Language
German, French and Italian. A small minority speaks Rhaeto-Romanic.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	7.6 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	7.5 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	7.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	7.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	7.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	7.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	7.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	7.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	7.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
8.5 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Around two-thirds of the population are of German origin, while 18 percent and 13 percent are French and Italian respectively. Other groups include Portuguese, Germans and people from the former Yugoslavia.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Catholic 47 percent, Protestant 40 percent. There are Muslim and Orthodox Christian minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	75.9 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	75.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	75.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	74.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	74.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	74.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	73.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	73.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1971
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
89 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	16.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	16.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	17.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	16.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	16.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	16.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
Standard Time GMT +1, Summer Time GMT +2

Climate description
Temperate, but varies with altitude. Cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters. Cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers.

Currency
Swiss franc

Telephone dialling code
(+) 41

Driving (left/right)
Right

Average life expectancy

2005	81.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	80.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	80.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	79.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	79.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	78.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	78.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	77.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	77.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	75.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	75.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	75.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	83.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	83.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	83.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	82.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	82.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	82.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	4 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	4 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	4 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	3 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	5 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Births attended by skilled personnel
No data available percent

Maternal mortality

2005	5 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	7 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	7	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	9	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	7	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	11	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	10	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	11	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	<5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	<2.5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	<2.5 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	100 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	639 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	656 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	671 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	692 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	711 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	725 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	740 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	745 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	729 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	1164 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	1093 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	994 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	919 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	849 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	843 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	788 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	730 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	646 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	764 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	726 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	706 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	700 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	680 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	650 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	620 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	550 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	480 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	5 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	7 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	7	Transparency International
2005	7	Transparency International
2004	7	Transparency International
2003	8 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	12 (joint)	Transparency International
2001	12	Transparency International
2000	11 (joint)	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	60820 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	58800 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	56770 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	49930 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	42330 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	36740 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	37790 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	40110 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	424.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	387.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	372.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	363.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	325.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	278.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	255.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	249.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	3.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	1.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	2.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	-0.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	0.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	1.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	3.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	1.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	1.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	0.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	0.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	0.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	0.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.9 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
25.9 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	361 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	361 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	350 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	336 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	0.6 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.6 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.6 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.6 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.6 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
No risk
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	6 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	7 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	7 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	9 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	32	UNHCR
2007	31	UNHCR
2006	36	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	16	UNHCR
2004	12	UNHCR
2003	35	UNHCR
2002	56	UNHCR
2001	61	UNHCR
2000	70	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	46132	UNHCR
2007	45653	UNHCR
2006	48523	UNHCR
2005	48030	UNHCR
2004	47678	UNHCR
2003	50144	UNHCR
2002	54113	UNHCR
2001	58494	UNHCR
2000	57653	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997 )
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	1.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	1.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	1.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	6.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	5.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	5.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	5.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	5.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	6.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	6.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	6.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	6.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	5.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003