Switzerland in its diversity

Table of Contents

1

Geography

Facts and Figures

Topography and Climate

Towns

Transport Network

Politics

Federalism

Direct Democracy

Government and Parliament

Foreign Policy

Science

Switzerland – A Research Nation

Swiss National Science Foundation / Support

for Research

Education

Swiss Education System

Third-level Education

Environment

Biodiversity

Water

Forests

Recycling / Waste Management

Energy Policy

Economy

Structure and Competitiveness

Sectoral Composition

Work and Employment

People

Demography

Linguistic Diversity

Multicultural Switzerland

Quality of Life

Culture

Music

Museums

Architecture

Painting and Sculpture

Religion and Customs

History : Timetable

Geography: Facts and figures

41,285 km2, or 1.5‰ of

world‟s surface area.

Maximum distances:

North-South: 220 km

West-East: 348 km

Source: Swisstopo

2

Geography: Topography and climate

Highest point: Dufour Peak

(altitude: 4,634 m).

Lowest point: Lake

Maggiore (altitude: 193 m).

Maritime climate north of

the Alps; Mediterranean

influence south of the Alps.

Average temperatures for

July:

Geneva: 19.3ºC

Zurich: 17.6ºC

Lugano: 21.1ºC

Longest glacier: Aletsch

(approx. 23 km long).

Main geographic regions

Rivers

1 Jura

2 Mittelland

3 Alps

3

Geography: Towns

The 10 largest conurbations

Spatial weighting as a function of the resident population in each

municipality

Source: SFSO, VZ 2000 / © EPFL-Chôros / K2.6

Swiss conurbations

Conurbations

Conurbation Population

Zurich 1,170,200

Geneva 521,400

Baslel 498,000

Berne 350,800

Lausanne 330,900

Lucerne 207,600

St. Gallen 149,600

Winterthur 137,000

Lugano 135,000

Baden-Brugg 115,700

4

Geography: Transport network

Transport infrastructure –

a priority:

5,100 km-long rail

network, one of the

densest in the world

71,500 km-long road

network and 4 mn cars

(514 cars/1,000

inhabitants)

Access to the sea via the

Rhine (Basel): 37-strong

merchant fleetNorth-South links through the Alps:

1882 Gotthard rail tunnel

1906 Simplon rail tunnel

1964 Great Saint Bernard road tunnel

1980 Gotthard road tunnel

2017 New Transalpine Rail Link (NEAT) through the Gotthard

massif. At 57 km-long, it is the longest tunnel in the world.

5

Train, bus, tram, boat, aerial cableway and funicular railway stops

Source: SwitzerlandMobility, 2011

Federal state with three political levels:

federal government

canton

municipality

1848: Founding of the

Swiss Confederation.

Subsidiarity principle:

Decentralised division of

power and solving issues

at the lowest possible

level.

Solidarity: Fiscal transfers

from richer to poor

regions.

Confoederatio Helvetica:

Official Latin name of the

Swiss Confederation.

Politics: Federalism

Source: ThemaKart, SFSO

6

Politics: Direct democracy

Instruments of direct democracy:

popular initiative

optional referendum

mandatory referendum

On average, four popular votes on a wide

range of issues are held every year.

Voting age: 18.

7

Politics: Government and parliament

Legislative: Parliament with

National Council (lower house,

200 members of parliament);

Council of States (upper house,

2 members of parliament per canton).

Executive (government):

Federal Council: 7 members from several

Swiss political parties.

Federal Chancellery:

Assists and advises the Federal Council.

Federal Chancellor is often referred to as

the “eighth federal councillor”.

8

Politics: Foreign policy

Switzerland is a member of various

international organisations:

EFTA (since 1960)

European Council (since 1963)

OSCE (since 1975)

United Nations (since 2002)

Swiss-EU relations are governed by a series

of bilateral agreements.

Neutrality and humanitarian tradition:

cornerstones of Swiss foreign policy.

Neutral state (since 1815)

International Committee of the Red Cross

ICRC (founded in 1863)

9

Science: Switzerland – a research nation

Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich

(ETHZ) and Lausanne (EPFL): renowned

worldwide for their research output.

Two international research centres:

CERN (European Organisation for

Nuclear Research) in Geneva; 8,000

scientists from 85 countries.

European laboratory of the high-tech

company IBM in Rüschlikon (Zurich); 300

employees from 30 countries.

10

Science: SNSF/support for research

Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)

research areas:

Humanities and Social Sciences

Mathematics

Natural and Engineering Sciences

Biology and Medicine

SNSF professorship programme facilitates

the return of promising young researchers to

Switzerland.

11

Education: Education system

Responsibility for education is shared

between the federal authorities, the Cantons

and the communes. Decentralised school

system.

Compulsory schooling (9 years):

Primary and lower secondary

Post-compulsory schooling:

Upper secondary schooling based on a

"dual system": Choice between vocational

training routes (apprenticeship) and

general education routes (preparation for

the Matura)

60% of young people opt for the vocational

training route.

12

Education: Universities and UAS

Universities

UAS

Swiss

Foreign nationals,

educated in Switzerland

Foreign nationals,

educated abroad

“Bologna” system in all

Swiss universities (Bachelor

& Masters degree

programmes).

UAS (Universities of Applied

Sciences) education.

35% of 25- to 64-year olds

are university graduates.

50% of students are

women.

Source: SFSO/Swisstopo

13

Environment: Biodiversity

Over 50,000 species of

plants and animals.

Swiss National Park in the

canton of Graubünden,

established in 1914.

Regional nature parks,

e.g. Parc Ela.

UNESCO biosphere

reserves:

Swiss National Park

(since 1979)

Entlebuch in the canton

of Lucerne (since 2001)

14

Environment: Water

Switzerland is Europe‟s reservoir: the Swiss Alps are the source of 6% of Europe‟s freshwater reserves.

Switzerland has over 1,500 lakes.

Glaciers cover nearly 3% of Switzerland‟s surface area.

Protection of lakes and rivers written into the Swiss Constitution.

Tap water in buildings is as pure as bottled mineral water.

Daily water consumption per head: approx. 400 litres.

15

Environment: Forests

Forests cover 31% of Swiss surface area.

80,000 - 2% of Swiss employment - work in

the forestry sector and timber industry.

Tree line:

1,300 m altitude (Mittelland and pre-Alps)

1,900 m altitude (mountains)

Forests are also essential for preserving the

landscape.

Wood is one of Switzerland‟s few abundant

natural resources. 5 mn cubic metres are

harvested every year.

16

Environment: Recycling/waste management

Recycling: Switzerland: “World Recycling Champion”.

Special recycling points provided free of

charge.

Incineration plants for all non-recyclable,

combustible waste.

The 29 Swiss incineration plants together

generate enough electricity to power 250,000

homes.

17

Environment: Energy policy

Energy consumptionTwo main planks of energy

policy:

Reduce energy

consumption

Promote the use of

renewable resources

Switzerland imports 80% of

its energy.

CO2 legislation: reducing

fossil fuel consumption.

Other renewable energies

District heating

Electricity

Gas

Fuel

Petroleum fuels

Industrial waste

Coal

Wood

Source: FOE

18

Economy: Structure and competitiveness

Liberal market system.

Major importer and exporter of goods and

services.

European Union (EU) is the most important

trade partner.

Well-developed industry and service

provision (high-quality goods).

High level of international competitiveness.

High capacity for technological innovation.

19

Economy: Sectoral composition

Service economy (banks, tourism,

insurance, trade and commerce).

99% of companies are small and medium-

sized enterprises (SMEs), with a maximum

of 250 employees.

Major exporter (machinery, chemicals,

watches, jewellery).

4 %

24 %

72 %

20

Economy: Work and employment

Average working week: 42 hours

GDP per capita (adjusted for purchasing

power parity): USD 33,900.

Unemployment rate in 2010: 3.9%.

High female labour force participation,

with most working part-time.

“Three-pillar” old-age insurance system:

AHV (old-age and survivors„ insurance),

pension fund and optional private savings

scheme.

Big Mac Index 2010

Price of 1 Big Mac in USD

21

1.95

2.33

2.45

2.5

3.48

3.67

3.73

3.84

4

4.33

6.19

7.2

China

Russia

South Africa

Mexico

United Kingdom

Japan

USA

Australia

Canada

Euro zone

Switzerland

Norway

People: Demography

7.8 mn inhabitants

Average fertility rate: 1.5 children per

woman.

Densely populated, can vary from region to

region. On average 189 people/km2.

Life expectancy:

Women: 84

Men: 80

Population trends 2007

Source: SFSO

Men

Women

22

People: Linguistic diversity

Cultural diversity, strongly

influenced by European

neighbours.

Four national languages:

German 64%

French 20%

Italian 6%

Rumantsch 0.5%

Non-official languages

9%

Topography also shapes

local culture and language.

Language regions

German

French

Italian

Rumantsch

Darker shading = higher percentage

23

Source: SFSO, VZ 2000 / © EPFL-Chôros / K4.11

People: Multicultural Switzerland

The culture of Switzerland‟s linguistic regions

is influenced by neighbouring countries.

Geography helps shape the cultural identity

of Switzerland‟s regions

Foreign residents: around 22%

(children: over 25%).

Foreign residents from Europe: over 85%.

Foreign residents born in Switzerland:

around 25%.

Naturalised Swiss nationals: around 10%.

695,000 Swiss live abroad.

24

Swiss foreign population by

nationality

Nationality Percentage

Italy 17.1

Germany 15.0

Portugal 12.3

Serbia 8.0

France 5.4

Turkey 4.2

Spain 3.8

Macedonia 3.5

Kosovo 2.5

Austria 2.2

Others 26.0

People: Quality of life

Around 65% of the population rent their

home.

Single-person households: approx. 37%.

Good quality of life:

Personal safety

Welfare provision

Medical care

Public transport

Household expenses in %

25

tax 12.4

health insurance 6.7

other insurance 11.7

housing and energy 16.2

transport 8.2

food and drink 7.2

restaurants and hotels 5.7

entertainment, recreation and

culture6.9

clothing and shoes 2.5

household items 2.9

health 2.6

communication 1.9

alcohol and tobacco 1.1

Culture: Music

Diverse music scene.

Internationally renowned

musicians and Swiss

bands.

Open-air rock and pop

festivals (e.g. St. Gallen,

Gurten near Berne,

Avenches, Nyon).

Jazz festivals (e.g.

Montreux, Willisau, Berne).

Classical music festivals

(e.g. Lucerne, Gstaad,

St. Moritz).

26

Culture: Museums

Over 950 museums.

Annual visitor numbers:

over 17 mn.

Museums and galleries

thanks to dedicated

volunteers.

Renowned museums at

home and abroad designed

by Swiss architects.

27

Culture: Architecture

Peter Zumthor:

Thermal Spa, Vals (top left).

Annette Gigon and Mike

Guyer: Kirchner Museum,

Davos (top right).

Herzog & de Meuron:

Business Center Actelion,

Allschwil (bottom left).

Mario Botta: Church in

Mogno (bottom right).

The services of Swiss

architects are also in high

demand abroad.

28

Culture: Painting and sculpture

19th/20th centuries: Albert

Anker (top left),

Arnold Böcklin, and

Ferdinand Hodler.

20th century: Paul Klee (top

right) and Alberto

Giacometti.

Installations by Jean

Tinguely (bottom left) and

Bernhard Luginbühl.

Playful art, e.g. by Meret

Oppenheim (bottom right).

Max Bill: the man behind

“concrete” art.

29

Culture: Religion and Customs

Many religious and

seasonal customs/festivals.

Great diversity, reflecting

regional and local cultures.

Religious affiliation

Roman Catholic 41.8%

Protestant 35.3%

Muslim 4.3%

No religious affiliation 11.1%

Others 7.5%

30

Source: Population Census 2000

History of Switzerland

1291

1519

1798

1815

1847

1848

1914

1918

1939

1978

1999

2002

2004

Founding of Swiss Confederation

Beginning of the Reformation

Napoleon invades Switzerland

Congress of Vienna; Swiss permanent neutrality recognised

Sonderbund war

Founding of the modern Swiss state

First World War

General strike

Second World War: armed neutrality

Jura becomes Switzerland‟s 26th canton

Bilateral Agreements I

Switzerland joins the UN

Bilateral Agreements II

31

Thank you.

Sources/Copyright

Graphs:

EPFL-Chôros; Federal Office of Energy (FOE) -

National Energy Statistics; Federal Office of

Topography (swisstopo); Federal Population Census

2000; Swiss Federal Statistical office SFSO;

ThemaKart.

Photos:

ABB, Actelion, Kaspar Bacher, Berne Tourism,

Christine Blaser, Fribourg Tourism, Getty Images, Paul

Helmle, ICRC, Imagepoint, IWC, Keystone, Lake

Geneva Region, Lake Sempach Tourism, Montreux

Jazz Festival, Paul Scherrer Institute, Presence

Switzerland, Pro Litteris, swiss-image, Swiss Museum

of Transport, Swiss National Science Foundation,

Swiss Post, swissworld.org.