Demographics
for Switzerland

The Swiss Confederation is a landlocked country in central Europe, bordering France, Italy, Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein. The capital city is Bern.
Compared to many of its neighbours, Switzerland’s history has been far less tumultuous, and it has effectively been an independent confederation since the middle of the seventeenth century. There are officially four recognised languages, plus various dialects.
Switzerland is now a federal republic made up of twenty-six cantons, and since the Protestant Reformation in the mid-1500s, has pursued a policy of armed neutrality. With an ageing and steadily growing population due also to immigration, Switzerland has one of the oldest populations in the world, of which over a quarter is made up of resident foreigners. Switzerland has moved from being a largely rural population, to largely urbanised.
With a prosperous economy, Switzerland ranks consistently as one of the world’s wealthiest nations, as well as one of the least corrupt. Its economy is led by a mature service sector, headed by financial services. It has a skilled manufacturing sector, led by pharmaceuticals, life sciences, measuring and musical instruments. Due to its political and geographical position, a number of large business organisations call Switzerland home, as well as world federations-such as the Red Cross and several UN agencies.
Culturally very diverse and distinct, Switzerland has important contributors to all areas of arts, music, literature and sport. Alpine living has ensured strength in tourism and winter sports.
A significant country on the world stage for many reasons, Switzerland only joined the United Nations in 2002 and is not a member of the European Union.