Area
41,284 sq km (15,940 sq miles).
Population
7,261,210 (official estimate 2001).
Population Density
175.9 per sq km.
Capital
Bern
Population of Bern
122,500 (2001)
Geography
Switzerland is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Austria to the east and Italy to the south. It has the highest mountains in Europe, with lakes and waterfalls set amid green pastures. The highest peaks are Dufour Peak, 4634m, on the Italian border; the Dom, 4545m; the Matterhorn, 4478m; and the Jungfrau, 4166m (13,669ft).
Government
Federal Republic since 1848.
Head of State and Government: President Samuel Schmid since 2005.
Language
65% to 70% German in central and eastern areas, 19%t French in the west and 8% Italian in the south. Raeto-Romansch is spoken in the southeast by 1%. English is spoken by many people. Overlapping cultural influences characterise Switzerland.
Religion
Roman Catholic (43%) and Protestant (47%).
Time Zone
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.
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