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| Continent: | Europe |
| Subregion: | Western Europe |
| Area: | 41,285 sq km (15,941 sq mi) |
| Capital: | Bern |
| Government: | Federal parliamentary republic |
| Population: | 7.6 million |
| Languages: | There is no Swiss language. Depending on where you are in the country the locals might speak Swiss-German, French, Italian, or, in the hidden valleys of Graubunden, Romansch, an ancient language somewhat related to Latin. All four are considered official languages. Around two-thirds of the population of Switzerland (63.7%) is German-speaking, located particularly in the center, north and east of the country. French (20.4%) is spoken in the west, around Lausanne and Geneva, while Italian (6.5%) and Romansch (0.5%) are spoken in the far south. Learning one of the other national languages at school is obligatory for all Swiss, so most citizens of the confederation are supposed to be at least bilingual. English is widely known, especially among professionals. |
| Religions: | Switzerland has no official state religion, though most of the cantons recognize official churches, in all cases including the Catholic Church and the Swiss Reformed Church. So that Christianity is the predominant religion of Switzerland, divided between the Catholic Church (41.8% of the population) and various Protestant denominations (35.3%). Immigration has brought Islam (4.3%, predominantly Kosovars) and Eastern Orthodoxy (1.8%) as sizeable minority religions. 11% of Swiss are of no religion. |
| Time: | GMT +1 |
| Currency: | Swiss franc (CHF) |
| Electricity: | 230V / 50Hz (European plug) |
| Calling Code: | +41 |
| Internet Domain: | .ch |
| Drives: | on the right |
| Visas: | As of December 12, 2008, Switzerland is now part of the Schengen zone and will now be issuing Schengen visas. That means that a visa to any other signatory state of the Schengen Agreement is valid in Switzerland too. No visa is required for citizens of the European Union states (although Switzerland is not a EU member), and those of some selected nations with whom Switzerland have special treaties. Among them are Australia, Canada, USA, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zea land, and South Korea. In order to enter and stay in Switzerland legally citizens of a number of other countries must obtain a proper visa. |
| Airports: | Major international airports of Switzerland are Zurich Airport (ZRH), also called as Kloten Airport; Geneva Cointrin International Airport (GVA) and EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL, MLH, EAP). The latter is an international airport near Basel (Switzerland), Mulhouse (France), and Freiburg (Germany). It is located in France, near the Swiss and German borders. There are some smaller airports, like Lugano Airport (LUG) and Berne Regional Airport (BRN). |
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