This research presents an economic profile of Switzerland. Information related to political, social, and other factors affecting the Swiss economy are included in this economic profile of the country.
Profile of Switzerland: Topics and Data
To accommodate the wide range of information included in this economic profile, topics are addressed in outline form, as opposed to structuring the information into an essay. These topics, together with the relevant data are as follows:
1. Demographics, geography, and social conditions. Switzerland is a country of more than 41,530 square kilometers of territory.1 Geographically, the country is located in the heart of the Alps in Central Europe. The Alps cover 60 percent of Switzerland's land area, and the Jura near France accounts for another 10 percent of the country's land area. The remaining 30 percent of the land area is located in the Midlands between the other two regions. Switzerland's population approximates seven million.2 The country's density is 169 persons per square kilometer. German is the language of 65 percent of the Swiss. An additional 18 percent speak French as a first language, while 12 percent speak Italian, one percent speak Romanish, all four of which are official languages in Switzerland, and the remaining
1J. Paxton, (Ed.), The Statesman's Year Book 1992 1993, 130th ed. (London: St. Martins Press, 1992), 1157.
five percent of the population speak a variety of other languages as their first language.
The adult literacy rate in Switzerland is 100 percent.3 Secondary school enrollment is the equivalent of 100 percent of the appropriate age group, while enrollment in institutions of higher education is the equivalent of 60 percent of the 20 24 age group.
Ethnic relations within Switzerland are good and are characterized by compromise and accommodation when one is considering French Swiss, German Swiss, and Italian Swiss.4 Ethnic toleration on ...