Name
The name Switzerland derives from the canton of Schwyz, one of the founding cantons of the Swiss Confederacy formed in the late 13th century.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Country
Switzerland
46.72° N, 7.46° E
No coast at all — every one of its 1,770 km of border is shared with another country.
coastline 0 km · 185th/229 · land borders 1,770 km · 98th/230
CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · ranks computed across the countries in this atlas that carry the value
- Population
- 8,574,832
- Natural Earth population estimate.
- Area
- 41,277 km²
- Official total area (land + water) from the CIA World Factbook. Computed from the Natural Earth boundary: ≈ 41,316 km².
- Population density
- ≈ 208 / km²
- Population divided by the computed boundary area.
- ISO codes
- CH · CHE
- GDP (nominal)
- $936.56 billion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $82,000
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Switzerland 41,277 km²Moldova 33,851 km²
geometry: Natural Earth 1:50m · EPSG:6933 equal-area
Where Switzerland sits in the world
Each line is every country in this atlas that carries the value, ordered smallest to largest. The line down the middle is the world median; the mark on each line is this country.
- Median age44.4 years28th of 224 · median 32.6 years
- Life expectancy83.9 years9th of 224 · median 76.2 years
- Fertility rate1.59 children per woman169th of 225 · median 1.92 children per woman
- Population8,574,832100th of 235 · median 5,454,073
- Total area41,277 km²134th of 228 · median 83,736 km²
- Coastline0 km185th of 229 · median 402 km
Overview
Background
As a defensive alliance among three cantons, the Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291; in succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. The constitution of 1848 replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. It was modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws.
Major European powers have long honored Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality, and the country was not involved in either World War. Political and economic integration in Europe, together with Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, strengthened its ties with its neighbors. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but did not officially become a UN member until 2002. It retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Geography
Landlocked, Switzerland sits at the crossroads of northern and southern Europe. It lies in Central Europe, east of France and north of Italy.
Mountainous terrain includes the Alps in the south and the Jura in the northwest, while a central plateau holds rolling hills, plains, and large lakes. Hydropower potential, timber, and salt are natural resources. Dufourspitze on Monte Rosa is the highest point. Lake Maggiore is the lowest point.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Climate
Its temperate climate varies with altitude. Winters are cold, cloudy, and rainy or snowy, while summers range from cool to warm, with cloudy, humid conditions and occasional showers.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Key figures
CIA World Factbook
Economy
- GDP (nominal)
- $936.56 billion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP (PPP)
- $741.04 billion
- Field “Economy → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $82,000
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP growth
- +1.3%
- Field “Economy → Real GDP growth rate → Real GDP growth rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Inflation (consumer prices)
- 1.1%
- Field “Economy → Inflation rate (consumer prices) → Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Unemployment
- 4.2%
- Field “Economy → Unemployment rate → Unemployment rate 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Exports
- $675.06 billion
- Field “Economy → Exports → Exports 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Imports
- $582.55 billion
- Field “Economy → Imports → Imports 2024” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
People
- Life expectancy
- 83.9 years
- Field “People and Society → Life expectancy at birth → total population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Median age
- 44.4 years
- Field “People and Society → Median age → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Birth rate
- 10.01 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Birth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Death rate
- 8.61 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Death rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Fertility rate
- 1.59 children per woman
- Field “People and Society → Total fertility rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Population growth
- +0.72% a year
- Field “People and Society → Population growth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Urban population
- 74.2%
- Field “People and Society → Urbanization → urban population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Religions
- Roman Catholic34.4%
- Protestant22.5%
- Muslim5.4%
- other1.1%
- Field “People and Society → Religions” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Land
- Total area
- 41,277 km²Land 39,997 km² · Water 1,280 km²
- Field “Geography → Area → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Coastline
- 0 km
- Field “Geography → Coastline” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Land borders
- 1,770 km
- Field “Geography → Land boundaries → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Mean elevation
- 1,350 m
- Field “Geography → Elevation → mean elevation” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Highest point
- 4,634 m Dufourspitze on Monte Rosa
- Field “Geography → Elevation → highest point” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Values from the CIA World Factbook archive. Each carries the year it describes; open a year for the exact source field.
Connections
Natural geography 5
Natural Earth outlines · features with a Wikidata ID
Mountain ranges 2
Largest cities 9
Population · Natural Earth