topics

tools

Expatica countries

editor's choice

How to assimilate

Crime and the legal system in Switzerland

Major museums in Switzerland

Culture and social etiquette in Switzerland

How to open a Swiss bank account

Index	Last	Var.(%)
BEL 20	2119.44	0.28
DAX	6339.94	0.38
IBEX 30	6543	0.13
CAC 40	3047.94	0.32
FTSE 100	5351.53	0.03
AEX	292.76	0.23
DJIA	12454.83	-0.60
Nasdaq	2837.53	-0.07
FTSE MIB	13154.8	0.36
TSX Composite	11576.47	0.09
ASX	4081.2	-0.61
Hang seng	18713.41	0.25
Straits Times	2772.75	-0.24
ISEQ 20	500.94	1.55

You are here: Home

Moving to

Country Facts

30 facts about Switzerland

Country Facts

05/12/200730 facts about Switzerland

Just arrived in Switzerland? Here is Expatica's guide to Switzerland in a nutshell. If you'd like to add to the list, please contact us!

Switzerland’s climate is ideal, with no excessive heat, cold or humidity.
Switzerland is also known as Confoederatio Helvetica, which explains the abbreviation CH.
Switzerland has 26 cantons; click here for more information about the cantons.
The Swiss currency is not the euro, but the Swiss franc (CHF).
Switzerland has one of the lowest crime rates of all industrialised countries.
Switzerland has a population of about 7.4 million.
Foreigners account for 20% of the population.
The number of elderly people is increasing: Switzerland has more centenarians per head of population than any other country in Europe.
Many older people live alone or in retirement homes.
People marry relatively late (men with 31 years and women with 28.7 years); divorce rate around 53 percent.
The average number of children per woman is around 1.4; the average age of a woman at birth of first child is 29.
Switzerland lags behind most Western European countries in many aspects of sex equality.
There are large differences between men and women in the labour market.
Far more women than men work part time. In 2006 nearly 58 percent of working women were employed part time, while the figure for men was just over 11 percent.
Women did not gain the vote at federal level until 1971, and they are still underrepresented in political life.
Women put a lot of emphasis on their careers, and Swiss women are among the oldest in Europe when they have their first child.
The majority of couples have one to two children at most.
In the last years, the marriage rate has slowly increased and so has the divorce rate.
Men are generally the breadwinners while women are housewives.
Living space per person is generous: the 2000 census showed the average figure to be 44 sq. m (474 sq. ft.).
Tobacco consumption is widespread. However, it is in decline due to an awareness of health risks and rising prices.
Switzerland has amongst the highest rates of cannabis use in the world, along with the United Kingdom and the United States.
The most popular alcoholic drink in Switzerland is wine.
Switzerland has four national languages including French, German, Italian and Romansch. The latter has Latin roots.
English speaking foreigners will be pleased to know that proficiency in the national languages is decreasing in favour of English.
Membership of Christian churches has shrunk in recent years. In a wide-ranging poll of Swiss attitudes taken in 2000, only 16 percent of Swiss people said religion was 'very important' to them.
Switzerland’s third biggest religious group is Islam.
Yodelling and alphorn are associated with music in Switzerland
Switzerland was the birthplace of Le Corbusier, born Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, one of the most influentual architects of the 20th century.
Swiss is widely recognised as an international research centre, with the private and public sector strongly promoting science and technology.

Expatica 2008

11 reactions to this article

anonymous posted: 2010-09-26 11:58:20

awful so far

awesome guy! posted: 2011-01-14 22:04:52

this article helped me alot on my research dont hate!

The guy that hates "the awesome guy!!" posted: 2011-01-14 22:07:47

i hate this arcticle ...it sucked...and the awesome guy is wrong!!!!!!

awesome guy! posted: 2011-01-14 22:09:45

The guy that hates posted: 2011-01-14 22:11:51

good that your D:!!!! cuz this site sucks

my balls itch posted: 2011-01-14 22:16:33

good site like it very much

poo posted: 2011-06-16 13:20:53

poo poo poo poo poo poo

emma posted: 2011-09-17 14:14:22

this website is cool

Lolz :) posted: 2011-11-30 17:57:01

I like this site it has good infromation.

me posted: 2012-01-20 20:29:30

dance a$$

suny17 posted: 2012-03-13 21:38:12

Rack City all the way !!!!

Add a comment

General rating:

Rate article: Add my rating

11 reactions to this article

anonymous posted: 2010-09-26 11:58:20

awful so far

awesome guy! posted: 2011-01-14 22:04:52

this article helped me alot on my research dont hate!

The guy that hates "the awesome guy!!" posted: 2011-01-14 22:07:47

i hate this arcticle ...it sucked...and the awesome guy is wrong!!!!!!

awesome guy! posted: 2011-01-14 22:09:45

The guy that hates posted: 2011-01-14 22:11:51

good that your D:!!!! cuz this site sucks

my balls itch posted: 2011-01-14 22:16:33

good site like it very much

poo posted: 2011-06-16 13:20:53

poo poo poo poo poo poo

emma posted: 2011-09-17 14:14:22

this website is cool

Lolz :) posted: 2011-11-30 17:57:01

I like this site it has good infromation.

me posted: 2012-01-20 20:29:30

dance a$$

suny17 posted: 2012-03-13 21:38:12

Rack City all the way !!!!

Add a comment

Expatica Tools

Classifieds Forums House Search Dating Job Search A-Z Listings Ask the
Expert Newsletter

Looking for a job?

Country:
City:
Job category:
Browse all jobs

Search for a home?

Moving to essentials

Moving to expert Q&A

ask your question

most popular articles

New Members

dogpuzzle ›

sofialove33 ›

vikasthakkar ›

kbus ›

StacyAllan ›

JackieSutton ›

Inside Expatica: Residence and work permits in Switzerland

How to apply for a residency or work permit in Switzerland for you and your family.

How to rent and buy a house in Switzerland

Information about renting property and obtaining a mortgage in Switzerland.

Switzerland's healthcare system

Information about the Swiss healthcare system, health insurance, pharmacies and emergency numbers.

Banking in Switzerland

Explaining Swiss currency, banknotes, credit cards and bureaux de change.