Switzerland

Swiss Confederation (Confoederatio Helvetica)

Switzerland is a landlocked Alpine confederation renowned for armed neutrality, direct democracy, precision manufacturing, banking, and jaw-dropping mountain panoramas. Composed of 26 sovereign cantons and four constitutional languages.

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Quick Facts

Capital: Bern
Population: 8,900,000
Area: 41,285 km²
Currency: CHF (CHF)
Languages: German, French
Continent: Europe
Calling Code: +41
Driving Side: Right-hand
Internet TLD: .ch
Timezone(s): CET (UTC+1)
Highest Point: Dufourspitze (4,634 m)

Administrative Divisions

Zurich

Canton · Zurich

Bern

Canton · Bern

Vaud

Canton · Lausanne

Geneva

Canton · Geneva

Valais

Canton · Sion

Ticino

Canton · Bellinzona

Major Cities

Zurich

Population: 421,000

Global banking powerhouse and Switzerland's largest city

Geneva

Population: 203,000

International diplomatic center hosting UN and Red Cross headquarters

Basel

Population: 178,000

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology capital on the Rhine River

Matterhorn peak in the Swiss Alps — The iconic pyramidal summit of the Matterhorn in Valais, Switzerland.Photo by Samuel Ferrara via Unsplash (Free License)

Geography

Divided into three physical zones: the Swiss Alps in the south and east (60% of land area), the Swiss Plateau (Mittelland) where most population resides, and the Jura Mountains along the French border.

Climate

Temperate, but varies sharply with elevation from glacial Alpine conditions on peaks to Mediterranean palms around Lake Geneva and Lake Lugano.

Famous Landmarks

Matterhorn

Zermatt, Valais

Iconic 4,478-meter pyramidal Alpine peak

Jungfraujoch

Bernese Alps

The 'Top of Europe' railway station at 3,454 meters elevation

Chillon Castle

Lake Geneva, Vaud

Medieval island castle romanticized by Lord Byron

Interesting Facts

Switzerland has four official national languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh.
Switzerland is not an EU member, maintaining sovereign monetary and constitutional governance.
The country has enough underground fallout shelters to accommodate 100% of its population.

Geography Facts

Switzerland has four official national languages.

Switzerland does not have a single unifying language; its Federal Constitution recognizes German (spoken by ~62%), French (~23%), Italian (~8%), and Romansh (~0.5%) as official national languages across its 26 autonomous cantons.

Language FactsLearn more Source: Swiss Federal Statistical Office

Country Guides6 min read

How Switzerland Balances 26 Cantons and 4 National Languages

Switzerland is one of the world's most successful federal democracies. Discover how this landlocked Alpine nation harmonizes 26 sovereign cantons and four official languages without centralizing cultural power.