18 December 1998, adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, officially
entered into force 1 January 2000
Legal system:
civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of
legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general
obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Hans-Rudolf MERZ (since 1 January 2009);
Vice President Doris LEUTHARD (since 1 January 2009); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
representing the Federal Council; the Federal Council is the formal
chief of state and head of government whose council members,
rotating in one-year terms as federal president, represent the
Council
head of government: President Hans-Rudolf MERZ (since 1 January
2009); Vice President Doris LEUTHARD (since 1 January 2009);
cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal
(in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal
Assembly usually from among its members for a four-year term
elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal
Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for a
one-year term (they may not serve consecutive terms); election last
held on 10 December 2008 (next to be held in December 2009)
election results: Hans-Rudolf MERZ elected president; percent of
Federal Assembly vote - 88.5%; Doris LEUTHARD elected vice
president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 87.4%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German),
Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian)
consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseil
des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats;
membership consists of 2 representatives from each canton and 1 from
each half canton; to serve four-year terms) and the National Council
or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio
Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats; members are elected by popular
vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year
terms)
elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons in October
2007 (each canton determines when the next election will be held);
National Council - last held on 21 October 2007 (next to be held in
October 2011)
election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - CVP 15, FDP 12, SVP 7, SPS 9, other 3; National
Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 29%, SPS 19.5%, FDP 15.6%,
CVP 14.6%, Greens 9.6%, other 11.7%; seats by party - SVP 62, SPS
43, FDP 31, CVP 31, Green Party 20, other small parties 13
Judicial branch:
Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the
Federal Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Green Party (Gruene Partei der Schweiz or Gruene, Parti Ecologiste
Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida
Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ueli LEUENBERGER]; Christian
Democratic People's Party (Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der
Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito
Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida
Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Christophe DARBELLAY];
Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der
Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio
Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Fulvio PELLI]; Social Democratic
Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti
Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida
Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Christian LEVRAT]; Swiss
People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union
Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC,
Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Toni BRUNNER]; and other minor
parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia
Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Urs ZISWILER
chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco
consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Leigh CARTER
embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11
FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Flag description:
red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that
does not extend to the edges of the flag; various medieval legends
purport to describe the origin of the flag; a white cross used as
identification for troops of the Swiss Confederation is first
attested at the Battle of Laupen (1339)
Economy ::Switzerland
Economy - overview:
Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern market
economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a
per capita GDP among the highest in the world. Switzerland's economy
benefits from a highly developed service sector led by financial
services and a manufacturing industry that specializes in
high-technology, knowledge-based production. The Swiss in recent
years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity
with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness, but
some trade protectionism remains, particularly for its small
agricultural sector. Switzerland remains a safehaven for investors,
because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up
the franc's long-term external value. The global financial crisis
and resulting economic downturn could, however, put Switzerland in a
recession in 2009, particularly as global export demand stalls.
Switzerland's largest banks suffered significant losses in 2008 and
the country's largest bank accepted a government rescue deal in late
2008. The Swiss National Bank, beginning in October 2008, cut
interest rates on several consecutive occasions, effectively
instituting a zero-rate policy in a bid to boost the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$318.1 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$312.4 billion (2007 est.)
$301.6 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$500.3 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
3.6% (2007 est.)
3.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$42,000 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$41,400 (2007 est.)
$40,100 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 34%
services: 64.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
4.053 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3.9%
industry: 22.8%
services: 73.2% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
2.6% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
2.8% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25.9% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.7 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 93
33.1 (1992)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.2% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Budget:
revenues: $189.8 billion
expenditures: $185.2 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
40.2% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
57.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
0.7% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.05% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 133
2.05% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
3.34% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 142
3.15% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$207 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$213.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of quasi money:
$477.6 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$450.7 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$864.4 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$855.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 14
$1.275 trillion (31 December 2007)
$1.213 trillion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Industries:
machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments,
tourism, banking, and insurance
Industrial production growth rate:
6.5% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Electricity - production:
63.93 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Electricity - consumption:
57.62 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Electricity - exports:
32.74 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
31.6 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
3,244 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Oil - consumption:
275,600 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Oil - exports:
10,310 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Oil - imports:
247,200 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl
country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - consumption:
3.429 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 108
Natural gas - imports:
3.429 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Current account balance:
$41.21 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$43.95 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$241.3 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$200.5 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.8%, US 9.6%, Italy 8.7%, France 8.6%, UK 5.2% (2008)
Imports:
$227.4 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$187.7 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products,
textiles
Imports - partners:
Germany 33.3%, Italy 11%, France 9.4%, US 5.8%, Netherlands 4.6%,
Austria 4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$74.07 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$75.37 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.305 trillion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 12
$1.565 trillion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$405.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$365.8 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$726.3 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$659.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.0774 (2008 est.), 1.1973
(2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004)
Communications ::Switzerland
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.82 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 32
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.78 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 65
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed telecommunications
infrastructure with excellent domestic and international services
domestic: ranked among leading countries for fixed-line teledensity
and infrastructure; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 115 per
100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks
international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 106 (plus many low-power stations), shortwave 3 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
106 (2007)
Internet country code:
.ch
Internet hosts:
3.697 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 21
Internet users:
5.739 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 41
Transportation ::Switzerland
Airports:
66 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 74
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 43
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 17 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
under 914 m: 23 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,662 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 4,888 km
country comparison to the world: 36
standard gauge: 3,397 km 1.435-m gauge (3,142 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,481 km 1.000-m gauge (1,378 km electrified); 10 km
0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 71,298 km
country comparison to the world: 66
paved: 71,298 km (includes 1,758 of expressways) (2006)
Waterways:
65 km (Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and
Schaffhausen-Bodensee) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 103
Merchant marine:
total: 35
country comparison to the world: 82
by type: bulk carrier 13, cargo 9, chemical tanker 6, container 6,
specialized tanker 1
registered in other countries: 106 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Bahamas
1, France 3, Italy 8, Liberia 13, Malta 20, Marshall Islands 12,
Panama 25, Portugal 2, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6,
Singapore 2, Tonga 1, UK 1, Vanuatu 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Basel
Military ::Switzerland
Military branches:
Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer
Luftwaffe) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
19 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18 years of
age for voluntary male and female military service; the Swiss
Constitution states that "every Swiss male is obliged to do military
service"; every Swiss male has to serve at least 260 days in the
armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatory training,
followed by seven 3-week intermittent recalls for training during
the next 10 years (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,852,580
females age 16-49: 1,807,667 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,510,259
females age 16-49: 1,475,993 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 48,076
female: 44,049 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Transnational Issues ::Switzerland
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
a major international financial center vulnerable to the layering
and integration stages of money laundering; despite significant
legislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist and
nonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshore
entities and various intermediaries; transit country for and
consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and
Western European synthetics; domestic cannabis cultivation and
limited ecstasy production
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Syria (Middle East)
Introduction ::Syria
Background:
Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern
portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French
administered the area as Syria until granting it independence in
1946. The new country lacked political stability, however, and
experienced a series of military coups during its first decades.
Syria united with Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab
Republic. In September 1961, the two entities separated, and the
Syrian Arab Republic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz
al-ASAD, a member of the Socialist Ba'th Party and the minority
Alawite sect, seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political
stability to the country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost
the Golan Heights to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held
occasional peace talks over its return. Following the death of
President al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as
president by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops -
stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role -
were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 2006 conflict
between Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces on
alert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally Hizballah.
Geography ::Syria
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and
Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
35 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 185,180 sq km
country comparison to the world: 88
land: 183,630 sq km
water: 1,550 sq km
note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than North Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 2,253 km
border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon
375 km, Turkey 822 km
Coastline:
193 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:
mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild,
rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with
snow or sleet periodically in Damascus
Terrain:
primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain;
mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore,
rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 24.8%
permanent crops: 4.47%
other: 70.73% (2005)
Irrigated land:
13,330 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
46.1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 19.95 cu km/yr (3%/2%/95%)
per capita: 1,048 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water
pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate
potable water
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 2005 est.)
People ::Syria
Population:
20,178,485
country comparison to the world: 57
note: in addition, about 40,000 people live in the Israeli-occupied
Golan Heights - 20,000 Arabs (18,000 Druze and 2,000 Alawites) and
about 20,000 Israeli settlers (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.9% (male 3,724,770/female 3,510,182)
15-64 years: 60.8% (male 6,285,866/female 5,980,029)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 318,646/female 358,992) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.7 years
male: 21.6 years
female: 21.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.129% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Birth rate:
25.9 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Death rate:
4.61 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 54% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 25.87 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 84
male: 26.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.19 years
country comparison to the world: 131
male: 69.8 years
female: 72.68 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.12 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Nationality:
noun: Syrian(s)
adjective: Syrian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%,
Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in
Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages:
Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely
understood; French, English somewhat understood
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.6%
male: 86%
female: 73.6% (2004 census)
Education expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (1999)
country comparison to the world: 109
Government ::Syria
Country name:
conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic
conventional short form: Syria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
local short form: Suriyah
former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Government type:
republic under an authoritarian military-dominated regime
Capital:
name: Damascus
geographic coordinates: 33 30 N, 36 18 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins 1 April; ends 30 September
Administrative divisions:
14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al
Ladhiqiyah (Latakia), Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a,
Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq
(Damascus), Tartus
Independence:
17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French
administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 April (1946)
Constitution:
13 March 1973
Legal system:
based on a combination of French and Ottoman civil law; Islamic law
is used in the family court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice
President Farouk al-SHARA (since 11 February 2006) oversees foreign
policy; Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006) oversees
cultural policy
head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10
September 2003); Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdallah
al-DARDARI (since 14 June 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president approved by popular referendum for a second
seven-year term (no term limits); referendum last held on 27 May
2007 (next to be held in May 2014); the president appoints the vice
presidents, prime minister, and deputy prime ministers
election results: Bashar al-ASAD approved as president; percent of
vote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 22-23 April 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NPF 172, independents 78
Judicial branch: