highest 10%: 22.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
23 (2005) country comparison to the world: 134 25 (1992)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.5% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 116
Budget:
revenues: $259.9 billion
expenditures: $248.1 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
36.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 51.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 2.2% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
2% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 129 3.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 140 4% (2004)
Stock of money:
$185.4 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 8 $217.1 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$54.55 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 28 $48.49 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$549 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 19 $630.8 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 21 $612.5 billion (31 December 2007)
$573.3 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk
Industries:
iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate:
-1.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150
Electricity - production:
144 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
Electricity - consumption:
134.5 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
Electricity - exports:
14.71 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
12.75 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
3,572 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Oil - consumption:
351,800 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Oil - exports:
219,300 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Oil - imports:
542,100 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - consumption:
913 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 110
Natural gas - imports:
913 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 55
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 133
Current account balance:
$40.32 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $38.42 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$185.9 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 $170.5 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Germany 10.4%, Norway 9.5%, Denmark 7.4%, UK 7.3%, US 6.6%, Finland 6.3%, Netherlands 5.1%, France 4.9%, Belgium 4.4% (2008)
Imports:
$167.8 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $152.2 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:
Germany 17.5%, Denmark 9.4%, Norway 8.6%, UK 6.2%, Finland 5.7%,Netherlands 5.6%, France 5%, Russia 4.4%, China 4.2% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$29.72 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 $31.04 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$617.3 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 17 $598.2 billion (30 June 2006)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$290.4 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 $252.3 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$333.9 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $306.4 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar - 6.4074 (2008 est.), 6.7629 (2007), 7.3731 (2006), 7.4731 (2005), 7.3489 (2004)
Communications ::Sweden
Telephones - main lines in use:
5.323 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 30
Telephones - mobile cellular:
10.988 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 57
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed telecommunications infrastructure; ranked among leading countries for fixed-line, mobile-cellular, Internet and broadband penetration
domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some additional telephone channels
international: country code - 46; submarine cables provide links to other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 124, shortwave 0 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
252 (2008)
Internet country code:
.se
Internet hosts:
3.886 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 20
Internet users:
8.1 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 32
Transportation ::Sweden
Airports:
249 (2009) country comparison to the world: 26
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 152
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 76
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 36 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 97
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 92 (2009)
Heliports:
2 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 786 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 11,633 km country comparison to the world: 20 standard gauge: 11,528 km 1.435-m gauge (7,531 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 65 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 425,300 km country comparison to the world: 14 paved: 139,300 km (includes 1,740 km of expressways)
unpaved: 286,000 km (2008)
Waterways:
2,052 km (2007) country comparison to the world: 43
Merchant marine:
total: 195 country comparison to the world: 34 by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 23, carrier 1, chemical tanker 45, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 36, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 37, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 25
foreign-owned: 41 (Denmark 4, Estonia 2, Finland 12, Germany 5, Italy 9, Norway 7, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 207 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 4, Barbados 7, Bermuda 20, Cook Islands 8, Cyprus 2, Denmark 6, Finland 2, France 9, Germany 1, Gibraltar 13, Isle of Man 1, Italy 1, Liberia 10, Malaysia 3, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 28, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 34, Panama 6, Portugal 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Singapore 20, UK 17, US 5) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Lulea, Malmo, Stenungsund,Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby
Military ::Sweden
Military branches:
Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal SwedishNavy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18-47 years of age for male compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service obligation: 7.5 months (Army), 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force); after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,052,890
females age 16-49: 1,980,550 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,705,746
females age 16-49: 1,645,070 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 62,262
female: 59,340 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.5% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Transnational Issues ::Sweden
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Switzerland (Europe)
Introduction ::Switzerland
Background:
The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
Geography ::Switzerland
Location:
Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 41,277 sq km country comparison to the world: 135 land: 39,997 sq km
water: 1,280 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,852 km
border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain:
mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Natural resources:
hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use:
arable land: 9.91%
permanent crops: 0.58%
other: 89.51% (2005)
Irrigated land:
250 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
53.3 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.52 cu km/yr (24%/74%/2%)
per capita: 348 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
avalanches, landslides; flash floods
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps
People ::Switzerland
Population:
7,604,467 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.6% (male 616,561/female 571,610)
15-64 years: 68.1% (male 2,609,673/female 2,567,245)
65 years and over: 16.3% (male 514,761/female 724,617) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 41 years
male: 40 years
female: 42 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.276% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Birth rate:
9.59 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Death rate:
8.59 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Net migration rate:
1.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Urbanization:
urban population: 73% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.18 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 209 male: 4.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.85 years country comparison to the world: 11 male: 78.03 years
female: 83.83 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.45 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 188
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
25,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 88
Nationality:
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
adjective: Swiss
Ethnic groups:
German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Muslim 4.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1% (2000 census)
Languages:
German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch (official) 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000 census)
note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national and official languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.8% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 45
Government ::Switzerland
Country name:
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation
conventional short form: Switzerland
local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German); Confederation Suisse (French); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian); Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh)
local short form: Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera (Italian); Svizra (Romansh)
Government type:
formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal republic
Capital:
name: Bern
geographic coordinates: 46 57 N, 7 26 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
26 cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
note: 6 of the cantons - Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell-Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden, Obwalden - are styled half cantons because they elect only one member to the Council of States and, in popular referendums where a majority of popular votes and a majority of cantonal votes are required, these six cantons only have a half vote
Independence:
1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
National holiday:
Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Constitution:
revision of Constitution of 1874 approved by the Federal Parliament 18 December 1998, adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, officially entered into force 1 January 2000
Legal system:
civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hans-Rudolf MERZ (since 1 January 2009); Vice President Doris LEUTHARD (since 1 January 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government representing the Federal Council; the Federal Council is the formal chief of state and head of government whose council members, rotating in one-year terms as federal president, represent the Council
head of government: President Hans-Rudolf MERZ (since 1 January 2009); Vice President Doris LEUTHARD (since 1 January 2009);
cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal Assembly usually from among its members for a four-year term
elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for a one-year term (they may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 10 December 2008 (next to be held in December 2009)
election results: Hans-Rudolf MERZ elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 88.5%; Doris LEUTHARD elected vice president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 87.4%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats; membership consists of 2 representatives from each canton and 1 from each half canton; to serve four-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons in October 2007 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held on 21 October 2007 (next to be held in October 2011)
election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CVP 15, FDP 12, SVP 7, SPS 9, other 3; National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 29%, SPS 19.5%, FDP 15.6%, CVP 14.6%, Greens 9.6%, other 11.7%; seats by party - SVP 62, SPS 43, FDP 31, CVP 31, Green Party 20, other small parties 13
Judicial branch:
Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by theFederal Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Green Party (Gruene Partei der Schweiz or Gruene, Parti EcologisteSuisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, PartidaEcologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ueli LEUENBERGER]; ChristianDemocratic People's Party (Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei derSchweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, PartitoDemocratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, PartidaCristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Christophe DARBELLAY];Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei derSchweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, PartitioLiberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Fulvio PELLI]; Social DemocraticParty (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, PartiSocialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, PartidaSocialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Christian LEVRAT]; SwissPeople's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, UnionDemocratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC,Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Toni BRUNNER]; and other minorparties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), AustraliaGroup, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA(observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Urs ZISWILER
chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Leigh CARTER
embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11
Flag description:
red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag; various medieval legends purport to describe the origin of the flag; a white cross used as identification for troops of the Swiss Confederation is first attested at the Battle of Laupen (1339)
Economy ::Switzerland
Economy - overview:
Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP among the highest in the world. Switzerland's economy benefits from a highly developed service sector led by financial services and a manufacturing industry that specializes in high-technology, knowledge-based production. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness, but some trade protectionism remains, particularly for its small agricultural sector. Switzerland remains a safehaven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value. The global financial crisis and resulting economic downturn could, however, put Switzerland in a recession in 2009, particularly as global export demand stalls. Switzerland's largest banks suffered significant losses in 2008 and the country's largest bank accepted a government rescue deal in late 2008. The Swiss National Bank, beginning in October 2008, cut interest rates on several consecutive occasions, effectively instituting a zero-rate policy in a bid to boost the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$318.1 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 $312.4 billion (2007 est.)
$301.6 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$500.3 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 3.6% (2007 est.)
3.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$42,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 $41,400 (2007 est.)
$40,100 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 34%
services: 64.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
4.053 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.9%
industry: 22.8%
services: 73.2% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
2.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 2.8% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25.9% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.7 (2008) country comparison to the world: 93 33.1 (1992)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Budget:
revenues: $189.8 billion
expenditures: $185.2 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
40.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 57.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 0.7% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.05% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 133 2.05% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
3.34% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 142 3.15% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$207 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $213.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of quasi money:
$477.6 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $450.7 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$864.4 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $855.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 14 $1.275 trillion (31 December 2007)
$1.213 trillion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Industries:
machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, and insurance
Industrial production growth rate:
6.5% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
Electricity - production:
63.93 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
Electricity - consumption:
57.62 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 42
Electricity - exports:
32.74 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
31.6 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
3,244 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 100
Oil - consumption:
275,600 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 48
Oil - exports:
10,310 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
Oil - imports:
247,200 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - consumption:
3.429 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 108
Natural gas - imports:
3.429 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Current account balance:
$41.21 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $43.95 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$241.3 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $200.5 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.8%, US 9.6%, Italy 8.7%, France 8.6%, UK 5.2% (2008)
Imports:
$227.4 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $187.7 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Imports - partners:
Germany 33.3%, Italy 11%, France 9.4%, US 5.8%, Netherlands 4.6%,Austria 4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$74.07 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 $75.37 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.305 trillion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 12 $1.565 trillion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$405.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $365.8 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$726.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 $659.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.0774 (2008 est.), 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004)
Communications ::Switzerland
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.82 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 32
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.78 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 65
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed telecommunications infrastructure with excellent domestic and international services
domestic: ranked among leading countries for fixed-line teledensity and infrastructure; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 115 per 100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks
international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 106 (plus many low-power stations), shortwave 3 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
106 (2007)
Internet country code:
.ch
Internet hosts:
3.697 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 21
Internet users:
5.739 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 41
Transportation ::Switzerland
Airports:
66 (2009) country comparison to the world: 74
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 43
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 17 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
under 914 m: 23 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,662 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 4,888 km country comparison to the world: 36 standard gauge: 3,397 km 1.435-m gauge (3,142 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,481 km 1.000-m gauge (1,378 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 71,298 km country comparison to the world: 66 paved: 71,298 km (includes 1,758 of expressways) (2006)
Waterways:
65 km (Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee) (2008) country comparison to the world: 103
Merchant marine:
total: 35 country comparison to the world: 82 by type: bulk carrier 13, cargo 9, chemical tanker 6, container 6, specialized tanker 1
registered in other countries: 106 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Bahamas 1, France 3, Italy 8, Liberia 13, Malta 20, Marshall Islands 12, Panama 25, Portugal 2, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Singapore 2, Tonga 1, UK 1, Vanuatu 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Basel
Military ::Switzerland
Military branches:
Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (SchweizerLuftwaffe) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
19 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; the Swiss Constitution states that "every Swiss male is obliged to do military service"; every Swiss male has to serve at least 260 days in the armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatory training, followed by seven 3-week intermittent recalls for training during the next 10 years (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,852,580
females age 16-49: 1,807,667 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,510,259
females age 16-49: 1,475,993 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 48,076
female: 44,049 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 139
Transnational Issues ::Switzerland
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
a major international financial center vulnerable to the layering and integration stages of money laundering; despite significant legislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist and nonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshore entities and various intermediaries; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and Western European synthetics; domestic cannabis cultivation and limited ecstasy production
page last updated on November 11, 2009
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@Syria (Middle East)
Introduction ::Syria
Background:
Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French administered the area as Syria until granting it independence in 1946. The new country lacked political stability, however, and experienced a series of military coups during its first decades. Syria united with Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In September 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian Arab Republic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, a member of the Socialist Ba'th Party and the minority Alawite sect, seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to the country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held occasional peace talks over its return. Following the death of President al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as president by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops - stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role - were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces on alert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally Hizballah.
Geography ::Syria
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon andTurkey
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 185,180 sq km country comparison to the world: 88 land: 183,630 sq km
water: 1,550 sq km
note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than North Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 2,253 km
border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km
Coastline:
193 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:
mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus
Terrain:
primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 24.8%
permanent crops: 4.47%
other: 70.73% (2005)
Irrigated land:
13,330 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
46.1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 19.95 cu km/yr (3%/2%/95%)
per capita: 1,048 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 2005 est.)
People ::Syria
Population:
20,178,485 country comparison to the world: 57 note: in addition, about 40,000 people live in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - 20,000 Arabs (18,000 Druze and 2,000 Alawites) and about 20,000 Israeli settlers (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.9% (male 3,724,770/female 3,510,182)
15-64 years: 60.8% (male 6,285,866/female 5,980,029)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 318,646/female 358,992) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.7 years
male: 21.6 years
female: 21.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.129% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Birth rate:
25.9 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Death rate:
4.61 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 198
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 54% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2009 est.)