Official Name: Confédération Suisse (French); Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian) (Swiss Confederation)

Area: Europe

Size: 41,285 km² 

Coastline: Landlocked

Independence: de facto 22 September 1499 

Form of Govt.: Federal state

Head of Govt.: President

Capital: Berne

Largest City: Zürich

Demographics (2005): 7,507,000.   182 /km²

GDP per Capita (2005): $32,300

Languages: German, French, Italian, and Rumantsch.

Geography: Of the country's land area, 20% is urban and 3% is inland water. Additionally, the Alps and the pre-Alps regions account for 60% of the land area, the central plateau or Mittelland accounts for 30% and the Jura Mountains for another 10%. The Alps Mountain Chain runs through the southern half of the country from east to west and is divided by the Rhone, Reuss, Ticino and Upper Rhine River Valleys. The Jura Mountains are an out spur of the Alps running from the southwest to the northwest of the country. The central plateau lies between the two main ranges and is watered by the Aare River and fringed by great lakes. The Rhine River drains 68% of the country while the Rhone and its tributaries drains around 28%.

Climate: Switzerland has a temperate climate with conditions that vary with relief and altitude. Summers are generally warm with average annual precipitation varying from 600 mm to 2,000 mm depending on the region while winters are characterized by clear skies, although the central plateau experiences persistent cloud. Average temperature ranges in Zurich are from -3 to 2 degrees in January to 13 to 24 degrees in July.