Switzerland - Wikipedia

Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located at the confluence of Western, Central and Southern Europe. Switzerland FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia Jumptonavigation Jumptosearch CountryinCentralEurope Thisarticleisaboutthesovereignstate.Forotheruses,seeSwitzerland(disambiguation)andSwissConfederation(disambiguation). SwissConfederation Fiveofficialnames SchweizerischeEidgenossenschaft  (German)Confédérationsuisse  (French)ConfederazioneSvizzera  (Italian)Confederaziunsvizra  (Romansh)ConfoederatioHelvetica  (Latin)[1] Flag Coatofarms Motto: (traditional)"Unusproomnibus,omnesprouno" (Latin)"Oneforall,allforone"Anthem: "SwissPsalm"Locationof Switzerland (green)inEurope (greenanddarkgrey)Capital None(dejure) Bern(defacto)[a][2][3] 46°57′N7°27′E/46.950°N7.450°E/46.950;7.450LargestcityZürichOfficial languages German French Italian Recognisednational languagesRomanshEthnic groups(2020)[4] 74.3%Swiss 25.7%Others Religion(2020)[5][c]62.6%Christianity—34.4%Catholicism—25.2%Protestantism[b]—3.0%OtherChristian29.4%Unaffiliated5.4%Islam0.6%Hinduism0.5%Buddhism0.2%Judaism0.2%Others1.1%NoanswerDemonym(s)English:SwissGerman:Schweizer/SchweizerinFrench:Suisse/SuissesseItalian:svizzero/svizzeraorelvetico/elveticaRomansh:Svizzer/SvizraGovernmentFederalassembly-independent[6][7]directorialrepublicwithelementsofasemi-directdemocracy• FederalCouncilIgnazioCassis(President)AlainBerset(VicePresident)GuyParmelinUeliMaurerSimonettaSommarugaViolaAmherdKarinKeller-Sutter• FederalChancellorWalterThurnherr LegislatureFederalAssembly• UpperhouseCouncilofStates• LowerhouseNationalCouncilHistory• Foundationdatec. 1300[d](traditionally1August1291)• PeaceofWestphalia24October1648• Restoration7August1815• Federalstate12September1848[e][8] Area• Total41,285 km2(15,940 sq mi)(132nd)• Water (%)4.34(2015)[9]Population• 2019estimate8,570,146[10](99th)• 2015 census8,327,126[11]• Density207/km2(536.1/sq mi)(48th)GDP (PPP)2020 estimate• Total$584 billion[12](38th)• Percapita$67,557[12](9th)GDP (nominal)2020 estimate• Total$749 billion[12](20th)• Percapita$86,673[12](2nd)Gini (2018) 29.7[13]low · 19thHDI (2019) 0.955[14]veryhigh · 2ndCurrencySwissfranc(CHF)TimezoneUTC+1(CET)• Summer (DST)UTC+2(CEST)Dateformatdd.mm.yyyy(AD)DrivingsiderightCallingcode+41ISO3166codeCHInternetTLD.ch,.swiss Switzerland,officiallytheSwissConfederation,isalandlockedcountrylocatedattheconfluenceofWestern,CentralandSouthernEurope.[f][15]Thecountryisafederalrepubliccomposedof26 cantons,withfederalauthoritiesbasedinBern.[a][3][2]SwitzerlandisborderedbyItalytothesouth,Francetothewest,GermanytothenorthandAustriaandLiechtensteintotheeast.ItisgeographicallydividedamongtheSwissPlateau,theAlpsandtheJura,spanningatotalareaof41,285 km2(15,940 sq mi)andlandareaof39,997 km2(15,443 sq mi).AlthoughtheAlpsoccupythegreaterpartoftheterritory,theSwisspopulationofapproximately8.7 millionisconcentratedmostlyontheplateau,wherethelargestcitiesandeconomiccentresare,amongthemZürich,GenevaandBasel.ThesethreecitiesarehometoseveralofficesofinternationalorganisationssuchastheWTO,theWHO,theILO,theheadquartersofFIFA,theUN'ssecond-largestoffice,aswellasthemainofficeoftheBankforInternationalSettlements.ThemaininternationalairportsofSwitzerlandarealsolocatedinthesecities. TheestablishmentoftheOldSwissConfederacyintheLateMiddleAgesresultedfromaseriesofmilitarysuccessesagainstAustriaandBurgundy.TheFederalCharterof1291isconsideredthefoundingdocumentofSwitzerland,whichiscelebratedonSwissNationalDay.SincetheReformationofthe16thcentury,Switzerlandhasmaintainedafirmpolicyofarmedneutrality.SwissindependencefromtheHolyRomanEmpirewasformallyrecognisedinthePeaceofWestphaliain1648.Switzerlandhasnotfoughtaninternationalwarsince1815anddidnotjointheUnitedNationsuntil2002.Nevertheless,itpursuesanactiveforeignpolicy.Itisfrequentlyinvolvedinpeace-buildingprocessesworldwide.[16]SwitzerlandisthebirthplaceoftheRedCross,oneoftheworld'soldestandbestknownhumanitarianorganisations.ItisafoundingmemberoftheEuropeanFreeTradeAssociation,butnotablynotpartoftheEuropeanUnion,theEuropeanEconomicAreaortheEurozone.However,itparticipatesintheSchengenAreaandtheEuropeanSingleMarketthroughbilateraltreaties. SwitzerlandoccupiesthecrossroadsofGermanicandRomanceEurope,asreflectedinitsfourmainlinguisticandculturalregions:German,French,ItalianandRomansh.AlthoughthemajorityofthepopulationareGerman-speaking,Swissnationalidentityisrootedinacommonhistoricalbackground,sharedvaluessuchasfederalismanddirectdemocracy,[17]aswellasAlpinesymbolism.[18][19]Thisidentitystretchingacrosslanguages,ethnicgroups,andreligionshasledmanytoconsiderSwitzerlandaWillensnation("nationofvolition"),asopposedtoanation-state.[20] Duetoitslinguisticdiversity,Switzerlandisknownbyavarietyofnativenames:Schweiz[ˈʃvaɪts](German);[g]Suisse[sɥis(ə)](French);Svizzera[ˈzvittsera](Italian);andSvizra[ˈʒviːtsrɐ,ˈʒviːtsʁɐ](Romansh).[h]Oncoinsandstamps,theLatinname,ConfoederatioHelvetica–frequentlyshortenedto"Helvetia"–isusedinsteadofthefournationallanguages.Adevelopedcountry,ithasthehighestnominalwealthperadult[21]andtheeighth-highestpercapitagrossdomesticproduct.[22][23]Itrankshighlyonsomeinternationalmetrics,includingeconomiccompetitivenessandhumandevelopment.ItscitiessuchasZürich,GenevaandBaselrankamongthehighestintheworldintermsofqualityoflife,[24][25]albeitwithsomeofthehighestcostsoflivingintheworld.[26]In2020,IMDplacedSwitzerlandfirstinattractingskilledworkers.[27]TheWEFranksitthefifthmostcompetitivecountryglobally.[28] Contents 1Etymology 2History 2.1Earlyhistory 2.2OldSwissConfederacy 2.3Napoleonicera 2.4Federalstate 2.5Modernhistory 3Geography 3.1Climate 3.2Environment 4Politics 4.1Directdemocracy 4.2Cantons 4.2.1Municipalities 4.3Foreignrelationsandinternationalinstitutions 4.4Military 4.5FederalCity 5Economyandlabourlaw 5.1Taxationandgovernmentspending 5.2Labourmarket 5.3Educationandscience 5.4SwitzerlandandtheEuropeanUnion 5.5Energy,infrastructureandenvironment 6Demographics 6.1Largestcities 6.2Languages 6.3Health 6.4Urbanisation 6.5Religion 7Culture 7.1Literature 7.2Media 7.3Sports 7.4Cuisine 8Seealso 9Notes 10References 11Furtherreading 12Externallinks Etymology Mainarticle:NameofSwitzerland TheEnglishnameSwitzerlandisacompoundcontainingSwitzer,anobsoletetermforaSwisspersonwhichwasinuseduringthe16thto19thcenturies.[29]TheEnglishadjectiveSwissisaloanfromFrenchSuisse,alsoinusesincethe16thcentury.ThenameSwitzerisfromtheAlemannicSchwiizer,inoriginaninhabitantofSchwyzanditsassociatedterritory,oneoftheWaldstättecantonswhichformedthenucleusoftheOldSwissConfederacy.TheSwissbegantoadoptthenameforthemselvesaftertheSwabianWarof1499,usedalongsidethetermfor"Confederates",Eidgenossen(literally:comradesbyoath),usedsincethe14thcentury.ThedatacodeforSwitzerland,CH,isderivedfromLatinConfoederatioHelvetica(English:HelveticConfederation). ThetoponymSchwyzitselfwasfirstattestedin972,asOldHighGermanSuittes,ultimatelyperhapsrelatedtoswedan‘toburn’(cf.OldNorsesvíða‘tosinge,burn’),referringtotheareaofforestthatwasburnedandclearedtobuild.[30]Thenamewasextendedtotheareadominatedbythecanton,andaftertheSwabianWarof1499graduallycametobeusedfortheentireConfederation.[31][32] TheSwissGermannameofthecountry,Schwiiz,ishomophonoustothatofthecantonandthesettlement,butdistinguishedbytheuseofthedefinitearticle(d'SchwiizfortheConfederation,[33]butsimplySchwyzforthecantonandthetown).[34]Thelong[iː]ofSwissGermanishistoricallyandstilloftentodayspelled⟨y⟩ratherthan⟨ii⟩,preservingtheoriginalidentityofthetwonameseveninwriting. TheLatinnameConfoederatioHelveticawasneologisedandintroducedgraduallyaftertheformationofthefederalstatein1848,harkingbacktotheNapoleonicHelveticRepublic,appearingoncoinsfrom1879,inscribedontheFederalPalacein1902andafter1948usedintheofficialseal[35](e.g.,theISObankingcode"CHF"fortheSwissfranc,andthecountrytop-leveldomain".ch",arebothtakenfromthestate'sLatinname).HelveticaisderivedfromtheHelvetii,aGaulishtribelivingontheSwissplateaubeforetheRomanera. HelvetiaappearsasanationalpersonificationoftheSwissconfederacyinthe17thcenturywitha1672playbyJohannCasparWeissenbach.[36] History Mainarticle:HistoryofSwitzerland SwitzerlandhasexistedasastateinitspresentformsincetheadoptionoftheSwissFederalConstitutionin1848.TheprecursorsofSwitzerlandestablishedadefensiveallianceattheendofthe13thcentury(1291),formingalooseconfederationofstateswhichpersistedforcenturies. Earlyhistory Mainarticles:EarlyhistoryofSwitzerlandandSwitzerlandintheRomanera TheoldesttracesofhominidexistenceinSwitzerlanddatebackabout150,000years.[37]TheoldestknownfarmingsettlementsinSwitzerland,whichwerefoundatGächlingen,havebeendatedtoaround5300BC.[37] Foundedin44BCbyLuciusMunatiusPlancus,AugustaRaurica(nearBasel)wasthefirstRomansettlementontheRhineandisnowamongthemostimportantarchaeologicalsitesinSwitzerland.[38] TheearliestknownculturaltribesoftheareaweremembersoftheHallstattandLaTènecultures,namedafterthearchaeologicalsiteofLaTèneonthenorthsideofLakeNeuchâtel.LaTèneculturedevelopedandflourishedduringthelateIronAgefromaround450BC,[37]possiblyundersomeinfluencefromtheGreekandEtruscancivilisations.OneofthemostimportanttribalgroupsintheSwissregionwastheHelvetii.SteadilyharassedbyGermanictribes,in58BC,theHelvetiidecidedtoabandontheSwissplateauandmigratetowesternGallia,butJuliusCaesar'sarmiespursuedanddefeatedthemattheBattleofBibracte,intoday'seasternFrance,forcingthetribetomovebacktoitsoriginalhomeland.[37]In15BC,Tiberius,whowouldonedaybecomethesecondRomanemperor,andhisbrotherDrusus,conqueredtheAlps,integratingthemintotheRomanEmpire.TheareaoccupiedbytheHelvetii—thenamesakesofthelaterConfoederatioHelvetica—firstbecamepartofRome'sGalliaBelgicaprovinceandthenofitsGermaniaSuperiorprovince,whiletheeasternportionofmodernSwitzerlandwasintegratedintotheRomanprovinceofRaetia.SometimearoundthestartoftheCommonEra,theRomansmaintainedalargelegionarycampcalledVindonissa,nowaruinattheconfluenceoftheAareandReussrivers,nearthetownofWindisch,anoutskirtofBrugg.[39] ThefirstandsecondcenturyADwasanageofprosperityforthepopulationlivingontheSwissplateau.Severaltowns,likeAventicum,IuliaEquestrisandAugustaRaurica,reachedaremarkablesize,whilehundredsofagriculturalestates(Villaerusticae)werefoundedinthecountryside. Around260AD,thefalloftheAgriDecumatesterritorynorthoftheRhinetransformedtoday'sSwitzerlandintoafrontierlandoftheEmpire.RepeatedraidsbytheAlamannitribesprovokedtheruinoftheRomantownsandeconomy,forcingthepopulationtofindshelternearRomanfortresses,liketheCastrumRauracensenearAugustaRaurica.TheEmpirebuiltanotherlineofdefenceatthenorthborder(theso-calledDonau-Iller-Rhine-Limes).Still,attheendofthefourthcentury,theincreasedGermanicpressureforcedtheRomanstoabandonthelineardefenceconcept.TheSwissplateauwasfinallyopentothesettlementofGermanictribes. IntheEarlyMiddleAges,fromtheendofthe4thcentury,thewesternextentofmodern-daySwitzerlandwaspartoftheterritoryoftheKingsoftheBurgundians.TheAlemannisettledtheSwissplateauinthe5thcenturyandthevalleysoftheAlpsinthe8thcentury,formingAlemannia.Modern-daySwitzerlandwasthereforethendividedbetweenthekingdomsofAlemanniaandBurgundy.[37]TheentireregionbecamepartoftheexpandingFrankishEmpireinthe6thcentury,followingClovisI'svictoryovertheAlemanniatTolbiacin504AD,andlaterFrankishdominationoftheBurgundians.[40][41] Throughouttherestofthe6th,7thand8thcenturies,theSwissregionscontinuedunderFrankishhegemony(MerovingianandCarolingiandynasties)butafteritsextensionunderCharlemagne,theFrankishEmpirewasdividedbytheTreatyofVerdunin843.[37]Theterritoriesofpresent-daySwitzerlandbecamedividedintoMiddleFranciaandEastFranciauntiltheywerereunifiedundertheHolyRomanEmpirearound1000 AD.[37] By1200,theSwissplateaucomprisedthedominionsofthehousesofSavoy,Zähringer,Habsburg,andKyburg.[37]Someregions(Uri,Schwyz,Unterwalden,laterknownasWaldstätten)wereaccordedtheImperialimmediacytogranttheempiredirectcontroloverthemountainpasses.Withtheextinctionofitsmalelinein1263,theKyburgdynastyfellinAD1264.TheHabsburgsunderKingRudolphI(HolyRomanEmperorin1273)laidclaimtotheKyburglandsandannexedthemextendingtheirterritorytotheeasternSwissplateau.[40] OldSwissConfederacy Mainarticle:OldSwissConfederacy Furtherinformation:GrowthoftheOldSwissConfederacy,ReformationinSwitzerland,andEarlyModernSwitzerland TheOldSwissConfederacyfrom1291(darkgreen)tothesixteenthcentury(lightgreen)anditsassociates(blue).Intheothercoloursshownarethesubjectterritories. The1291Bundesbrief(federalcharter) TheOldSwissConfederacywasanallianceamongthevalleycommunitiesofthecentralAlps.TheConfederacy,governedbynoblesandpatriciansofvariouscantons,facilitatedmanagementofcommoninterestsandensuredpeaceontheimportantmountaintraderoutes.TheFederalCharterof1291agreedbetweentheruralcommunesofUri,Schwyz,andUnterwaldenisconsideredtheconfederacy'sfoundingdocument,eventhoughsimilaralliancesarelikelytohaveexisteddecadesearlier.[42][43] By1353,thethreeoriginalcantonshadjoinedwiththecantonsofGlarusandZugandtheLucerne,ZürichandBerncity-statestoformthe"OldConfederacy"ofeightstatesthatexisteduntiltheendofthe15thcentury.[43]Theexpansionledtoincreasedpowerandwealthfortheconfederation.By1460,theconfederatescontrolledmostoftheterritorysouthandwestoftheRhinetotheAlpsandtheJuramountains,particularlyaftervictoriesagainsttheHabsburgs(BattleofSempach,BattleofNäfels),overCharlestheBoldofBurgundyduringthe1470s,andthesuccessoftheSwissmercenaries.TheSwissvictoryintheSwabianWaragainsttheSwabianLeagueofEmperorMaximilianIin1499amountedtodefactoindependencewithintheHolyRomanEmpire.[43]In1501,Basel[44]andSchaffhausenjoinedtheOldSwissConfederacy.[45] TheOldSwissConfederacyhadacquiredareputationofinvincibilityduringtheseearlierwars,butexpansionoftheconfederationsufferedasetbackin1515withtheSwissdefeatintheBattleofMarignano.Thisendedtheso-called"heroic"epochofSwisshistory.[43]ThesuccessofZwingli'sReformationinsomecantonsledtointer-cantonalreligiousconflictsin1529and1531(WarsofKappel).Itwasnotuntilmorethanonehundredyearsaftertheseinternalwarsthat,in1648,underthePeaceofWestphalia,EuropeancountriesrecognisedSwitzerland'sindependencefromtheHolyRomanEmpireanditsneutrality.[40][41] DuringtheEarlyModernperiodofSwisshistory,thegrowingauthoritarianismofthepatriciatefamiliescombinedwithafinancialcrisisinthewakeoftheThirtyYears'WarledtotheSwisspeasantwarof1653.Inthebackgroundtothisstruggle,theconflictbetweenCatholicandProtestantcantonspersisted,eruptinginfurtherviolenceattheFirstWarofVillmergen,in1656,andtheToggenburgWar(orSecondWarofVillmergen),in1712.[43] Napoleonicera Mainarticles:SwitzerlandintheNapoleonicera,HelveticRepublic,andActofMediation TheActofMediationwasNapoleon'sattemptatacompromisebetweentheAncienRégimeandaRepublic. In1798,therevolutionaryFrenchgovernmentinvadedSwitzerlandandimposedanewunifiedconstitution.[43]Thiscentralisedthegovernmentofthecountry,effectivelyabolishingthecantons:moreover,MülhausenjoinedFranceandtheValtellinavalleybecamepartoftheCisalpineRepublic,separatingfromSwitzerland.Thenewregime,knownastheHelveticRepublic,washighlyunpopular.Aninvadingforeignarmyhadimposedanddestroyedcenturiesoftradition,makingSwitzerlandnothingmorethanaFrenchsatellitestate.ThefierceFrenchsuppressionoftheNidwaldenRevoltinSeptember1798wasanexampleoftheoppressivepresenceoftheFrenchArmyandthelocalpopulation'sresistancetotheoccupation.[citationneeded] WhenwarbrokeoutbetweenFranceanditsrivals,RussianandAustrianforcesinvadedSwitzerland.TheSwissrefusedtofightalongsidetheFrenchinthenameoftheHelveticRepublic.In1803NapoleonorganisedameetingoftheleadingSwisspoliticiansfrombothsidesinParis.TheActofMediationwastheresult,whichlargelyrestoredSwissautonomyandintroducedaConfederationof19cantons.[43]Henceforth,muchofSwisspoliticswouldconcernbalancingthecantons'traditionofself-rulewiththeneedforacentralgovernment.[citationneeded] In1815theCongressofViennafullyre-establishedSwissindependence,andtheEuropeanpowersagreedtorecogniseSwissneutralitypermanently.[40][41][43]Swisstroopsstillservedforeigngovernmentsuntil1860whentheyfoughtinthesiegeofGaeta.ThetreatyalsoallowedSwitzerlandtoincreaseitsterritory,withtheadmissionofthecantonsofValais,NeuchâtelandGeneva.Switzerland'sbordershavenotchangedsince,exceptforsomeminoradjustments.[46] Federalstate Mainarticles:RestorationandRegeneration(Switzerland)andSwitzerlandasafederalstate ThefirstFederalPalaceinBern(1857).OneofthethreecantonspresidingovertheTagsatzung(formerlegislativeandexecutivecouncil),Bernwaschosenasthepermanentseatoffederallegislativeandexecutiveinstitutionsin1848,inpartbecauseofitsclosenesstotheFrench-speakingarea.[2] Therestorationofpowertothepatriciatewasonlytemporary.Afteraperiodofunrestwithrepeatedviolentclashes,suchastheZüriputschof1839,civilwar(theSonderbundskrieg)brokeoutin1847whensomeCatholiccantonstriedtosetupaseparatealliance(theSonderbund).[43]Thewarlastedforlessthanamonth,causingfewerthan100casualties,mostofwhichwerethroughfriendlyfire.Yet,howeverminortheSonderbundskriegappearscomparedwithotherEuropeanriotsandwarsinthe19thcentury,itneverthelesshadasignificantimpactonboththepsychologyandthesocietyoftheSwissandSwitzerland. ThewarconvincedmostSwissoftheneedforunityandstrengthtowardstheirEuropeanneighbours.Swisspeoplefromallstrataofsociety,whetherCatholicorProtestant,fromtheliberalorconservativecurrent,realisedthatthecantonswouldprofitmoreiftheireconomicandreligiousinterestsweremerged. Thus,whiletherestofEuropesawrevolutionaryuprisings,theSwissdrewupaconstitutionwhichprovidedforafederallayout,muchofitinspiredbytheAmericanexample.Thisconstitutionprovidedcentralauthoritywhileleavingthecantonstherighttoself-governmentonlocalissues.Givingcredittothosewhofavouredthepowerofthecantons(theSonderbundKantone),thenationalassemblywasdividedbetweenanupperhouse(theCouncilofStates,tworepresentativespercanton)andalowerhouse(theNationalCouncil,withrepresentativeselectedfromacrossthecountry).Referendumsweremademandatoryforanyamendmentofthisconstitution.[41]ThisnewconstitutionalsobroughtalegalendtonobilityinSwitzerland.[47] Inaugurationin1882oftheGotthardrailtunnelconnectingthesoutherncantonofTicino,thelongestintheworldatthetime Asinglesystemofweightsandmeasureswasintroduced,andin1850theSwissfrancbecametheSwisssinglecurrency,complementedbytheWIRfrancin1934.[48]Article11oftheconstitutionforbadesendingtroopstoserveabroad,markingtheendofforeignservice.ItcamewiththeexpectationofservingtheHolySee,andtheSwisswerestillobligedtoserveFrancisIIoftheTwoSicilieswithSwissGuardspresentatthesiegeofGaetain1860. Animportantclauseoftheconstitutionwasthatitcouldbeentirelyrewrittenifnecessary,thusenablingittoevolveasawholeratherthanbeingmodifiedoneamendmentatatime.[49] ThisneedsoonproveditselfwhentheriseinpopulationandtheIndustrialRevolutionthatfollowedledtocallstomodifytheconstitutionaccordingly.Thepopulationrejectedanearlydraftin1872,butmodificationsledtoitsacceptancein1874.[43]Itintroducedthefacultativereferendumforlawsatthefederallevel.Italsoestablishedfederalresponsibilityfordefence,trade,andlegalmatters. In1891,theconstitutionwasrevisedwithunusuallystrongelementsofdirectdemocracy,whichremainuniquetoday.[43] Modernhistory Mainarticles:SwitzerlandduringtheWorldWarsandModernhistoryofSwitzerland GeneralUlrichWille,appointedcommander-in-chiefoftheSwissArmyforthedurationofWorldWarI Switzerlandwasnotinvadedduringeitheroftheworldwars.DuringWorldWarI,SwitzerlandwashometotherevolutionaryandfounderoftheSovietUnionVladimirIllychUlyanov(VladimirLenin)whoremainedthereuntil1917.[50]SwissneutralitywasseriouslyquestionedbytheGrimm–Hoffmannaffairin1917,butthatwasshort-lived.In1920,SwitzerlandjoinedtheLeagueofNations,whichwasbasedinGeneva,onconditionthatitwasexemptfromanymilitaryrequirements.[citationneeded] DuringWorldWarII,detailedinvasionplansweredrawnupbytheGermans,[51]butSwitzerlandwasneverattacked.[43]Switzerlandwasabletoremainindependentthroughacombinationofmilitarydeterrence,concessionstoGermany,andgoodfortuneaslargereventsduringthewardelayedaninvasion.[41][52]UnderGeneralHenriGuisan,appointedthecommander-in-chiefforthedurationofthewar,ageneralmobilisationofthearmedforceswasordered.TheSwissmilitarystrategywaschangedfromoneofstaticdefenceattheborderstoprotecttheeconomicheartlandtooneoforganisedlong-termattritionandwithdrawaltostrong,well-stockpiledpositionshighintheAlpsknownastheReduit.SwitzerlandwasanimportantbaseforespionagebybothsidesintheconflictandoftenmediatedcommunicationsbetweentheAxisandAlliedpowers.[52] Switzerland'stradewasblockadedbyboththeAlliesandbytheAxis.EconomiccooperationandextensionofcredittoNaziGermanyvariedaccordingtotheperceivedlikelihoodofinvasionandtheavailabilityofothertradingpartners.ConcessionsreachedapeakafteracrucialraillinkthroughVichyFrancewasseveredin1942,leavingSwitzerland(togetherwithLiechtenstein)entirelyisolatedfromthewiderworldbyAxis-controlledterritory.Overthecourseofthewar,Switzerlandinternedover300,000refugees[53]andtheInternationalRedCross,basedinGeneva,playedanimportantpartduringtheconflict.StrictimmigrationandasylumpoliciesandthefinancialrelationshipswithNaziGermanyraisedcontroversy,butnotuntiltheendofthe20thcentury.[54] Duringthewar,theSwissAirForceengagedaircraftofbothsides,shootingdown11intrudingLuftwaffeplanesinMayandJune1940,thenforcingdownotherintrudersafterachangeofpolicyfollowingthreatsfromGermany.Over100Alliedbombersandtheircrewswereinternedduringthewar.Between1940and1945,SwitzerlandwasbombedbytheAlliescausingfatalitiesandpropertydamage.[52]AmongthecitiesandtownsbombedwereBasel,Brusio,Chiasso,Cornol,Geneva,Koblenz,Niederweningen,Rafz,Renens,Samedan,Schaffhausen,SteinamRhein,Tägerwilen,Thayngen,Vals,andZürich.Alliedforcesexplainedthebombings,whichviolatedthe96thArticleofWar,resultedfromnavigationerrors,equipmentfailure,weatherconditions,anderrorsmadebybomberpilots.TheSwissexpressedfearandconcernthatthebombingswereintendedtoputpressureonSwitzerlandtoendeconomiccooperationandneutralitywithNaziGermany.[55]Court-martialproceedingstookplaceinEnglandandtheU.S.Governmentpaid62,176,433.06inSwissfrancsforreparationsofthebombings.[citationneeded] Switzerland'sattitudetowardsrefugeeswascomplicatedandcontroversial;overthecourseofthewar,itadmittedasmanyas300,000refugees[53]whilerefusingtensofthousandsmore,[56]includingJewspersecutedbytheNazis.[57] Afterthewar,theSwissgovernmentexportedcreditsthroughthecharitablefundknownastheSchweizerspendeanddonatedtotheMarshallPlantohelpEurope'srecovery,effortsthatultimatelybenefitedtheSwisseconomy.[58] DuringtheColdWar,SwissauthoritiesconsideredtheconstructionofaSwissnuclearbomb.[59]LeadingnuclearphysicistsattheFederalInstituteofTechnologyZürichsuchasPaulScherrermadethisarealisticpossibility.[60]In1988,thePaulScherrerInstitutewasfoundedinhisnametoexplorethetherapeuticusesofneutronscatteringtechnologies.[61]Financialproblemswiththedefencebudgetandethicalconsiderationspreventedthesubstantialfundsfrombeingallocated,andtheNuclearNon-ProliferationTreatyof1968wasseenasavalidalternative.Allremainingplansforbuildingnuclearweaponsweredroppedby1988.[62] In2003,bygrantingtheSwissPeople'sPartyasecondseatinthegoverningcabinet,theParliamentalteredthecoalitionthathaddominatedSwisspoliticssince1959. SwitzerlandwasthelastWesternrepublic(thePrincipalityofLiechtensteinfollowedin1984)tograntwomentherighttovote.SomeSwisscantonsapprovedthisin1959,whileatthefederallevel,itwasachievedin1971[43][63]and,afterresistance,inthelastcantonAppenzellInnerrhoden(oneofonlytworemainingLandsgemeinde,alongwithGlarus)in1990.Afterobtainingsuffrageatthefederallevel,womenquicklyroseinpoliticalsignificance,withthefirstwomanontheseven-memberFederalCouncilexecutivebeingElisabethKopp,whoservedfrom1984to1989,[43]andthefirstfemalepresidentbeingRuthDreifussin1999.[64] SwitzerlandjoinedtheCouncilofEuropein1963.[41]In1979areasfromthecantonofBernattainedindependencefromtheBernese,formingthenewcantonofJura.On18April1999,theSwisspopulationandthecantonsvotedinfavourofacompletelyrevisedfederalconstitution.[43] In2002SwitzerlandbecameafullmemberoftheUnitedNations,leavingtheVaticanCityasthelastwidelyrecognisedstatewithoutfullUNmembership.SwitzerlandisafoundingmemberoftheEFTAbutisnotamemberoftheEuropeanEconomicArea(EEA).AnapplicationformembershipintheEuropeanUnionwassentinMay1992,butnotadvancedsincetheEEAwasrejectedinDecember1992[43]whenSwitzerlandwastheonlycountrytolaunchareferendumontheEEA.TherehavesincebeenseveralreferendumsontheEUissue;duetooppositionfromthecitizens,themembershipapplicationhasbeenwithdrawn.Nonetheless,SwisslawisgraduallybeingadjustedtoconformwiththatoftheEU,andthegovernmenthassignedanumberofbilateralagreementswiththeEuropeanUnion.Switzerland,togetherwithLiechtenstein,hasbeensurroundedbytheEUsinceAustria'sentryin1995.On5June2005,Swissvotersagreedbya55%majoritytojointheSchengentreaty,aresultthatEUcommentatorsregardedasasignofsupportbySwitzerland.Thiscountryistraditionallyperceivedasindependentandreluctanttoentersupranationalbodies.[41]InSeptember2020,areferendumcallingforavoteonendtothepactthatallowedafreemovementofpeoplefromtheEuropeanUnionwasintroducedbytheSwissPeople'sParty(SPP).[65]However,thevotersrejectedtheattemptsoftakingbackcontrolofimmigration,defeatingthemotionbyaroughly63%–37%margin.[66] Geography Mainarticle:GeographyofSwitzerland PhysicalmapofSwitzerland(inGerman) ExtendingacrossthenorthandsouthsideoftheAlpsinwest-centralEurope,Switzerlandencompassesagreatdiversityoflandscapesandclimatesonalimitedareaof41,285squarekilometres(15,940 sq mi).[67]Thepopulationisabout8.7 million(2020est.).[68]Theaveragepopulationdensityin2019was215.2inhabitantspersquarekilometre(557/sq mi).[69]: 79 Inthelargestcantonbyarea,Graubünden,lyingentirelyintheAlps,populationdensityfallsto28.0inhabitantspersquarekilometre(73/sq mi).[69]: 30 InthecantonofZürich,withitslargeurbancapital,thedensityis926.8persquarekilometre(2,400/sq mi).[69]: 76  Switzerlandliesbetweenlatitudes45°and48°N,andlongitudes5°and11°E.Itcontainsthreebasictopographicalareas:theSwissAlpstothesouth,theSwissPlateauorCentralPlateau,andtheJuramountainsonthewest.TheAlpsareahighmountainrangerunningacrossthecentralandsouthofthecountry,constitutingabout60%ofthecountry'stotalarea.ThemajorityoftheSwisspopulationliveintheSwissPlateau.AmongthehighvalleysoftheSwissAlps,manyglaciersarefound,totallinganareaof1,063squarekilometres(410 sq mi).Fromtheseoriginatetheheadwatersofseveralmajorrivers,suchastheRhine,Inn,TicinoandRhône,whichflowinthefourcardinaldirectionsintothewholeofEurope.ThehydrographicnetworkincludesseveralofthelargestbodiesoffreshwaterinCentralandWesternEurope,amongwhichareincludedLakeGeneva(alsocalledleLacLémaninFrench),LakeConstance(knownasBodenseeinGerman)andLakeMaggiore.Switzerlandhasmorethan1500lakesandcontains6%ofEurope'sfreshwaterstock.Lakesandglacierscoverabout6%ofthenationalterritory.ThelargestlakeisLakeGeneva,inwesternSwitzerlandsharedwithFrance.TheRhôneisboththemainsourceandoutflowofLakeGeneva.LakeConstanceisthesecond-largestSwisslakeand,likeLakeGeneva,anintermediatestepbytheRhineatthebordertoAustriaandGermany.WhiletheRhôneflowsintotheMediterraneanSeaattheFrenchCamargueregionandtheRhineflowsintotheNorthSeaatRotterdamintheNetherlands,about1,000kilometres(620miles)apart,bothspringsareonlyabout22kilometres(14miles)apartfromeachotherintheSwissAlps.[67][70] ContrastedlandscapesbetweentheregionsoftheMatterhornandLakeLucerne Forty-eightofSwitzerland'smountainsare4,000metres(13,000 ft)aboveseainaltitudeorhigher.[67]At4,634 m(15,203 ft),MonteRosaisthehighest,althoughtheMatterhorn(4,478 mor14,692 ft)isoftenregardedasthemostfamous.BotharelocatedwithinthePennineAlpsinthecantonofValais,ontheborderwithItaly.ThesectionoftheBerneseAlpsabovethedeepglacialLauterbrunnenvalley,containing72waterfalls,iswellknownfortheJungfrau(4,158 mor13,642 ft)EigerandMönch,andthemanypicturesquevalleysintheregion.InthesoutheastthelongEngadinValley,encompassingtheSt.MoritzareaincantonofGraubünden,isalsowellknown;thehighestpeakintheneighbouringBerninaAlpsisPizBernina(4,049 mor13,284 ft).[67] Themorepopulousnorthernpartofthecountry,constitutingabout30%ofthecountry'stotalarea,iscalledtheSwissPlateau.Ithasgreateropenandhillylandscapes,partlyforested,partlyopenpastures,usuallywithgrazingherdsorvegetablesandfruitfields,butitisstillhilly.Therearelargelakesfoundhere,andthebiggestSwisscitiesareinthisareaofthecountry.[67] WithinSwitzerlandtherearetwosmallenclaves:BüsingenbelongstoGermany,Campioned'ItaliabelongstoItaly.[71]Switzerlandhasnoexclavesinothercountries. Climate Köppen–GeigerclimateclassificationmapforSwitzerland TheSwissclimateisgenerallytemperate,butcanvarygreatlybetweenthelocalities,[72]fromglacialconditionsonthemountaintopstotheoftenpleasantnearMediterraneanclimateatSwitzerland'ssoutherntip.TherearesomevalleyareasinthesouthernpartofSwitzerlandwheresomecold-hardypalmtreesarefound.Summerstendtobewarmandhumidattimeswithperiodicrainfall,sotheyareidealforpasturesandgrazing.Thelesshumidwintersinthemountainsmayseelongintervalsofstableconditionsforweeks.Atthesametime,thelowerlandstendtosufferfrominversion,duringtheseperiods,thusseeingnosunforweeks. Aweatherphenomenonknownastheföhn(withanidenticaleffecttothechinookwind)canoccuratalltimesoftheyearandischaracterisedbyanunexpectedlywarmwind,bringinganairofverylowrelativehumiditytothenorthoftheAlpsduringrainfallperiodsonthesouthernfaceoftheAlps.Thisworksbothwaysacrossthealpsbutismoreefficientifblowingfromthesouthduetothesteeperstepforoncomingwind.Valleysrunningsouthtonorthtriggerthebesteffect. Thedriestconditionspersistinallinneralpinevalleysthatreceivelessrainbecausearrivingcloudslosealotoftheircontentwhilecrossingthemountainsbeforereachingtheseareas.LargealpineareassuchasGraubündenremaindrierthanpre-alpineareas,andasinthemainvalleyoftheValais,winegrapesaregrownthere.[73] ThewettestconditionspersistinthehighAlpsandintheTicinocanton,whichhasmuchsunyetheavyburstsofrainfromtimetotime.[73]Precipitationtendstobespreadmoderatelythroughouttheyear,withapeakinsummer.Autumnisthedriestseason,winterreceiveslessprecipitationthansummer,yettheweatherpatternsinSwitzerlandarenotinastableclimatesystem.Theycanvaryfromyeartoyearwithnostrictandpredictableperiods. Environment Switzerlandcontainstwoterrestrialecoregions:WesternEuropeanbroadleafforestsandAlpsconiferandmixedforests.[74] Switzerland'secosystemscanbeparticularlyfragile,becausethemanydelicatevalleysseparatedbyhighmountainsoftenformuniqueecologies.Themountainousregionsthemselvesarealsovulnerable,witharichrangeofplantsnotfoundatotheraltitudes,andexperiencesomepressurefromvisitorsandgrazing.Theclimatic,geologicalandtopographicalconditionsofthealpineregionmakeforaveryfragileecosystemthatisparticularlysensitivetoclimatechange.[72][75]Nevertheless,accordingtothe2014EnvironmentalPerformanceIndex,Switzerlandranksfirstamong132nationsinsafeguardingtheenvironment,duetoitshighscoresonenvironmentalpublichealth,itsheavyrelianceonrenewablesourcesofenergy(hydropowerandgeothermalenergy),anditscontrolofgreenhousegasemissions.[76]In2020itwasrankedthirdoutof180countries.[77]ThecountrypledgedtocutGHGemissionsby50%by2030comparedtothelevelof1990andworksonaplantoreachzeroemissionsby2050.[78] However,accesstobiocapacityinSwitzerlandisfarlowerthanworldaverage.In2016,Switzerlandhad1.0globalhectares[79]ofbiocapacityperpersonwithinitsterritory,40percentlessthanworldaverageof1.6globalhectaresperperson.Incontrast,in2016,theyused4.6globalhectaresofbiocapacity–theirecologicalfootprintofconsumption.Thismeanstheyusedabout4.6timesasmuchbiocapacityasSwitzerlandcontains.Theremaindercomesfromimportsandoverusingtheglobalcommons(suchastheatmospherethroughgreenhousegasemissions).Asaresult,Switzerlandisrunningabiocapacitydeficit.[79]Switzerland hada2019ForestLandscapeIntegrityIndexmeanscoreof3.53/10,rankingit150thgloballyoutof172countries.[80] Politics Mainarticle:PoliticsofSwitzerland TheSwissFederalCouncilin2022withPresidentIgnazioCassis(bottom)standingonanabstract,reducedrailwaylinesmapandpositionedattheirrespectivepoliticalorigins[i] TheFederalConstitutionadoptedin1848isthelegalfoundationofthemodernfederalstate.[81]AnewSwissConstitutionwasadoptedin1999,butdidnotintroducenotablechangestothefederalstructure.Itoutlinesbasicandpoliticalrightsofindividualsandcitizenparticipationinpublicaffairs,dividesthepowersbetweentheConfederationandthecantonsanddefinesfederaljurisdictionandauthority.Therearethreemaingoverningbodiesonthefederallevel:[82]thebicameralparliament(legislative),theFederalCouncil(executive)andtheFederalCourt(judicial). TheFederalPalace,seatoftheFederalAssemblyandtheFederalCouncil TheSwissParliamentconsistsoftwohouses:theCouncilofStateswhichhas46representatives(twofromeachcantonandonefromeachhalf-canton)whoareelectedunderasystemdeterminedbyeachcanton,andtheNationalCouncil,whichconsistsof200memberswhoareelectedunderasystemofproportionalrepresentation,dependingonthepopulationofeachcanton.Membersofbothhousesservefor4yearsandonlyserveasmembersofparliamentpart-time(so-calledMilizsystemorcitizenlegislature).[83]Whenbothhousesareinjointsession,theyareknowncollectivelyastheFederalAssembly.Throughreferendums,citizensmaychallengeanylawpassedbyparliamentand,throughinitiatives,introduceamendmentstothefederalconstitution,thusmakingSwitzerlandadirectdemocracy.[81] TheFederalCouncilconstitutesthefederalgovernment,directsthefederaladministrationandservesascollectiveHeadofState.Itisacollegialbodyofsevenmembers,electedforafour-yearmandatebytheFederalAssemblywhichalsoexercisesoversightoverthecouncil.ThePresidentoftheConfederationiselectedbytheAssemblyfromamongthesevenmembers,traditionallyinrotationandforaone-yearterm;thePresidentchairsthegovernmentandassumesrepresentativefunctions.However,thepresidentisaprimusinterpareswithnoadditionalpowersandremainstheheadofadepartmentwithintheadministration.[81] TheSwissgovernmenthasbeenacoalitionofthefourmajorpoliticalpartiessince1959,eachpartyhavinganumberofseatsthatroughlyreflectsitsshareofelectorateandrepresentationinthefederalparliament. Theclassicdistributionof2CVP/PDC,2SPS/PSS,2FDP/PRDand1SVP/UDCasitstoodfrom1959to2003wasknownasthe"magicformula".Followingthe2015FederalCouncilelections,thesevenseatsintheFederalCouncilweredistributedasfollows: 1seatfortheChristianDemocraticPeople'sParty(CVP/PDC), 2seatsfortheFreeDemocraticParty(FDP/PRD), 2seatsfortheSocialDemocraticParty(SPS/PSS), 2seatsfortheSwissPeople'sParty(SVP/UDC). ThefunctionoftheFederalSupremeCourtistohearappealsagainstrulingsofcantonalorfederalcourts.ThejudgesareelectedbytheFederalAssemblyforsix-yearterms.[84] Directdemocracy Mainarticle:VotinginSwitzerland TheLandsgemeindeisanoldformofdirectdemocracy,stillinpracticeintwocantons. DirectdemocracyandfederalismarehallmarksoftheSwisspoliticalsystem.[85]Swisscitizensaresubjecttothreelegaljurisdictions:themunicipality,cantonandfederallevels.The1848and1999SwissConstitutionsdefineasystemofdirectdemocracy(sometimescalledhalf-directorrepresentativedirectdemocracybecauseitisaidedbythemorecommonplaceinstitutionsofarepresentativedemocracy).Theinstrumentsofthissystematthefederallevel,knownaspopularrights(German:Volksrechte,French:droitspopulaires,Italian:dirittipopolari),[86]includetherighttosubmitafederalinitiativeandareferendum,bothofwhichmayoverturnparliamentarydecisions.[81][87] Bycallingafederalreferendum,agroupofcitizensmaychallengealawpassedbyparliamentiftheygather50,000signaturesagainstthelawwithin100days.Ifso,anationalvoteisscheduledwherevotersdecidebyasimplemajoritywhethertoacceptorrejectthelaw.Anyeightcantonscanalsocallaconstitutionalreferendumonfederallaw.[81] Similarly,thefederalconstitutionalinitiativeallowscitizenstoputaconstitutionalamendmenttoanationalvote,if100,000voterssigntheproposedamendmentwithin18months.[j]TheFederalCouncilandtheFederalAssemblycansupplementtheproposedamendmentwithacounter-proposal.Then,votersmustindicateapreferenceontheballotifbothproposalsareaccepted.Constitutionalamendments,whetherintroducedbyinitiativeorinparliament,mustbeacceptedbyadoublemajorityofthenationalpopularvoteandthepopularcantonalvotes.[k][85] Cantons Mainarticle:CantonsofSwitzerland TheSwissConfederationconsistsof26cantons:[81][88] Canton ID Capital Canton ID Capital Aargau 19 Aarau *Nidwalden 7 Stans *AppenzellAusserrhoden 15 Herisau *Obwalden 6 Sarnen *AppenzellInnerrhoden 16 Appenzell Schaffhausen 14 Schaffhausen *Basel-Landschaft 13 Liestal Schwyz 5 Schwyz *Basel-Stadt 12 Basel Solothurn 11 Solothurn Bern 2 Bern St.Gallen 17 St.Gallen Fribourg 10 Fribourg Thurgau 20 Frauenfeld Geneva 25 Geneva Ticino 21 Bellinzona Glarus 8 Glarus Uri 4 Altdorf Grisons 18 Chur Valais 23 Sion Jura 26 Delémont Vaud 22 Lausanne Lucerne 3 Lucerne Zug 9 Zug Neuchâtel 24 Neuchâtel Zürich 1 Zürich *Thesecantonsareknownashalf-cantons. Thecantonsarefederatedstates,haveapermanentconstitutionalstatusand,incomparisonwiththesituationinothercountries,ahighdegreeofindependence.UndertheFederalConstitution,all26cantonsareequalinstatus,exceptthat6(referredtooftenasthehalf-cantons)arerepresentedbyonlyonecouncillor(insteadoftwo)intheCouncilofStatesandhaveonlyhalfacantonalvotewithrespecttotherequiredcantonalmajorityinreferendumsonconstitutionalamendments.Eachcantonhasitsownconstitutionanditsownparliament,government,policeandcourts.[88]However,thereareconsiderabledifferencesbetweentheindividualcantons,particularlyintermsofpopulationandgeographicalarea.Theirpopulationsvarybetween16,003(AppenzellInnerrhoden)and1,487,969(Zürich),andtheirareabetween37 km2(14 sq mi)(Basel-Stadt)and7,105 km2(2,743 sq mi)(Grisons). Municipalities Mainarticle:MunicipalitiesofSwitzerland Asof2018thecantonscompriseatotalof2,222municipalities. Foreignrelationsandinternationalinstitutions Mainarticle:ForeignrelationsofSwitzerland Traditionally,Switzerlandavoidsalliancesthatmightentailmilitary,political,ordirecteconomicactionandhasbeenneutralsincetheendofitsexpansionin1515.ItspolicyofneutralitywasinternationallyrecognisedattheCongressofViennain1815.[89][90]Swissneutralityhasbeenquestionedattimes.[91][92][93][94][95]Onlyin2002didSwitzerlandbecomeafullmemberoftheUnitedNations[89]anditwasthefirststatetojoinitbyreferendum.Switzerlandmaintainsdiplomaticrelationswithalmostallcountriesandhistoricallyhasservedasanintermediarybetweenotherstates.[89]SwitzerlandisnotamemberoftheEuropeanUnion;theSwisspeoplehaveconsistentlyrejectedmembershipsincetheearly1990s.[89]However,SwitzerlanddoesparticipateintheSchengenArea.[96] Thecolour-reversedSwissflagbecamethesymboloftheRedCrossMovement,[63]foundedin1863byHenryDunant.[97] ManyinternationalinstitutionshavetheirseatsinSwitzerland,inpartbecauseofitspolicyofneutrality.GenevaisthebirthplaceoftheRedCrossandRedCrescentMovement,theGenevaConventionsand,since2006,hoststheUnitedNationsHumanRightsCouncil.EventhoughSwitzerlandisoneofthemostrecentcountriestohavejoinedtheUnitedNations,thePalaceofNationsinGenevaisthesecondbiggestcentrefortheUnitedNationsafterNewYork.SwitzerlandwasafoundingmemberandhometotheLeagueofNations. ApartfromtheUnitedNationsheadquarters,theSwissConfederationishosttomanyUNagencies,liketheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO),theInternationalLabourOrganization(ILO),theInternationalTelecommunicationUnion(ITU),theUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees(UNHCR)andabout200otherinternationalorganisations,includingtheWorldTradeOrganizationandtheWorldIntellectualPropertyOrganization.[89]TheannualmeetingsoftheWorldEconomicForuminDavosbringtogethertopinternationalbusinessandpoliticalleadersfromSwitzerlandandforeigncountriestodiscussimportantissuesfacingtheworld,includinghealthandtheenvironment.Additionally,theheadquartersoftheBankforInternationalSettlements(BIS)arelocatedinBaselsince1930. Furthermore,manysportsfederationsandorganisationsarelocatedinthecountry,suchastheInternationalHandballFederationinBasel,theInternationalBasketballFederationinGeneva,theUnionofEuropeanFootballAssociations(UEFA)inNyon,theInternationalFederationofAssociationFootball(FIFA)andtheInternationalIceHockeyFederationbothinZürich,theInternationalCyclingUnioninAigle,andtheInternationalOlympicCommitteeinLausanne.[98] OnJune9,2022,SwitzerlandwaselectedasamemberoftheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncilforthe2023-2024period.[99] Military Mainarticles:SwissArmedForcesandPontificalSwissGuard ASwissAirForceF/A-18HornetatAxalpAirShow TheSwissArmedForces,includingtheLandForcesandtheAirForce,arecomposedmostlyofconscripts,malecitizensagedfrom20to34(inexceptionalcasesupto50)years.Beingalandlockedcountry,Switzerlandhasnonavy;however,onlakesborderingneighbouringcountries,armedmilitarypatrolboatsareused.Swisscitizensareprohibitedfromservinginforeignarmies,exceptfortheSwissGuardsoftheVatican,oriftheyaredualcitizensofaforeigncountryandresidethere. ThestructureoftheSwissmilitiasystemstipulatesthatthesoldierskeeptheirarmyissuedequipment,includingallpersonalweapons,athome.Someorganisationsandpoliticalpartiesfindthispracticecontroversial.[100]Womencanservevoluntarily.Menusuallyreceivemilitaryconscriptionordersfortrainingattheageof18.[101]Abouttwo-thirdsoftheyoungSwissarefoundsuitedforservice;forthosefoundunsuited,variousformsofalternativeserviceexist.[102]Annually,approximately20,000personsaretrainedinrecruitcentresforadurationfrom18to21weeks.Thereform"ArmyXXI"wasadoptedbypopularvotein2003,itreplacedthepreviousmodel"Army95",reducingtheeffectivenessfrom400,000toabout200,000.Ofthose,120,000areactiveinperiodicArmytraining,and80,000arenon-trainingreserves.[103] Thenewestreformofthemilitary,WEA/DEVA/USEs,startedin2019andwillreducethenumberofarmypersonnelprogressivelyto100,000bytheendof2022.[104] Swiss-builtMowagEaglesoftheLandForces Overall,threegeneralmobilisationshavebeendeclaredtoensuretheintegrityandneutralityofSwitzerland.ThefirstonewasheldontheoccasionoftheFranco-PrussianWarof1870–71.ThesecondwasinresponsetotheFirstWorldWaroutbreakinAugust1914.ThethirdmobilisationofthearmytookplaceinSeptember1939inresponsetotheGermanattackonPoland;HenriGuisanwaselectedastheGeneral-in-Chief. Becauseofitsneutralitypolicy,theSwissarmydoesnotcurrentlytakepartinarmedconflictsinothercountriesbutispartofsomepeacekeepingmissionsworldwide.Since2000thearmedforcedepartmenthasalsomaintainedtheOnyxintelligencegatheringsystemtomonitorsatellitecommunications.[105] GunpoliticsinSwitzerlandareuniqueinEuropeinthat2–3.5 milliongunsareinthehandsofcivilians,givingthenationanestimateof27.6–41.2gunsper100people.[106]ItisworthnotingthatasperSmallArmsSurvey,only324,484gunsareownedbythemilitaryontopofthecivilian-ownedones,[107]butthatonly143,372areinthehandsofsoldiersasperArmynumbers.[108]However,ammunitionisnolongerissued.[109][110] FederalCity Until1848,thelooselycoupledConfederationdidnothaveacentralpoliticalorganisation.Still,representatives,mayors,andLandammännermetseveraltimesayearatthecapitaloftheLieupresidingtheConfederalDietforoneyear. TheOldCityofBern Until1500thelegatesmetmostofthetimeinLucerne,butalsoinZürich,Baden,Bern,Schwyzetc.,butsometimesalsoatplacesoutsideoftheconfederation,suchasConstance.FromtheSwabianWarin1499onwardsuntilReformation,mostconferencesmetinZürich.Afterwards,thetownhallatBaden,wheretheannualaccountsofthecommonpeoplehadbeenheldregularlysince1426,becamethemostfrequentbutnotthesoleplaceofassembly.After1712FrauenfeldgraduallydissolvedBaden.From1526,theCatholicconferenceswereheldmostlyinLucerne,theProtestantconferencesfrom1528mostlyinAarau,theoneforthelegitimationoftheFrenchAmbassadorinSolothurn.AtthesametimethesyndicatefortheEnnetbirgischenVogteienlocatedinthepresentTicinometfrom1513inLuganoandLocarno.[111] AftertheHelveticRepublicandduringtheMediationfrom1803until1815theConfederalDietofthe19LieusmetatthecapitalsofthedirectoralcantonsFribourg,Berne,Basel,Zürich,LucerneandSolothurn.[111] AftertheLongDietfrom6April1814to31August1815tookplaceinZürichtoreplacetheconstitution,andtheenhancementoftheConfederationto22cantonsbytheadmissionofthecantonsofValais,NeuchâtelandGenevatofullmembers,thedirectorialcantonsofLucerne,ZürichandBerntookoverthedietintwo-yearturns.[111] In1848,thefederalconstitutionprovidedthatdetailsconcerningthefederalinstitutions,suchastheirlocations,shouldbetakencareofbytheFederalAssembly(BV1848Art.108).Thuson28November1848,theFederalAssemblyvotedinthemajoritytolocatetheseatofgovernmentinBernand,asaprototypicalfederalcompromise,toassignotherfederalinstitutions,suchastheFederalPolytechnicalSchool(1854,thelaterETH)toZürich,andotherinstitutionstoLucerne,suchasthelaterSUVA(1912)andtheFederalInsuranceCourt(1917).In1875,alaw(RS112)fixedthecompensationsowedbythecityofBernforthefederalseat.[2]Accordingtotheselivingfundamentalfederalistsfeelings,otherfederalinstitutionsweresubsequentlyattributedtoLausanne(FederalSupremeCourtin1872,andEPFLin1969),Bellinzona(FederalCriminalCourt,2004),andSt.Gallen(FederalAdministrativeCourtandFederalPatentCourt,2012). The1999newconstitution,however,doesnotcontainanythingconcerninganyFederalCity.In2002,theSwissFederalCouncilaskedatripartitecommitteetopreparethe"creationofafederallawonthestatusofBernasaFederalCity"andtoevaluatethepositiveandnegativeaspectsofthecityandthecantonofBernifthisstatuswereawarded.Afterafirstreport,theworkofthiscommitteewassuspendedin2004bytheSwissFederalCouncil,andworkonthissubjecthasnotresumedsince.[112] Thusasoftoday,nocityinSwitzerlandhastheofficialstatuseitherofcapitalorofFederalCity.Nevertheless,Berniscommonlyreferredtoas"FederalCity"(German:Bundesstadt,French:villefédérale,Italian:cittàfederale). Economyandlabourlaw Mainarticles:EconomyofSwitzerlandandEconomichistoryofSwitzerland Seealso:BankinginSwitzerland,TaxationinSwitzerland,andFederalbudgetofSwitzerland AproportionalrepresentationofSwitzerlandexports,2019 ThecityofBasel(RocheTower)isthecapitalofthecountry'spharmaceuticalindustry,whichaccountsforaround38%ofSwissexportsworldwide.[113] TheGreaterZüricharea,hometo1.5 millioninhabitantsand150,000companies,isoneofthemostimportanteconomiccentresintheworld.[114] Originofthecapitalatthe30biggestSwisscorporations,2018[115]   Switzerland(39%)  NorthAmerica(33%)  Europe(24%)  Restoftheworld(4%) Switzerlandhasastable,prosperousandhigh-techeconomyandenjoysgreatwealth,beingrankedasthewealthiestcountryintheworldpercapitainmultiplerankings.Thecountryhasbeenrankedasoneoftheleastcorruptcountriesintheworld,[116][117][118]whileitsbankingsectorhasparadoxicallybeenratedas"oneofthemostcorruptintheworld".[119]Ithastheworld'stwentiethlargesteconomybynominalGDPandthethirty-eighthlargestbypurchasingpowerparity.Itistheseventeenthlargestexporter.ZürichandGenevaareregardedasglobalcities,rankedasAlphaandBetarespectively.BaselisthecapitalofthepharmaceuticalindustryinSwitzerland.Withitsworld-classcompanies,NovartisandRoche,andmanyotherplayers,itisalsooneoftheworld'smostimportantcentresforthelifesciencesindustry.[120] SwitzerlandhasthehighestEuropeanratingintheIndexofEconomicFreedom2010,whilealsoprovidinglargecoveragethroughpublicservices.[121]ThenominalpercapitaGDPishigherthanthoseofthelargerWesternandCentralEuropeaneconomiesandJapan.[122]IntermsofGDPpercapitaadjustedforpurchasingpower,Switzerlandwasranked11thbytheCIAWorldFactbookin2017,[123]5thintheworldin2018byWorldBank[124]andestimatedat9thbytheIMFin2020.[125] TheWorldEconomicForum'sGlobalCompetitivenessReportcurrentlyranksSwitzerland'seconomyasthemostcompetitiveintheworld,[126]itisrankedbytheEuropeanUnionasEurope'smostinnovativecountryandasthemostinnovativecountryintheGlobalInnovationIndexin2021,thesameasin2020and2019.[127][128][129]Itisarelativelyeasyplacetodobusiness,currentlyranking20thof189countriesintheEaseofDoingBusinessIndex.TheslowgrowthSwitzerlandexperiencedinthe1990sandtheearly2000shasbroughtgreatersupportforeconomicreformsandharmonisationwiththeEuropeanUnion.[130][131] Formuchofthe20thcentury,SwitzerlandwasthewealthiestcountryinEuropebyaconsiderablemargin(byGDP–percapita).[132]Switzerlandalsohasoneoftheworld'slargestaccountbalancesasapercentageofGDP.[133]In2018,thecantonofBasel-CityhadthehighestGDPpercapitainthecountry,aheadofthecantonsofZugandGeneva.[134]AccordingtoCreditSuisse,onlyabout37%ofresidentsowntheirownhomes,oneofthelowestratesofhomeownershipinEurope.Housingandfoodpricelevelswere171%and145%oftheEU-25indexin2007,comparedto113%and104%inGermany.[135] Switzerlandishometoseverallargemultinationalcorporations.ThelargestSwisscompaniesbyrevenueareGlencore,Gunvor,Nestlé,MediterraneanShippingCompany,Novartis,Hoffmann-LaRoche,ABB,MercuriaEnergyGroupandAdecco.[136]Also,notableareUBSAG,ZurichFinancialServices,Richemont,CreditSuisse,BarryCallebaut,SwissRe,Rolex,TetraPak,TheSwatchGroupandSwissInternationalAirLines.Switzerlandisrankedashavingoneofthemostpowerfuleconomiesintheworld.[132][dubious–discuss] Switzerland'smostimportanteconomicsectorismanufacturing.Manufacturingconsistslargelyoftheproductionofspecialistchemicals,healthandpharmaceuticalgoods,scientificandprecisionmeasuringinstrumentsandmusicalinstruments.Thelargestexportedgoodsarechemicals(34%ofexportedgoods),machines/electronics(20.9%),andprecisioninstruments/watches(16.9%).[135]Exportedservicesamounttoathirdofexports.[135]Theservicesector–especiallybankingandinsurance,tourism,andinternationalorganisations–isanotherimportantindustryforSwitzerland. Agriculturalprotectionism—arareexceptiontoSwitzerland'sfreetradepolicies—hascontributedtohighfoodprices.ProductmarketliberalisationislaggingbehindmanyEUcountriesaccordingtotheOECD.[130]Nevertheless,domesticpurchasingpowerisoneofthebestintheworld.[137][138][139]Apartfromagriculture,economicandtradebarriersbetweentheEuropeanUnionandSwitzerlandareminimal,andSwitzerlandhasfreetradeagreementsworldwide.SwitzerlandisamemberoftheEuropeanFreeTradeAssociation(EFTA). Taxationandgovernmentspending Seealso:TaxationinSwitzerland Switzerlandisconsideredataxhaven.[140] Switzerlandhasanoverwhelminglyprivatesectoreconomyandlowtaxrates;taxrevenuetoGDPratioisoneofthesmallestofdevelopedcountries.TheSwissFederalbudgethadasizeof62.8 billionSwissfrancsin2010,whichisanequivalent11.35%ofthecountry'sGDPinthatyear;however,theregional(canton)budgetsandthebudgetsofthemunicipalitiesarenotcountedaspartofthefederalbudgetandthetotalrateofgovernmentspendingiscloserto33.8%ofGDP.Themainsourcesofincomeforthefederalgovernmentarethevalue-addedtax(accountingfor33%oftaxrevenue)andthedirectfederaltax(29%),withthemainareasofexpenditureinsocialwelfareandfinance/taxes.TheexpendituresoftheSwissConfederationhavebeengrowingfrom7%ofGDPin1960to9.7%in1990and10.7%in2010.Whilethesectorssocialwelfareandfinance&taxhadbeengrowingfrom35%in1990to48.2%in2010,asignificantreductionofexpenditureshasbeenoccurringinagricultureandnationaldefence;from26.5%to12.4%(estimationfortheyear2015).[141][142] Labourmarket Seealso:ImmigrationtoSwitzerland Slightlymorethan5millionpeopleworkinSwitzerland;[143]about25%ofemployeesbelongedtoatradeunionin2004.[144]Switzerlandhasamoreflexiblejobmarketthanneighbouringcountriesandtheunemploymentrateisverylow.Theunemploymentrateincreasedfromalowof1.7%inJune2000toapeakof4.4%inDecember2009.[145]Theunemploymentratedecreasedto3.2%in2014andheldsteadyatthatlevelforseveralyears,[146]beforefurtherdroppingto2.5%in2018and2.3%in2019.[147]Populationgrowthfromnetimmigrationisquitehigh,at0.52%ofpopulationin2004,increasedinthefollowingyearsbeforefallingto0.54%againin2017.[135][148]Theforeigncitizenpopulationwas28.9%in2015,aboutthesameasinAustralia.GDPperhourworkedistheworld's16thhighest,at49.46internationaldollarsin2012.[149] In2016,themedianmonthlygrosssalaryinSwitzerlandwas6,502francspermonth(equivalenttoUS$6,597permonth),isjustenoughtocoverthehighcostofliving.[150]Afterrent,taxesandsocialsecuritycontributions,plusspendingongoodsandservices,theaveragehouseholdhasabout15%ofitsgrossincomeleftforsavings.Though61%ofthepopulationmadelessthantheaverageincome,incomeinequalityisrelativelylowwithaGinicoefficientof29.7,placingSwitzerlandamongthetop20countriesforincomeequality.In2015,thetop1%richestpersonsowned35%ofallthewealthinSwitzerland.[151]Thisinequalityhasincreasedinrecentyears.[152] About8.2%ofthepopulationlivebelowthenationalpovertyline,definedinSwitzerlandasearninglessthanCHF3,990permonthforahouseholdoftwoadultsandtwochildren,andafurther15%areatriskofpoverty.Single-parentfamilies,thosewithnopost-compulsoryeducationandthoseoutofworkareamongthemostlikelytolivebelowthepovertyline.Althoughgettingajobisconsideredawayoutofpoverty,some4.3%areconsideredworkingpooramongthegainfullyemployed.OneintenjobsinSwitzerlandisconsideredlow-paid,androughly12%ofSwissworkersholdsuchjobs,manyofthemwomenandforeigners.[150] Educationandscience Mainarticles:EducationinSwitzerlandandScienceandtechnologyinSwitzerland TheUniversityofBaselisSwitzerland'soldestuniversity(1460). SomeSwissscientistswhoplayedakeyroleintheirdiscipline(clockwise):LeonhardEuler(mathematics)LouisAgassiz(glaciology)AugustePiccard(aeronautics)AlbertEinstein(physics) EducationinSwitzerlandisverydiversebecausetheconstitutionofSwitzerlanddelegatestheauthorityfortheschoolsystemtothecantons.[153]Therearebothpublicandprivateschools,includingmanyprivateinternationalschools.Theminimumageforprimaryschoolisaboutsixyearsinallcantons,butmostcantonsprovideafree"children'sschool"startingatfourorfiveyearsold.[153]Primaryschoolcontinuesuntilgradefour,fiveorsix,dependingontheschool.Traditionally,thefirstforeignlanguageinschoolwasalwaysoneoftheothernationallanguages,although,in2000,Englishwasintroducedfirstinafewcantons.[153]Attheendofprimaryschooloratthebeginningofsecondaryschoolpupilsareseparatedaccordingtotheircapacitiesinseveralsections(oftenthree).Thefastestlearnersaretaughtadvancedclassestobepreparedforfurtherstudiesandthematura,[153]whilestudentswhoassimilatealittlemoreslowlyreceiveaneducationmoreadaptedtotheirneeds. Thereare12universitiesinSwitzerland,tenofwhicharemaintainedatcantonallevelandusuallyofferarangeofnon-technicalsubjects.ThefirstuniversityinSwitzerlandwasfoundedin1460inBasel(withafacultyofmedicine)andhasatraditionofchemicalandmedicalresearchinSwitzerland.Itislisted87thonthe2019AcademicRankingofWorldUniversities.[154]ThelargestuniversityinSwitzerlandistheUniversityofZurichwithnearly25,000students.[citationneeded]TheSwissFederalInstituteofTechnologyZurich(ETHZ)andtheUniversityofZuricharelisted20thand54threspectively,onthe2015AcademicRankingofWorldUniversities.[155][156][157] ThetwoinstitutessponsoredbythefederalgovernmentaretheSwissFederalInstituteofTechnologyZurich(ETHZ)inZürich,foundedin1855andtheÉcolePolytechniqueFédéraledeLausanne(EPFL)inLausanne,foundedin1969,formerlyaninstituteassociatedwiththeUniversityofLausanne.[l][158][159] EightoftenbesthotelschoolsintheworldarelocatedinSwitzerland.[160]Inaddition,therearevariousUniversitiesofAppliedSciences.Inbusinessandmanagementstudies,theUniversityofSt.Gallen,(HSG)isranked329thintheworldaccordingtoQSWorldUniversityRankings[161]andtheInternationalInstituteforManagementDevelopment(IMD),wasrankedfirstinopenprogrammesworldwidebytheFinancialTimes.[162]Switzerlandhasthesecondhighestrate(almost18%in2003)offoreignstudentsintertiaryeducation,afterAustralia(slightlyover18%).[163][164] TheGraduateInstituteofInternationalandDevelopmentStudies,locatedinGeneva,isnotonlycontinentalEurope'soldestgraduateschoolofinternationalanddevelopmentstudies,butalsowidelybelievedtobeoneofitsmostprestigious.[165][166] ManyNobelPrizelaureateshavebeenSwissscientists.Theyincludetheworld-famousphysicistAlbertEinstein[167]inthefieldofphysics,whodevelopedhisspecialrelativitywhileworkinginBern.MorerecentlyVladimirPrelog,HeinrichRohrer,RichardErnst,EdmondFischer,RolfZinkernagel,KurtWüthrichandJacquesDubochetreceivedNobelPrizesinthesciences.Intotal,114NobelPrizewinnersinallfieldsstandinrelationtoSwitzerland[168][m]andtheNobelPeacePrizehasbeenawardedninetimestoorganisationsresidinginSwitzerland.[169] TheLHCtunnel.CERNistheworld'slargestlaboratoryandalsothebirthplaceoftheWorldWideWeb.[170] GenevaandthenearbyFrenchdepartmentofAinco-hosttheworld'slargestlaboratory,CERN,[171]dedicatedtoparticlephysicsresearch.AnotherimportantresearchcentreisthePaulScherrerInstitute.Notableinventionsincludelysergicaciddiethylamide(LSD),diazepam(Valium),thescanningtunnellingmicroscope(Nobelprize)andVelcro.SometechnologiesenabledtheexplorationofnewworldssuchasthepressurisedballoonofAugustePiccardandtheBathyscaphewhichpermittedJacquesPiccardtoreachthedeepestpointoftheworld'soceans. SwitzerlandSpaceAgency,theSwissSpaceOffice,hasbeeninvolvedinvariousspacetechnologiesandprogrammes.Inadditionitwasoneofthe10foundersoftheEuropeanSpaceAgencyin1975andistheseventhlargestcontributortotheESAbudget.Intheprivatesector,severalcompaniesareimplicatedinthespaceindustrysuchasOerlikonSpace[172]orMaxonMotors[173]whoprovidespacecraftstructures. SwitzerlandandtheEuropeanUnion Mainarticle:Switzerland–EuropeanUnionrelations SwitzerlandvotedagainstmembershipintheEuropeanEconomicAreainareferenduminDecember1992andhassincemaintainedanddevelopeditsrelationshipswiththeEuropeanUnion(EU)andEuropeancountriesthroughbilateralagreements.InMarch2001,theSwisspeoplerefusedinapopularvotetostartaccessionnegotiationswiththeEU.[174]Inrecentyears,theSwisshavebroughttheireconomicpracticeslargelyintoconformitywiththoseoftheEUinmanyways,inanefforttoenhancetheirinternationalcompetitiveness.Theeconomygrewat3%in2010,1.9%in2011,and1%in2012.[175]EUmembershipwasalong-termobjectiveoftheSwissgovernment,buttherewasandremainsconsiderablepopularsentimentagainstmembership,whichisopposedbytheconservativeSVPparty,thelargestpartyintheNationalCouncil,andnotcurrentlysupportedorproposedbyseveralotherpoliticalparties.TheapplicationformembershipoftheEUwasformallywithdrawnin2016,havinglongbeenfrozen.ThewesternFrench-speakingareasandtheurbanregionsoftherestofthecountrytendtobemorepro-EU,nonethelesswithfarfromasignificantshareofthepopulation.[176][177] MembersoftheEuropeanFreeTradeAssociation(green)participateintheEuropeanSingleMarketandarepartoftheSchengenArea. ThegovernmenthasestablishedanIntegrationOfficeundertheDepartmentofForeignAffairsandtheDepartmentofEconomicAffairs.BernandBrusselssignedsevenbilateralagreementstoliberalisetradetiesfurthertominimisethenegativeconsequencesofSwitzerland'sisolationfromtherestofEurope.Theseagreementsweresignedin1999andtookeffectin2001.Thisfirstseriesofbilateralagreementsincludedthefreemovementofpersons.Asecondseriescoveringnineareaswassignedin2004andhassincebeenratified,whichincludestheSchengenTreatyandtheDublinConventionbesidesothers.[178]Theycontinuetodiscussfurtherareasforcooperation.[179] In2006,Switzerlandapproved1billionfrancsofsupportiveinvestmentinthepoorerSouthernandCentralEuropeancountriesinsupportofcooperationandpositivetiestotheEUasawhole.Afurtherreferendumwillbeneededtoapprove300millionfrancstosupportRomaniaandBulgariaandtheirrecentadmission.TheSwisshavealsobeenunderEUandsometimesinternationalpressuretoreducebankingsecrecyandraisetaxratestoparitywiththeEU.Preparatorydiscussionsarebeingopenedinfournewareas:openinguptheelectricitymarket,participationintheEuropeanGNSSprojectGalileo,cooperatingwiththeEuropeanCentrefordiseasepreventionandrecognisingcertificatesoforiginforfoodproducts.[180] On27November2008,theinteriorandjusticeministersoftheEuropeanUnioninBrusselsannouncedSwitzerland'saccessiontotheSchengenpassport-freezonefrom12December2008.Thelandbordercheckpointswillremaininplaceonlyforgoodsmovementsbutshouldnotcontrolpeople.However,peopleenteringthecountryhadtheirpassportscheckeduntil29March2009iftheyoriginatedfromaSchengennation.[181] On9February2014,Swissvotersnarrowlyapprovedby50.3%aballotinitiativelaunchedbythenationalconservativeSwissPeople'sParty(SVP/UDC)torestrictimmigration,andthusreintroducingaquotasystemontheinfluxofforeigners.Thisinitiativewasmostlybackedbyrural(57.6%approvals)andsuburbanagglomerations(51.2%approvals),andisolatedtowns(51.3%approvals)aswellasbyastrongmajority(69.2%approval)inthecantonofTicino,whilemetropolitancentres(58.5%rejection)andtheFrench-speakingpart(58.5%rejection)ratherrejectedit.[182]Somenewscommentatorsclaimthatthisproposaldefactocontradictsthebilateralagreementsonthefreemovementofpersonsfromtheserespectivecountries.[183][184] InDecember2016,apoliticalcompromisewiththeEuropeanUnionwasattainedeffectivelycancellingquotasonEUcitizensbutstillallowingforfavourabletreatmentofSwiss-basedjobapplicants.[185] On27September2020,Swissvotersclearlyrejectedtheanti-freemovementpopularinitiativebytheconservativeSwissPeople'sParty(SVP)withnearly62%"no"votes,reflectingdemocraticsupportforbilateralagreementswiththeEuropeanUnion.[186] Energy,infrastructureandenvironment Seealso:EnergyinSwitzerland,TransportinSwitzerland,WastemanagementinSwitzerland,andEnvironmentofSwitzerland SwitzerlandhasthetallestdamsinEurope,amongwhichtheMauvoisinDam,intheAlps.Hydroelectricpoweristhemostimportantdomesticsourceofenergyinthecountry. ElectricitygeneratedinSwitzerlandis56%fromhydroelectricityand39%fromnuclearpower,resultinginanearlyCO2-freeelectricity-generatingnetwork.On18May2003,twoanti-nuclearinitiativeswereturneddown:MoratoriumPlus,aimedatforbiddingthebuildingofnewnuclearpowerplants(41.6%supportedand58.4%opposed),[187]andElectricityWithoutNuclear(33.7%supportedand66.3%opposed)afterapreviousmoratoriumexpiredin2000.[188]However,asareactiontotheFukushimanucleardisaster,theSwissgovernmentannouncedin2011thatitplanstoenditsuseofnuclearenergyinthenext2or3decades.[189]InNovember2016,SwissvotersrejectedaproposalbytheGreenPartytoacceleratethephaseoutofnuclearpower(45.8%supportedand54.2%opposed).[190]TheSwissFederalOfficeofEnergy(SFOE)istheofficeresponsibleforallquestionsrelatingtoenergysupplyandenergyusewithintheFederalDepartmentofEnvironment,Transport,EnergyandCommunications(DETEC).Theagencyissupportingthe2000-wattsocietyinitiativetocutthenation'senergyusebymorethanhalfby2050.[191] EntranceofthenewLötschbergBaseTunnel,thethird-longestrailwaytunnelintheworld,undertheoldLötschbergrailwayline.ItwasthefirstcompletedtunnelofthegreaterprojectNRLA. ThemostdenserailnetworkinEurope[63]of5,250kilometres(3,260 mi)carriesover596millionpassengersannually(asof2015).[192]In2015,eachSwissresidenttravelledonaverage2,550kilometres(1,580 mi)byrail,whichmakesthemthekeenestrailusers.[192]Virtually100%ofthenetworkiselectrified.Thevastmajority(60%)ofthenetworkisoperatedbytheSwissFederalRailways(SBB CFF FFS).BesidesthesecondlargeststandardgaugerailwaycompanyBLSAGtworailwayscompaniesoperatingonnarrowgaugenetworksaretheRhaetianRailway(RhB)inthesoutheasterncantonofGraubünden,whichincludessomeWorldHeritagelines,[193]andtheMatterhornGotthardBahn(MGB),whichco-operatestogetherwithRhBtheGlacierExpressbetweenZermattandSt.Moritz/Davos.On31May2016theworld'slongestanddeepestrailwaytunnelandthefirstflat,low-levelroutethroughtheAlps,the57.1-kilometrelong(35.5 mi)GotthardBaseTunnel,openedasthelargestpartoftheNewRailwayLinkthroughtheAlps(NRLA)projectafter17yearsofrealization.Itstarteditsdailybusinessforpassengertransporton11December2016replacingtheold,mountainous,scenicrouteoverandthroughtheStGotthardMassif. Switzerlandhasapubliclymanagedroadnetworkwithoutroadtollsthatisfinancedbyhighwaypermitsaswellasvehicleandgasolinetaxes.Asof2000theSwissautobahn/autoroutesystemrequiresthepurchaseofavignette(tollsticker)—whichcosts40Swissfrancs—foronecalendaryearinordertouseitsroadways,forbothpassengercarsandtrucks.TheSwissautobahn/autoroutenetworkhasatotallengthof1,638 km(1,018 mi)andhas,byanareaof41,290 km2(15,940 sq mi),alsooneofthehighestmotorwaydensitiesintheworld.[194]ZurichAirportisSwitzerland'slargestinternationalflightgateway,whichhandled22.8 millionpassengersin2012.[195]TheotherinternationalairportsareGenevaAirport(13.9 millionpassengersin2012),[196]EuroAirportBaselMulhouseFreiburgwhichislocatedinFrance,BernAirport,LuganoAirport,St.Gallen-AltenrheinAirportandSionAirport.SwissInternationalAirLinesistheflagcarrierofSwitzerland.ItsmainhubisZürich,butitislegallydomiciledinBasel. Switzerlandhasoneofthebestenvironmentalrecordsamongnationsinthedevelopedworld;[197]itwasoneofthecountriestosigntheKyotoProtocolin1998andratifieditin2003.WithMexicoandtheRepublicofKoreaitformstheEnvironmentalIntegrityGroup(EIG).[198]Thecountryisheavilyactiveinrecyclingandanti-litteringregulationsandisoneofthetoprecyclersintheworld,with66%to96%ofrecyclablematerialsbeingrecycled,dependingontheareaofthecountry.[199]The2014GlobalGreenEconomyIndexrankedSwitzerlandamongthetop10greeneconomiesintheworld.[200] Switzerlanddevelopedanefficientsystemtorecyclemostrecyclablematerials.[201]Publiclyorganisedcollectionbyvolunteersandeconomicalrailwaytransportlogisticsstartedasearlyas1865undertheleadershipofthenotableindustrialistHansCasparEscher(EscherWyssAG)whenthefirstmodernSwisspapermanufacturingplantwasbuiltinBiberist.[202] Switzerlandalsohasaneconomicsystemforgarbagedisposal,whichisbasedmostlyonrecyclingandenergy-producingincineratorsduetoastrongpoliticalwilltoprotecttheenvironment.[203]As,inotherEuropeancountries,theillegaldisposalofgarbageisnottoleratedatallandheavilyfined.InalmostallSwissmunicipalities,stickersordedicatedgarbagebagsneedtobepurchasedthatallowfortheidentificationofdisposablegarbage.[204] Demographics Mainarticles:ListofcitiesinSwitzerland,DemographicsofSwitzerland,Swisspeople,andCrimeinSwitzerland Furtherinformation:ListofSwisspeople PopulationdensityinSwitzerland(2019) PercentageofforeignersinSwitzerland(2019) In2018,Switzerland'spopulationslightlyexceeded8.5 million.Incommonwithotherdevelopedcountries,theSwisspopulationincreasedrapidlyduringtheindustrialera,quadruplingbetween1800and1990andhascontinuedtogrow.LikemostofEurope,Switzerlandfacesanageingpopulation,albeitwithconsistentannualgrowthprojectedinto2035,duemostlytoimmigrationandafertilityrateclosetoreplacementlevel.[205]Switzerlandsubsequentlyhasoneoftheoldestpopulationsintheworld,withtheaverageageof42.5years.[206] Asof2020[update],residentforeignersmadeup25.7%ofthepopulation,oneofthelargestproportionsinthedevelopedworld.[207]Mostofthese(83%)werefromEuropeancountries.Italianswerethelargestsinglegroupofforeigners,with14.7%oftotalforeignpopulation,followedcloselybyGermans(14.0%),immigrantsfromPortugal(11.7%),France(6.6%),Kosovo(5.1%),Spain(3.9%),Turkey(3.1%),NorthMacedonia(3.1%),Serbia(2.8%),Austria(2.0%),UnitedKingdom(1.9%),BosniaandHerzegovia(1.3%)andCroatia(1.3%).ImmigrantsfromSriLanka(1.3%),mostofthemformerTamilrefugees,werethelargestgroupamongpeopleofAsianorigin(7.9%).[208] Additionally,thefiguresfrom2012showthat34.7%ofthepermanentresidentpopulationaged15oroverinSwitzerland(around2.33 million),hadanimmigrantbackground.Athirdofthispopulation(853,000)heldSwisscitizenship.Four-fifthsofpersonswithanimmigrationbackgroundwerethemselvesimmigrants(firstgenerationforeignersandnative-bornandnaturalisedSwisscitizens),whereasonefifthwereborninSwitzerland(secondgenerationforeignersandnative-bornandnaturalisedSwisscitizens).[209] Inthe2000s,domesticandinternationalinstitutionsexpressedconcernaboutwhatwasperceivedasanincreaseinxenophobia,particularlyinsomepoliticalcampaigns.Inreplytoonecriticalreport,theFederalCouncilnotedthat"racismunfortunatelyispresentinSwitzerland",butstatedthatthehighproportionofforeigncitizensinthecountry,aswellasthegenerallyunproblematicintegrationofforeigners,underlinedSwitzerland'sopenness.[210]Follow-upstudyconductedin2018foundthat59%consideredracismaseriousprobleminSwitzerland.[211]Theproportionofthepopulationthathasreportedbeingtargetedbyracialdiscriminationhasincreasedinrecentyears,from10%in2014toalmost17%in2018,accordingtotheFederalStatisticalOffice.[212] Fourteenpercentofmenand6.5%ofwomenbetween20and24sayingtheyhadconsumedcannabisinthepast30days,[213]and5Swisscitieswerelistedamongthetop10Europeancitiesforcocaineuseasmeasuredinwastewater.[214][215] Largestcities  vteLargesttownsinSwitzerlandSwissFederalStatisticalOffice(FSO),Neuchâtel,2020[216] Rank Name Canton Pop. Rank Name Canton Pop. ZürichGeneva 1 Zürich Zürich 421,878 11 Thun Bern 43,476 BaselLausanne 2 Geneva Geneva 203,856 12 Bellinzona Ticino 43,360 3 Basel Basel-Stadt 178,120 13 Köniz Bern 42,388 4 Lausanne Vaud 140,202 14 LaChaux-de-Fonds Neuchâtel 36,915 5 Bern Bern 134,794 15 Fribourg Fribourg 38,039 6 Winterthur Zürich 114,220 16 Schaffhausen Schaffhausen 36,952 7 Lucerne Luzern 82,620 17 Vernier Geneva 34,898 8 St.Gallen St.Gallen 76,213 18 Chur Graubünden 36,336 9 Lugano Ticino 62,315 19 Sion Valais 34,978 10 Biel/Bienne Bern 55,206 20 Uster Zürich 35,337 Languages Mainarticle:LanguagesofSwitzerland NationallanguagesinSwitzerland(2016):[217]  German(62.8%)  French(22.9%)  Italian(8.2%)  Romansh(0.5%) Switzerlandhasfournationallanguages:mainlyGerman(spokenby62.8%ofthepopulationin2016);French(22.9%)inthewest;andItalian(8.2%)inthesouth.[218][217]Thefourthnationallanguage,Romansh(0.5%),isaRomancelanguagespokenlocallyinthesoutheasterntrilingualcantonofGrisons,andisdesignatedbyArticle4oftheFederalConstitutionasanationallanguagealongwithGerman,French,andItalian,andinArticle70asanofficiallanguageiftheauthoritiescommunicatewithpersonswhospeakRomansh.However,federallawsandotherofficialactsdonotneedtobedecreedinRomansh. In2016,thelanguagesmostspokenathomeamongpermanentresidentsaged15andolderwereSwissGerman(59.4%),French(23.5%),StandardGerman(10.6%),andItalian(8.5%).OtherlanguagesspokenathomeincludedEnglish(5.0%),Portuguese(3.8%),Albanian(3.0%),Spanish(2.6%)andSerbianandCroatian(2.5%).6.9%reportedspeakinganotherlanguageathome.[219]In2014almosttwo-thirds(64.4%)ofthepermanentresidentpopulationindicatedspeakingmorethanonelanguageregularly.[220] Thefederalgovernmentisobligedtocommunicateintheofficiallanguages,andinthefederalparliamentsimultaneoustranslationisprovidedfromandintoGerman,FrenchandItalian.[221] Asidefromtheofficialformsoftheirrespectivelanguages,thefourlinguisticregionsofSwitzerlandalsohavetheirlocaldialectalforms.Theroleplayedbydialectsineachlinguisticregionvariesdramatically:intheGerman-speakingregions,SwissGermandialectshavebecomeevermoreprevalentsincethesecondhalfofthe20thcentury,especiallyinthemedia,suchasradioandtelevision,andareusedasaneverydaylanguageformany,whiletheSwissvarietyofStandardGermanisalmostalwaysusedinsteadofdialectforwrittencommunication(c.f.diglossicusageofalanguage).[222]Conversely,intheFrench-speakingregionsthelocaldialectshavealmostdisappeared(only6.3%ofthepopulationofValais,3.9%ofFribourg,and3.1%ofJurastillspokedialectsattheendofthe20thcentury),whileintheItalian-speakingregionsdialectsaremostlylimitedtofamilysettingsandcasualconversation.[222] Theprincipalofficiallanguages(German,French,andItalian)havetermsnotusedoutsideofSwitzerland,knownasHelvetisms.GermanHelvetismsare,roughlyspeaking,alargegroupofwordstypicalofSwissStandardGerman,whichdonotappeareitherinStandardGerman,norinotherGermandialects.TheseincludetermsfromSwitzerland'ssurroundinglanguagecultures(GermanBillett[223]fromFrench),fromsimilartermsinanotherlanguage(ItalianazioneusednotonlyasactbutalsoasdiscountfromGermanAktion).[224]TheFrenchspokeninSwitzerlandhassimilarterms,whichareequallyknownasHelvetisms.ThemostfrequentcharacteristicsofHelvetismsareinvocabulary,phrases,andpronunciation,butcertainHelvetismsdenotethemselvesasspecialinsyntaxandorthographylikewise.Duden,thecomprehensiveGermandictionary,containsabout3000Helvetisms.[224]CurrentFrenchdictionaries,suchasthePetitLarousse,includeseveralhundredHelvetisms.[225] LearningoneoftheothernationallanguagesatschooliscompulsoryforallSwisspupils,somanySwissaresupposedtobeatleastbilingual,especiallythosebelongingtolinguisticminoritygroups.[226]BecausethelargestpartofSwitzerlandisGerman-speaking,manyFrench,Italian,andRomanshspeakersmigratingtotherestofSwitzerlandandthechildrenofthosenon-German-speakingSwissbornwithintherestofSwitzerlandspeakGerman.Whilelearningoneoftheothernationallanguagesatschoolisimportant,mostoftheSwissnowadaysfindouteasilytolearnEnglishtocommunicatetoSwissspeakingothernativelanguages,asEnglishisneutralamongspeakersofdifferentnationallanguages,makingitalinguafranca,withnoonenationallanguagedominatingtheother.[227] Health Mainarticles:HealthinSwitzerlandandHealthcareinSwitzerland Swissresidentsareuniversallyrequiredtobuyhealthinsurancefromprivateinsurancecompanies,whichinturnarerequiredtoaccepteveryapplicant.Whilethecostofthesystemisamongthehighest,itcompareswellwithotherEuropeancountriesintermsofhealthoutcomes;patientshavebeenreportedasbeing,ingeneral,highlysatisfiedwithit.[228][229][230]In2012,lifeexpectancyatbirthwas80.4yearsformenand84.7yearsforwomen[231]–thehighestintheworld.[232][233]However,spendingonhealthisparticularlyhighat11.4%ofGDP(2010),onparwithGermanyandFrance(11.6%)andotherEuropeancountries,butnotablylessthanspendingintheUSA(17.6%).[234]From1990,asteadyincreasecanbeobserved,reflectingthehighcostsoftheservicesprovided.[235]Withanageingpopulationandnewhealthcaretechnologies,healthspendingwilllikelycontinuetorise.[235] ItisestimatedthatoneoutofsixpersonsinSwitzerlandsuffersfrommentalillness.[236] Urbanisation Mainarticle:TownsofSwitzerland UrbanisationintheRhoneValley(outskirtsofSion) Betweentwo-thirdsandthree-quartersofthepopulationliveinurbanareas.[237][238]Switzerlandhasgonefromalargelyruralcountrytoanurbanoneinjust70years.Since1935urbandevelopmenthasclaimedasmuchoftheSwisslandscapeasitdidduringtheprevious2,000years.ThisurbansprawldoesaffectnotonlytheplateaubutalsotheJuraandtheAlpinefoothills[239]andtherearegrowingconcernsaboutlanduse.[240]However,fromthebeginningofthe21stcentury,thepopulationgrowthinurbanareasishigherthaninthecountryside.[238] Switzerlandhasadensenetworkoftowns,wherelarge,mediumandsmalltownsarecomplementary.[238]Theplateauisverydenselypopulatedwithabout450peopleperkm2andthelandscapecontinuallyshowssignsofhumanpresence.[241]Theweightofthelargestmetropolitanareas,whichareZürich,Geneva–Lausanne,BaselandBerntendtoincrease.[238]Ininternationalcomparisontheimportanceoftheseurbanareasisstrongerthantheirnumberofinhabitantssuggests.[238]InadditionthethreemaincentresofZürich,GenevaandBaselarerecognisedfortheirparticularlygreatqualityoflife.[242] Religion Mainarticle:ReligioninSwitzerland ReligioninSwitzerland(age15+,2018-2020)[5][c]   RomanCatholicism(34.4%)  SwissProtestantism(22.5%)  OtherProtestants(2.7%)  EasternorOrientalOrthodoxy(2.6%)  OldCatholics(0.1%)  OtherChristians(0.3%)  Unaffiliated(29.4%)  Islam(5.4%)  Hinduism(0.6%)  Buddhism(0.5%)  Judaism(0.2%)  Otherreligions(0.3%)  Undetermined(1.1%) Switzerlandhasnoofficialstatereligion,thoughmostofthecantons(exceptGenevaandNeuchâtel)recogniseofficialchurches,whichareeithertheCatholicChurchortheSwissReformedChurch.Thesechurches,andinsomecantonsalsotheOldCatholicChurchandJewishcongregations,arefinancedbyofficialtaxationofmembers.[243]In2020,theRomanCatholicChurchhad3,048,475suchregisteredandchurchtaxpayingmembers(correspondingto35.2%ofthetotalpopulation),whiletheSwissReformedChurchhad2,015,816members(23.3%ofthetotalpopulation).[244][n] ChristianityisthepredominantreligionofSwitzerlandaccordingtonationalsurveysofSwissFederalStatisticalOffice[c](about67%ofresidentpopulationin2016–2018[246]and75%ofSwisscitizens[247]),dividedbetweentheCatholicChurch(35.8%ofthepopulation),theSwissReformedChurch(23.8%),furtherProtestantchurches(2.2%),EasternOrthodoxy(2.5%),andotherChristiandenominations(2.2%).[246]ImmigrationhasestablishedIslam(5.3%)asasizeableminorityreligion.[246] 26.3%ofSwisspermanentresidentsarenotaffiliatedwithanyreligiouscommunity(Atheism,Agnosticism,andothers).[246] Asof2020,accordingtoanationalsurveyconductedbytheSwissFederalStatisticalOffice[c],otherChristianminoritycommunitiesincludedNeo-Pietism(0.5%),Pentecostalism(0.4%,mostlyincorporatedintheSchweizerPfingstmission),Apostoliccommunities(0.3%),otherProtestantdenominations(1.1%,includingMethodism),theOldCatholicChurch(0.1%),otherChristiandenominations(0.3%).Non-ChristianreligionsareHinduism(0.6%),Buddhism(0.5%),Judaism(0.25%)andothers(0.4%).[5] Historically,thecountrywasaboutevenlybalancedbetweenCatholicandProtestant,withacomplexpatchworkofmajoritiesovermostofthecountry.SwitzerlandplayedanexceptionalroleduringtheReformationasitbecamehometomanyreformers.GenevaconvertedtoProtestantismin1536,justbeforeJohnCalvinarrivedthere.In1541,hefoundedtheRepublicofGenevaonhisownideals.ItbecameknowninternationallyastheProtestantRomeandhousedsuchreformersasTheodoreBeza,WilliamFarelorPierreViret.Zürichbecameanotherstrongholdaroundthesametime,withHuldrychZwingliandHeinrichBullingertakingtheleadthere.AnabaptistsFelixManzandConradGrebelalsooperatedthere.TheywerelaterjoinedbythefleeingPeterMartyrVermigliandHansDenck.OthercentresincludedBasel(AndreasKarlstadtandJohannesOecolampadius),Berne(BerchtoldHallerandNiklausManuel),andSt.Gallen(JoachimVadian).Onecanton,Appenzell,wasofficiallydividedintoCatholicandProtestantsectionsin1597.Thelargercitiesandtheircantons(Bern,Geneva,Lausanne,ZürichandBasel)usedtobepredominantlyProtestant.CentralSwitzerland,theValais,theTicino,AppenzellInnerrhodes,theJura,andFribourgaretraditionallyCatholic.TheSwissConstitutionof1848,undertherecentimpressionoftheclashesofCatholicvsProtestantcantonsthatculminatedintheSonderbundskrieg,consciouslydefinesaconsociationalstate,allowingthepeacefulco-existenceofCatholicsandProtestants.A1980initiativecallingforthecompleteseparationofchurchandstatewasrejectedby78.9%ofthevoters.[248]SometraditionallyProtestantcantonsandcitiesnowadayshaveaslightCatholicmajority,notbecausetheyweregrowinginmembers,quitethecontrary,butonlybecausesinceabout1970asteadilygrowingminoritybecamenotaffiliatedwithanychurchorotherreligiousbody(21.4%inSwitzerland,2012)especiallyintraditionallyProtestantregions,suchasBasel-City(42%),cantonofNeuchâtel(38%),cantonofGeneva(35%),cantonofVaud(26%),orZürichcity(city:>25%;canton:23%).[249] Culture Mainarticle:CultureofSwitzerland Seealso:MusicofSwitzerland,Swissfolklore,andAlpineculture AlphornconcertinVals ThreeofEurope'smajorlanguagesareofficialinSwitzerland.Swisscultureischaracterisedbydiversity,whichisreflectedinawiderangeoftraditionalcustoms.[250]Aregionmaybeinsomewaysstronglyculturallyconnectedtotheneighbouringcountrythatsharesitslanguage,thecountryitselfbeingrootedinwesternEuropeanculture.[251]ThelinguisticallyisolatedRomanshcultureinGraubündenineasternSwitzerlandconstitutesanexception.ItsurvivesonlyintheuppervalleysoftheRhineandtheInnandstrivestomaintainitsrarelinguistictradition. Switzerlandishometomanynotablecontributorstoliterature,art,architecture,musicandsciences.Inaddition,thecountryattractedanumberofcreativepersonsduringtimesofunrestorwarinEurope.[252] Some1000museumsaredistributedthroughthecountry;thenumberhasmorethantripledsince1950.[253]AmongthemostimportantculturalperformancesheldannuallyarethePaléoFestival,LucerneFestival,[254]theMontreuxJazzFestival,[255]theLocarnoInternationalFilmFestivalandtheArtBasel.[256] AlpinesymbolismhasplayedanessentialroleinshapingthehistoryofthecountryandtheSwissnationalidentity.[18][257]Manyalpineareasandskiresortsofferwintersportsduringthecoldermonthsaswellashiking(German:dasWandern)orMountainbikinginsummer.Otherareasthroughouttheyearhavearecreationalculturethatcaterstotourism,suchassightseeing,yetthequieterseasonsarespringandautumnwhentherearefewervisitors.Atraditionalfarmerandherderculturealsopredominateinmanyareas,andsmallfarmsareomnipresentoutsidethetowns.Folkartiskeptaliveinorganisationsalloverthecountry.Switzerlandismostlyexpressedinmusic,dance,poetry,woodcarving,andembroidery.Thealphorn,atrumpet-likemusicalinstrumentmadeofwoodhasbecomealongsideyodelingandtheaccordionanepitomeoftraditionalSwissmusic.[258][259] Literature Mainarticle:LiteratureofSwitzerland Jean-JacquesRousseauwasnotonlyawriterbutalsoaninfluentialphilosopheroftheeighteenthcentury.[260] Fromitsfoundationin1291,theConfederationwasalmostexclusivelycomposedofGerman-speakingregions,theearliestformsofliteraturewereinGerman.Inthe18thcentury,FrenchbecamethefashionablelanguageinBernandelsewhere,whiletheinfluenceoftheFrench-speakingalliesandsubjectlandswasmoremarkedthanbefore.[261] AmongtheclassicauthorsofSwissGermanliteratureareJeremiasGotthelf(1797–1854)andGottfriedKeller(1819–1890).Theundisputedgiantsof20th-centurySwissliteratureareMaxFrisch(1911–91)andFriedrichDürrenmatt(1921–90),whoserepertoireincludesDiePhysiker(ThePhysicists)andDasVersprechen(ThePledge),releasedin2001asaHollywoodfilm.[262] FamousFrench-speakingwriterswereJean-JacquesRousseau(1712–1778)andGermainedeStaël(1766–1817).MorerecentauthorsincludeCharlesFerdinandRamuz(1878–1947),whosenovelsdescribethelivesofpeasantsandmountaindwellers,setinaharshenvironmentandBlaiseCendrars(bornFrédéricSauser,1887–1961).[262]ItalianandRomansh-speakingauthorsalsocontributedtotheSwissliterarylandscape,butgenerallyinmoremodestwaysgiventheirsmallnumber. ProbablythemostfamousSwissliterarycreation,Heidi,thestoryofanorphangirlwholiveswithhergrandfatherintheAlps,isoneofthemostpopularchildren'sbookseverandhascometobeasymbolofSwitzerland.Hercreator,JohannaSpyri(1827–1901),wroteanumberofotherbooksonsimilarthemes.[262] Media Mainarticle:MediaofSwitzerland ThefreedomofthepressandtherighttofreeexpressionisguaranteedinthefederalconstitutionofSwitzerland.[263]TheSwissNewsAgency(SNA)broadcastsinformationaround-the-clockinthreeofthefournationallanguages—onpolitics,economics,societyandculture.TheSNAsuppliesalmostallSwissmediaandacoupleofdozenforeignmediaserviceswithitsnews.[263] Switzerlandhashistoricallyboastedthegreatestnumberofnewspapertitlespublishedinproportiontoitspopulationandsize.[264]ThemostinfluentialnewspapersaretheGerman-languageTages-AnzeigerandNeueZürcherZeitungNZZ,andtheFrench-languageLeTemps,butalmosteverycityhasatleastonelocalnewspaper.Theculturaldiversityaccountsforavarietyofnewspapers.[264] Thegovernmentexertsgreatercontroloverbroadcastmediathanprintmedia,especiallyduetofinancingandlicensing.[264]TheSwissBroadcastingCorporation,whosenamewasrecentlychangedtoSRGSSR,ischargedwiththeproductionandbroadcastofradioandtelevisionprogrammes.SRGSSRstudiosaredistributedthroughoutthevariouslanguageregions.RadiocontentisproducedinsixcentralandfourregionalstudioswhilethetelevisionprogrammesareproducedinGeneva,Zürich,Basel,andLugano.AnextensivecablenetworkalsoallowsmostSwisstoaccesstheprogrammesfromneighbouringcountries.[264] Sports Mainarticle:SportinSwitzerland SkiareaovertheglaciersofSaas-Fee Skiing,snowboardingandmountaineeringareamongthemostpopularsportsinSwitzerland,thenatureofthecountrybeingparticularlysuitedforsuchactivities.[265]Wintersportsarepractisedbythenativesandtouristssincethesecondhalfofthe19thcenturywiththeinventionofbobsleighinSt.Moritz.[266]ThefirstworldskichampionshipswereheldinMürren(1931)andSt.Moritz(1934).ThelattertownhostedthesecondWinterOlympicGamesin1928andthefiftheditionin1948.AmongthemostsuccessfulskiersandworldchampionsarePirminZurbriggenandDidierCuche. ThemostprominentlywatchedsportsinSwitzerlandarefootball,icehockey,Alpineskiing,"Schwingen",andtennis.[267] Theheadquartersoftheinternationalfootball'sandicehockey'sgoverningbodies,theInternationalFederationofAssociationFootball(FIFA)andInternationalIceHockeyFederation(IIHF)arelocatedinZürich.ManyotherheadquartersofinternationalsportsfederationsarelocatedinSwitzerland.Forexample,theInternationalOlympicCommittee(IOC),IOC'sOlympicMuseumandtheCourtofArbitrationforSport(CAS)arelocatedinLausanne. Switzerlandhostedthe1954FIFAWorldCupandwasthejointhost,withAustria,oftheUEFAEuro2008tournament.TheSwissSuperLeagueisthenation'sprofessionalfootballclubleague.Europe'shighestfootballpitch,at2,000metres(6,600 ft)abovesealevel,islocatedinSwitzerlandandisnamedtheOttmarHitzfeldStadium.[268] RogerFedererhaswon20GrandSlamsinglestitles,makinghimamongthemostsuccessfulmen'stennisplayersever.[269] ManySwissalsofollowicehockeyandsupportoneofthe12teamsoftheNationalLeague,whichisthemostattendedleagueinEurope.[270]In2009,SwitzerlandhostedtheIIHFWorldChampionshipforthe10thtime.[271]ItalsobecameWorldVice-Championin2013and2018.ThenumerouslakesmakeSwitzerlandanattractiveplaceforsailing.Thelargest,LakeGeneva,isthehomeofthesailingteamAlinghiwhichwasthefirstEuropeanteamtowintheAmerica'sCupin2003andwhichsuccessfullydefendedthetitlein2007. SwisstennisplayerRogerFedereriswidelyregardedasoneofthegreatesttennisplayersofalltime.Hehaswon20GrandSlamtournamentsoverallincludingarecord8Wimbledontitles.Hehasalsowonarecord6ATPFinals.[272]Hewasrankedno.1intheATPrankingsforarecord237consecutiveweeks.Heended2004,2005,2006,2007and2009rankedno.1.FellowswisstennisstarsMartinaHingisandStanWawrinkaalsoholdmultipleGrandSlamtitles.SwitzerlandwontheDavisCuptitlein2014. MotorsportracecoursesandeventswerebannedinSwitzerlandfollowingthe1955LeMansdisasterwithexceptiontoeventssuchasHillclimbing.Duringthisperiod,thecountrystillproducedsuccessfulracingdriverssuchasClayRegazzoni,SébastienBuemi,JoSiffert,DominiqueAegerter,successfulWorldTouringCarChampionshipdriverAlainMenu,201424HoursofLeManswinnerMarcelFässlerand201524HoursNürburgringwinnerNicoMüller.SwitzerlandalsowontheA1GPWorldCupofMotorsportin2007–08withdriverNeelJani.SwissmotorcycleracerThomasLüthiwonthe2005MotoGPWorldChampionshipinthe125cccategory.InJune2007theSwissNationalCouncil,onehouseoftheFederalAssemblyofSwitzerland,votedtooverturntheban,howevertheotherhouse,theSwissCouncilofStatesrejectedthechangeandthebanremainsinplace.[273][274] TraditionalsportsincludeSwisswrestlingor"Schwingen".Itisanoldtraditionfromtheruralcentralcantonsandconsideredthenationalsportbysome.HornussenisanotherindigenousSwisssport,whichislikeacrossbetweenbaseballandgolf.[275]SteinstossenistheSwissvariantofstoneput,acompetitioninthrowingaheavystone.Practisedonlyamongthealpinepopulationsinceprehistorictimes,itisrecordedtohavetakenplaceinBaselinthe13thcentury.ItisalsocentraltotheUnspunnenfest,firstheldin1805,withitssymbolthe83.5stonenamedUnspunnenstein.[276] Cuisine Mainarticle:Swisscuisine Seealso:CulinaryHeritageofSwitzerland Fondueismeltedcheese,intowhichbreadisdipped ThecuisineofSwitzerlandismultifaceted.Whilesomedishessuchasfondue,racletteorröstiareomnipresentthroughthecountry,eachregiondevelopeditsowngastronomyaccordingtothedifferencesofclimateandlanguages.[277][278]TraditionalSwisscuisineusesingredientssimilartothoseinotherEuropeancountries,aswellasuniquedairyproductsandcheesessuchasGruyèreorEmmental,producedinthevalleysofGruyèresandEmmental.Thenumberoffine-diningestablishmentsishigh,particularlyinwesternSwitzerland.[279][280] ChocolatehasbeenmadeinSwitzerlandsincethe18thcentury.Still,itgaineditsreputationattheendofthe19thcenturywiththeinventionofmoderntechniquessuchasconchingandtempering,whichenableditsproductiononahigh-qualitylevel.Also,abreakthroughwastheinventionofsolidmilkchocolatein1875byDanielPeter.TheSwissaretheworld'slargestconsumersofchocolate.[281][282] Duetothepopularisationofprocessedfoodsattheendofthe19thcentury,SwisshealthfoodpioneerMaximilianBircher-Bennercreatedthefirstnutrition-basedtherapyintheformofthewell-knownrolledoatscerealdish,calledBirchermüesli. ThemostpopularalcoholicdrinkinSwitzerlandiswine.Switzerlandisnotableforthevarietyofgrapesgrownbecauseofthelargevariationsinterroirs,withtheirspecificmixesofsoil,air,altitudeandlight.SwisswineisproducedmainlyinValais,Vaud(Lavaux),GenevaandTicino,withasmallmajorityofwhitewines.VineyardshavebeencultivatedinSwitzerlandsincetheRomanera,eventhoughcertaintracesofamoreancientorigincanbefound.ThemostwidespreadvarietiesaretheChasselas(calledFendantinValais)andPinotnoir.TheMerlotisthemainvarietyproducedinTicino.[283][284] Seealso Switzerlandportal Europeportal IndexofSwitzerland-relatedarticles OutlineofSwitzerland Notes ^abBernisreferredtoas"federalcity"(German:Bundesstadt,French:villefédérale,Italian:cittàfederale).Swisslawdoesnotdesignateacapitalassuch,butthefederalparliamentandgovernmentareinBern,whileotherfederalinstitutions,suchasthefederalcourts,areinothercities(Bellinzona,Lausanne,Luzern,Neuchâtel,St.Gallena.o.). ^Including22.5%SwissReformedand2.7%otherProtestants. ^abcdSince2010,statisticsofreligiousaffiliationinSwitzerlandprovidedbytheSwissFederalStatisticalOfficearebasedonanationalstructuralsurveyof200,000peopleaged15yearsandolder(correspondingto2.5%ofthetotalresidentpopulation).Dataareextrapolatedtoobtainstatisticalresultsforthewholepopulation(aged15yearsandolder).Theseresultsareestimatessubjecttosomedegreeofuncertaintyindicatedbyaconfidenceinterval,butbymergingsamples(pooling)fromseveralyearsitispossibletogetmoreaccurateresults,includingtotalnumberofProtestantsandinformationaboutminorityreligions.Note:Thefiguresofthestructuralsurveyarenotentirelycomparabletodatacollectionbefore2010basedoncensusfigures(countingeverypersonlivinginSwitzerland)ortoannualofficialnumbersofchurchmembers.[245] ^TheoriginaldateoftheRütlischwurwas1307(reportedbyAegidiusTschudiinthe16thcentury)andisjustoneamongseveralcomparabletreatiesbetweenmoreorlessthesamepartiesduringthatperiod.ThedateoftheFederalCharterof1291wasselectedin1891fortheofficialcelebrationofthe"Confederacy's600thanniversary". ^AsolemndeclarationoftheTagsatzungdeclaredtheFederalConstitutionadoptedon12September1848.AresolutionoftheTagsatzungof14September1848specifiedthatthepowersoftheinstitutionsprovidedforbythe1815FederalTreatywouldexpireatthetimeoftheconstitutionoftheFederalCouncil,whichtookplaceon16November1848. ^Thereareseveraldefinitions.SeeGeographyofSwitzerland#WesternorCentralEurope. ^SwissStandardGerman]]spellingandpronunciation.TheSwissGermannameissometimesspelledasSchwyzorSchwiiz[ˈʃʋiːt͡s].SchwyzisalsothestandardGerman(andinternational)nameofoneoftheSwisscantons. ^ThelatteristhecommonSursilvanpronunciation. ^Asshowninthisimage,thecurrentmembersofthecouncilare(asofJanuary2022,fromlefttoright):FederalCouncillorGuyParmelin,Vice-PresidentAlainBerset,FederalCouncillorSimonettaSommaruga,FederalCouncillorViolaAmherd,FederalChancellorWalterThurnherr,FederalCouncillorUeliMaurer,PresidentIgnazioCassisandFederalCouncillorKarinKeller-Sutter ^Since1999,aninitiativecanalsobeintheformofageneralproposaltobeelaboratedbyParliament.Still,becauseitisconsideredlessattractiveforvariousreasons,thisinitiativehasyettobeused ^Thatisamajorityof23cantonalvotesbecausetheresultofthepopularvoteinthesixtraditionalhalf-cantonseachcountsashalfthevoteofoneoftheothercantons. ^In2008,theETHZürichwasranked15thinthefieldNaturalSciencesandMathematicsbytheShanghaiAcademicRankingofWorldUniversitiesandtheEPFLinLausannewasranked18thinthefieldEngineering/TechnologyandComputerSciencesbythesameranking. ^Nobelprizesinnon-sciencecategoriesincluded. ^PrecisestatisticsaboutthemembershipofchurchesamongthetotalpopulationinSwitzerlandisonlyavailableforofficiallyregisteredandchurchtaxpayingmembersoftheCatholicChurchinSwitzerlandandtheProtestantChurchofSwitzerland(Landeskirchen). 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^FlavorsofSwitzerlandArchived20July2009attheWaybackMachinetheworldwidegourmet.com.Retrievedon24June2009 ^MichelinGuideSwitzerland2010atteststothehighqualityofgourmetcookingwithonenew2starrestaurantand8newonestarArchived27April2011attheWaybackMachinePressinformation,Michelin.Retrievedon14December2009 ^Shriver,Jerry.SwissregionservesupfoodwithstarpowerArchived18September2012attheWaybackMachineusatoday.com.Retrievedon14December2009 ^ChocolateArchived3September2009attheWaybackMachineswissworld.org.Retrievedon24June2009 ^SwissChocolategermanworldonline.com(4December2009).Retrievedon14June2010 ^Wine-producingSwitzerlandinshortArchived9April2009attheWaybackMachineswisswine.ch.Retrievedon24June2009 ^Table38.Topwineconsumingnationspercapita,2006Archived18August2010attheWaybackMachinewinebiz.com.Retrievedon14June2010 Furtherreading Church,CliveH.(2004)ThePoliticsandGovernmentofSwitzerland.PalgraveMacmillan.ISBN 978-0-333-69277-6. Fahrni,Dieter.(2003)AnOutlineHistoryofSwitzerland.FromtheOriginstothePresentDay.8thenlargededition.ProHelvetia,Zürich.ISBN 978-3-908102-61-8 vonMatt,Peter:DasKalbvorderGotthardpost.ZurLiteraturundPolitikinderSchweiz.CarlHanserVerlag,München,2012,ISBN 978-3-446-23880-0,S.127–138. HistoricalDictionaryofSwitzerland.Publishedelectronically(1998–)andinprint(2002–)simultaneouslyinthreeofthenationallanguagesofSwitzerland:DHS/HLS/DSSArchived5December2006attheWaybackMachineonlineeditioninGerman,FrenchandItalian Externallinks SwitzerlandatWikipedia'ssisterprojects DefinitionsfromWiktionaryMediafromCommonsNewsfromWikinewsQuotationsfromWikiquoteTextsfromWikisourceTextbooksfromWikibooksTravelguidesfromWikivoyageResourcesfromWikiversity TheFederalAuthoritiesoftheSwissConfederation SwitzerlandatCurlie Tourism Coordinates:46°50′N8°20′E/46.833°N8.333°E/46.833;8.333vteSwitzerland articlesMajortopicsHistory Timeline Enlargement Earlyhistory Romanera OldConfederacy FederalCharter RütliOath Growth Reformation EarlyModernera Napoleonicera Restoration Federalstate Worldwars Modernhistory Militaryhistory listofwars Historiography GeographyPhysiographicareas SwissAlps SwissPlateau JuraMountains Subdivisions Cantons AI AG AR BE BL BS FR GE GL GR JU LU NE NW OW SG SH SO SZ TG TI UR VD VS ZG ZH Districts Municipalities listofcitiesandtowns Statisticalregions Bytopic Climate Extremepoints Fauna Forests Glaciers Hydrology Islands Lakes Mountainpasses Mountains Parks Rivers Politics Administrativedivisions Constitution Courts SupremeCourt Elections Foreignrelations Government FederalCouncil PresidentoftheConfederation Federaladministration Humanrights LGBT Landsgemeinde Law Lawenforcement Military NationalRedoubt Neutrality Parliament NationalCouncil CouncilofStates Politicalparties Popularinitiative Voting Economy Economichistory Banking Centralbank Privatebanks Companies Energy Fishing Franc(currency) Pharmaceuticalindustry Scienceandtechnology Stockexchange Swissmade Taxation Telecommunications Tourism Tradeunions Transport air rail road Wastemanagement Society Abortion Capitalpunishment Conscription Corruption Crime Demographics Education Firearmsregulation Health Healthcare Homelessness Immigration Pensions Prisons Poverty Socialsecurity Swisspeople Welfare Women Culture Anthem Architecture Cinema Coatofarms Cuisine Flag Folklore Helvetia Languages German French Italian Romansh Röstigraben Literature Media Music Publicholidays NationalDay Religion Sport Symbols CulturalPropertyofNationalSignificance WorldHeritageSites OutlineIndex Category Portal ArticlesrelatedtoSwitzerland vteCountriesanddependenciesofEuropeSovereignstates Albania Andorra Armenia2 Austria Azerbaijan2 Belarus Belgium BosniaandHerzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus2 CzechRepublic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia2 Germany Greece Hungary Iceland3 Ireland Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands NorthMacedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia1 SanMarino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey1 Ukraine UnitedKingdom VaticanCity Stateswithlimitedrecognition Abkhazia2 Artsakh2 Kosovo NorthernCyprus2 SouthOssetia2 Transnistria DependentterritoriesDenmark FaroeIslands3 autonomouscountryoftheKingdomofDenmark UnitedKingdom AkrotiriandDhekelia2(SovereignBaseAreas) Gibraltar(BritishOverseasTerritory) CrownDependencies BailiwickofGuernsey Alderney Guernsey Sark BailiwickofJersey IsleofMan SpecialareasofinternalsovereigntyFinland Åland(autonomousregionsubjecttotheÅlandconventionof1921) Norway Svalbard(unincorporatedareasubjecttotheSvalbardTreaty) UnitedKingdom NorthernIreland(countryoftheUnitedKingdomsubjecttotheBritish-IrishAgreement) 1SpanstheconventionalboundarybetweenEuropeandanothercontinent.2ConsideredEuropeanforcultural,politicalandhistoricalreasonsbutisgeographicallyinWesternAsia.3OceanicislandswithinthevicinityofEuropeareusuallygroupedwiththecontinenteventhoughtheyarenotsituatedonitscontinentalshelf. 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