General Information

Area: 41,284 sq km (15,940 sq miles)

Population: 7,123,537 (1998)

Population Density: 172.5 per sq km

Capital: Bern. Population: 123,254 (1998)

GEOGRAPHY: Switzerland is bordered by France to the west, Germany to the north, Austria to the east and Italy to the south. It has the highest mountains in Europe, with waterfalls and lakes set amid green pastures. The highest peaks are Dufour Peak, 4634m (15,217ft), on the Italian border; the Dom, 4545m (14,912ft); the Matterhorn, 4478m (14,692ft); and the Jungfrau, 4166m (13,669ft).

Government: Federal Republic since 1848. Head of State and Government: President Pascal Couchepin since 2003.

Language: Sixty-five to 70 per cent German in central and eastern areas, 19 per cent French in the west and eight per cent Italian in the south. Raeto-Romansch is spoken in the southeast by one per cent. English is spoken by many. Overlapping cultural influences characterise the country.

Religion: Roman Catholic (43 percent) and Protestant (47 percent)

Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October)

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz

Communications

Telephone: Full IDD is available. Country code: 41. Outgoing international code: 00. Phonecards are available for use in payphones.

Mobile telephone: GSM 900/1800 networks cover the whole country. Single band networks also in Basle, Zurich and Geneva. Operators include Orange (website: www.orange.ch), Swiss GSM (website: www.swisscom.com) and Sunrise (website: www.sunrise.ch/de)

Fax: Facilities are available in all telegraph offices, most major hotels and post offices.

Internet: Internet access is available in phone booths operated by Swisscom. Charges are payable by phonecard or credit card. ISPs include SwissOnline (website: www.swissonline.ch).

Telegram: These can be sent from post offices and most hotels or arranged by dialling 110 on the telephone.

Post: Airmail within Europe takes three days. Poste Restante is available at all post offices. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1200 and 1345-1830. Saturday closing is at 1100 except in major cities.

Press: The high level of interest in local politics throughout Switzerland has led to a large number of regional newspapers. However, the most popular dailies are Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Blick and Tages-Anzeiger Zürich. European and international newspapers in English, including The Herald Tribune and USA Today, are also widely available.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Public Holidays

Jan 1 New Year’s Day
Jan 2 Berchtold’s Day*
Apr 18 Good Friday*
Apr 21 Easter Monday*
May 29 Ascension.*
Jun 9 Whit Monday*
Aug 1 National Day
Dec 25 Christmas Day
Dec 26 St Stephen’s Day
Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day
Jan 2 Berchtold’s Day*
Apr 9 Good Friday*
Apr 12 Easter Monday*
May 20 Ascension*
May 31 Whit Monday*
Aug 1 National Day
Dec 25 Christmas Day
Dec 26 St Stephen’s Day

*These holidays may not be observed in certain cantons. There are additional regional holidays which are observed in certain cantons only.

Back to the Top