by natives and visitors. The [[bobsleigh]] was invented in [[St. Moritz]].<ref>[http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=39 A brief history of bobsleigh] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513011356/http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=39 |date=13 May 2011}} fibt.com. Retrieved on 2 November 2009</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 [[1928 Winter Olympics|second Winter Olympic Games]] in 1928 and the [[1948 Winter Olympics|fifth edition]] in 1948. Among its most successful skiers and world champions are [[Pirmin Zurbriggen]] and [[Didier Cuche]].

The most prominently watched sports in Switzerland are [[Football in Switzerland|football]] and [[Schweizerischer Eishockeyverband|ice hockey]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 July 2014 |title=Meist gesehene Sendungen SRF seit 2011 |url=http://www.srf.ch/medien/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Hitliste_seit_2011.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714130318/http://www.srf.ch/medien/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Hitliste_seit_2011.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2016 |access-date=13 June 2016 |publisher=[[Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen|SRF]] |language=de}}</ref>

The headquarters of the international football's and ice hockey's governing bodies, the [[International Federation of Association Football]] (FIFA) and [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] (IIHF) are located in Zurich. Many other headquarters of international sports federations are located in Switzerland. For example, the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC), IOC's [[Olympic Museum]] and the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] (CAS) are located in [[Lausanne]].

Switzerland hosted the [[1954 FIFA World Cup]] and was the joint host, with Austria, of the [[UEFA Euro 2008]] tournament. The [[Swiss Super League]] is the nation's professional football club league. Europe's highest football pitch, at {{convert|2000|m|ft}} above sea level, is located in Switzerland, the ''Ottmar Hitzfeld Stadium''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gilbert |first=Sarah |date=8 June 2014 |title=The world's most amazing football pitches – in pictures |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/gallery/2014/jun/08/the-worlds-most-amazing-football-pitches-in-pictures?CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2 |url-status=live |access-date=9 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714190244/http://www.theguardian.com/travel/gallery/2014/jun/08/the-worlds-most-amazing-football-pitches-in-pictures?CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2 |archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref>

Many Swiss follow [[ice hockey]] and support one of the 12 teams of the [[National League (ice hockey)|National League]], which is the most attended league in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hockeyarenas.net |url=http://www.hockeyarenas.net/index.php3?ctID=ch&size=0&page=0701&c=eu&ctID=eu&atType=0&show=25&tdSaison=2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114160452/http://www.hockeyarenas.net/index.php3?ctID=ch&size=0&page=0701&c=eu&ctID=eu&atType=0&show=25&tdSaison=2011 |archive-date=14 January 2012 |access-date=3 November 2011 |publisher=Hockeyarenas.net}}</ref> In 2009, Switzerland hosted the [[2009 IIHF World Championship|IIHF World Championship]] for the tenth time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 May 2009 |title=IIHF World Championships 2009 official website |url=http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship-oc09/home-oc/tournament-information.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227112635/http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship-oc09/home-oc/tournament-information.html |archive-date=27 December 2010 |access-date=29 April 2010 |publisher=Iihf.com}}</ref> It also became [[2013 IIHF World Championship|World Vice-Champion]] in 2013 and 2018. Its numerous lakes make Switzerland an attractive sailing destination. 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.

[[File:Roger Federer (26 June 2009, Wimbledon) 2 new.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Roger Federer]] has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles, making him among the most successful men's tennis players ever.<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/gallery/featured/GAL1157546/1/index.htm Roger Federer's Grand Slam Titles] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127223246/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/gallery/featured/GAL1157546/1/index.htm |date=27 January 2010}} sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved on 14 June 2010</ref>]]Swiss tennis player [[Roger Federer]] is widely regarded as among the sport's greatest players. He won 20 [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] tournaments overall including a record 8 [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] titles. He won a joint-record 6 [[ATP Finals]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Roger Federer wins sixth Australian Open and 20th Grand Slam title |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/42851064 |url-status=live |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131051812/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/42851064 |archive-date=31 January 2021}}</ref> He was ranked no. 1 in the [[ATP rankings]] for a record 237 consecutive weeks. He ended 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and [[2009 ATP World Tour|2009]] ranked no. 1. Fellow Swiss players [[Martina Hingis]] and [[Stan Wawrinka]] also hold multiple Grand Slam titles. Switzerland won the [[Davis Cup]] title in 2014.

[[Motorsport]] racecourses and events were banned in Switzerland following the [[1955 Le Mans disaster]] with exceptions for events such as [[hillclimbing]]. The country continued to produce successful racing drivers such as [[Clay Regazzoni]], [[Sébastien Buemi]], [[Jo Siffert]], [[Dominique Aegerter]], successful [[World Touring Car Championship]] driver [[Alain Menu]], [[2014 24 Hours of Le Mans]] winner [[Marcel Fässler (racing driver)|Marcel Fässler]] and 2015 [[24 Hours Nürburgring]] winner [[Nico Müller]]. [[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. In June 2007 the [[Swiss National Council]], one house of the [[Federal Assembly of Switzerland]], voted to overturn the ban, however the other house, the [[Swiss Council of States]] rejected the change and the ban remains in place.<ref>[[n:Switzerland lifts ban on motor racing]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 October 2007 |title=Swiss vote against racing |url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns19754.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714131153/http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns19754.html |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=13 June 2014 |website=Grandprix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc.}}</ref>

Traditional sports include Swiss wrestling or {{lang|de|Schwingen}}, a 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>{{Cite web |title=Hornussen Baseball Swissstyle |url=http://www.swissroots.org/swissroots/en/stories/heritage/Heritage/Swiss%20Customs/Hornussen%20Baseball%20Swissstyle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629151434/http://www.swissroots.org/swissroots/en/stories/heritage/Heritage/Swiss%2520Customs/Hornussen%2520Baseball%2520Swissstyle |archive-date=29 June 2009 |access-date=25 January 2010 |website=Swiss Roots}}</ref> {{lang|de|[[Steinstossen]]}} is the Swiss variant of [[stone put]], a competition in throwing a heavy stone. Practised only among the alpine population since [[prehistory|prehistoric times]], it is recorded to have taken place in [[Basel]] in the 13th century. It is central to the [[Unspunnenfest]], first held in 1805, with its symbol the 83.5 stone named {{lang|de|Unspunnenstein}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 July 2011 |title=Tradition and History |url=http://www.interlaken.ch/erlebnisse/sommer/festivals/unspunnenfest/tradition-und-geschichte.html?L=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706234615/http://www.interlaken.ch/erlebnisse/sommer/festivals/unspunnenfest/tradition-und-geschichte.html?L=3 |archive-date=6 July 2011 |access-date=8 February 2023}}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Swiss cuisine}}
{{See also|Culinary Heritage of Switzerland}}
[[File:Full cheese fondue set - in Switzerland.JPG|thumb|right|[[Fondue]] is melted cheese, into which bread is dipped.]]
The cuisine is multifaceted. While dishes such as [[fondue]], [[raclette]] or [[rösti]] are omnipresent, each region developed its gastronomy according to the varieties of climate and language, for example, {{lang|de|[[Zürcher Geschnetzeltes]]}}, engl.: sliced meat Zurich style.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flavors of Switzerland |url=http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/countries/flavors-of-switzerland/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720054343/http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/countries/flavors-of-switzerland/ |archive-date=20 July 2009 |access-date=24 June 2009 |website=The Worldwide Gourmet |language=en}}</ref> Traditional Swiss cuisine uses ingredients similar to those in other European countries, as well as unique [[dairy product]]s and cheeses 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] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427033455/http://servicesv2.webmichelin.com/frontnews/servlet/GetElement?elementCode=56670 |date=27 April 2011}} Press information, Michelin. Retrieved on 14 December 2009</ref><ref>Shriver, Jerry. [https://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2005-04-26-swiss-food_x.htm Swiss region serves up food with star power] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918070817/http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2005-04-26-swiss-food_x.htm |date=18 September 2012}} usatoday.com. Retrieved on 14 December 2009.</ref>

[[Swiss chocolate|Chocolate]] has been made in Switzerland since the 18th century. Its reputation grew at the end of the 19th century with the invention of modern techniques such as [[conching]] and [[Tempering chocolate|tempering]], which enabled higher quality. Another breakthrough was the invention of solid milk chocolate in 1875 by [[Daniel Peter]]. The Swiss are the world's largest chocolate consumers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discover Switzerland |url=https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home.html/en/switzerland/swiss_specials/swiss_chocolate/swiss_breakthroughs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208144506/https://www.eda.admin.ch/aboutswitzerland/en/home.html/en/switzerland/swiss_specials/swiss_chocolate/swiss_breakthroughs/ |archive-date=8 February 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=www.eda.admin.ch |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=4 January 2010 |title=Swiss Chocolate : German WorldMagazine |url=http://www.germanworldonline.com/index.php/swisschocolatehistory/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104115936/http://www.germanworldonline.com/index.php/swisschocolatehistory/ |archive-date=4 January 2010 |access-date=8 February 2023}}</ref>

The most popular alcoholic drink is wine. Switzerland is notable for its variety of grape varieties, reflecting the large variations in [[terroir]]s. [[Swiss wine]] is produced mainly in [[Valais (wine region)|Valais]], [[Vaud]] ([[Lavaux]]), [[Geneva (wine region)|Geneva]] and Ticino, with a small majority of white wines. Vineyards have been cultivated in Switzerland since the Roman era, even though traces of a more ancient origin can be found. The most widespread varieties are the [[Chasselas]] (called [[Fendant]] in Valais) and [[Pinot noir|Pinot Noir]]. [[Merlot]] is the main variety produced in Ticino.<ref>[http://www.swisswine.ch/english/bienv/main.asp Wine-producing Switzerland in short] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409084726/http://www.swisswine.ch/english/bienv/main.asp |date=9 April 2009}} swisswine.ch. Retrieved on 24 June 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.winebiz.com.au/statistics/world.asp Table 38. Top wine consuming nations per capita, 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818001813/http://www.winebiz.com.au/statistics/world.asp |date=18 August 2010}} winebiz.com. Retrieved on 14 June 2010</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Switzerland|Europe}}
* [[Index of Switzerland-related articles]]
* [[Outline of Switzerland]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{Refbegin}}
* Church, Clive H. (2004) ''The Politics and Government of Switzerland''. Palgrave Macmillan. {{ISBN|978-0-333-69277-6}}.
* Fahrni, Dieter. (2003) ''An Outline History of Switzerland. From the Origins to the Present Day''. 8th enlarged edition. Pro Helvetia, Zurich. {{ISBN|978-3-908102-61-8}}.
* ''[[Historical Dictionary of Switzerland]]''. Published electronically (1998–) and in print (2002–) simultaneously in three of the national languages of Switzerland: [http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/ DHS/HLS/DSS] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205103158/http://hls-dhs-dss.ch/ |date=5 December 2006}}): online edition in German, French and Italian.
* von Matt, Peter: ''Das Kalb vor der Gotthardpost. Zur Literatur und Politik in der Schweiz''. Carl Hanser Verlag, München, 2012, {{ISBN|978-3-446-23880-0}}, S. 127–138.
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|Switzerland|voy=Switzerland}}
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* [https://www.admin.ch/ The Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation]
* {{curlie|Regional/Europe/Switzerland}}
* [http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/accueil.html Tourism — Switzerland]

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