Countryguidebook 
Hainan, China
SWITZERLAND
COUNTRIES A-Z
Switzerland Economy
Country Name: Swiss Confederation
Capital City: Bern
Population: 7,523,934 (2006)
Population Growth: 0.43% (2006)
Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)
Languages: German, French, Italian,
Area: 41,290 sq km
Inflation Rate: 1.2% (2006 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 3.8% (2005)
Domain extension: .ch
ECONOMIC DETAILS OF 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 larger than that of the big Western European economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. 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. Reflecting the anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth stagnated during the 2001-03 period, improved during 2004-05 to 1.8% annually and to 2.9% in 2006. Even so, unemployment has remained at less than half the EU average.
Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big Western European economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. 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. Reflecting the anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth stagnated during the 2001-03 period, improved during 2004-05 to 1.8% annually and to 2.9% in 2006. Even so, unemployment has remained at less than half the EU average.
GDP - purchasing power parity:
$255.5 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita:
$34,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - by sector (agriculture):
agriculture: 1.5%
GDP - by sector (industry):
industry: 34%
GDP - by sector (services):
services: 64.5% (2003 est.)
Export Partners:
Germany 21.5%, US 9.5%, France 8.6%, Italy 8.4%, UK 5.3% (2006)
Import Partners:
Germany 27.3%, Italy 10.1%, US 9.1%, France 8.1%, Russia 7.6%, UK 4.9%, Austria 4.1% (2006)
Export Commodities:
machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Import Commodities:
machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Exports Volume:
$166.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports Volume:
$162.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Labour Force:
3.81 million (2006 est.)
Unemployment Rate:
3.3% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Inflation Rate:
1.2% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Public Debt:
51% of GDP (2006 est.)
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.)
Electricity - production:
61.97 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - consumption:
56.93 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
27.8 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
27.1 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
2,241 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
268,100 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
10,420 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
289,500 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Natural gas - exports:
Natural gas - imports:
Current Account Balance:
$50.44 billion (2006 est.)
Currency Code:
Swiss franc (CHF)