Discover Switzerland
Federal Chancellery FC
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA
Federal Department of Justice and Police FDJP
Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS
Federal Department of Finance FDF
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER
Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC
Switzerland’s foreign policy
Switzerland’s policy on Europe
Development and Cooperation
Switzerland’s contribution to the enlarged EU
International Police Missions of Switzerland
Agenda 2030
aboutswitzerland.org
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrein
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Democratic Republic of Congo
Republic of Congo
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
East-Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Repbulic of Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Republic Korea
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maledives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
occupied Palestinian territory
Panama
Papua-New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Samoa
San Marino
São Tomé and Príncipe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadine
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Syria
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States of America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
The main driver of demographic growth in Switzerland over the last few decades has been migration
Throughout the year, Switzerland hosts hundreds of festivals and sporting, cultural and political events. Roughly every 25 years, Switzerland holds a National Exhibition.
Switzerland's national languages are German, French, Italian and Romansh – a multilingualism lived out in practice.
Traditions and customs are an integral part of everyday life in Switzerland.
Switzerland is a Christian country. Around two-thirds of the population are either Roman Catholic or Protestant (Reformed-Evangelical).
Swiss cuisine is as varied as its landscape – and yet you'll still find bread and cheese everywhere.
Thanks to its location at the crossroads of three major European cultures (German, French and Italian), Switzerland has a rich and varied arts and culture scene.
The Swiss are keen sports enthusiasts, especially outdoor pursuits.
Switzerland evolved over many centuries from a loose alliance of small self-governing towns and states to a fully-fledged federal state of 26 cantons.
Federalism and direct democracy reflect the great importance that the Swiss political system places on the freedom of choice and self-determination.
Switzerland pursues an active foreign policy.
One of the most competitive economies in the world at a glance: facts, figures and articles on business, exports, taxes and public finance.
Switzerland's ultra-modern radio and television, mobile, fixed network and broadband infrastructure makes it a highly attractive location for businesses.
A global leader in wealth management, Switzerland's banks, insurance providers and pension funds generate around 10% of the country's value-added.
The Federal Council is pursuing plans to free Switzerland from reliance on imported, non-renewable energy. Its Energy Strategy 2050 seeks to reduce consumption and increase the share of renewables.
The Swiss economy is service-oriented, but also has a strong, export-focused industrial sector. Swiss watches, which are a product of this sector, are known worldwide for their high quality.
Even though Switzerland tops the world rankings for rail travel by passenger-kilometres per capita, the car remains the country's favourite means of transport. For freight transport, efforts are under way to shift from road to rail.
Switzerland's stable labour market and low unemployment rate account for a high GDP per capita, excellent healthcare and a social security system that leaves no one behind.
Switzerland's diverse and permeable education system in essence offers a choice between an academic or vocational education.
The field of science and research is held in high regard in Switzerland and is promoted accordingly, resulting in highly dynamic research activity.
Switzerland has three main geographic regions: the Alps covering around 60% of the country's total surface area, the Swiss Plateau (30%) and the Jura (10%).
Switzerland has a very varied landscape and great habitat diversity.
Various aspects of the Swiss population at a glance: social demographics, language, religion, sport, cuisine, design, Swiss abroad.
Organisation, financing and achievements of Swiss science and research presented in two graphics.
Seven aspects of Switzerland's complex political system presented in simple graphic form.
Seven charts portray the most important and prominent aspects of Switzerland’s environment, from geography to animals and plants to waste disposal.
Graphics on the economy, energy, transit, transport, media consumption and social security in Switzerland.
The world’s longest railway tunnel – the Gotthard Base Tunnel – was officially opened on 1 June 2016.
Solar Impulse has brought the dream of flying over long distances without the need for fossil fuel a step closer to reality.
At an altitude of 2,883 metres and nestled among the glaciers and imposing peaks of the Valais Alps, the new Monte Rosa mountain refuge rises from the icy landscape like a giant sparkling shard of rock crystal.
From the medieval Old Town of Berne to the futuristic city of Brasilia, from the tiny convent of Müstair to the imposing cathedral of Chartres, from the fertile terraced vineyards of Lavaux to the vast desert of Ténéré – all have one thing in common: they are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Quality, precision, uniqueness, reliability, tradition, design, innovation … these are just a few of the words that sum up the Swiss watchmaking industry – an industry which manages to produce timepieces that are diminutive yet highly complex, traditional yet state-of-the art.
Switzerland is synonymous with mountains. Not only do they cover one third of the country’s surface area, but they are also of major historical, geopolitical and economic importance. The mountains, for example, have been the selling point of the Swiss tourist industry for more than 100 years.
Hard cheese, soft cheese, cottage cheese, cheese made in mountain chalets, cheese made in valley factories, cheese shaved into rosettes, cheese boxed in red pine, cheese melted in wine to make fondue, hot cheese dribbled over potatoes to make raclette...
Bundesgasse 32 CH-3003 Bern
Additional information
Consular activities and Visa
Start of page Last update 27.11.2017
