PEOPLE
Switzerland sits at the crossroads
of several major European cultures, which have heavily influenced
the country's languages and cultural practices. Switzerland has
four official languages--German, French, Italian, and Romansch
(based on Latin and spoken by a small minority in the Canton Graubunden).
The German spoken is predominantly a Swiss dialect, but newspapers
and some broadcasts use High German. Many Swiss speak more than
one language. English is widely known, especially among professionals.
More than 75% of the population
lives in the central plain, which stretches between the Alps and
the Jura Mountains and from Geneva in the southwest to the Rhine
River and Lake Constance in the northeast. Resident foreigners
and temporary foreign workers make up about 20% of the population.
According to the Swiss Federal Office of Statistics, the population in Switzerland increased to 7,591,400 in 2007. Three-quarters of this growth was attributed to migration. Switzerland naturalized 22% more people in 2006 compared to 2005, totaling 46,700 persons. By the end of 2006, there were 850,000 foreigners working legally in Switzerland. The number of German immigrants, as confirmed in earlier reports, increased by 10.6% (+10,000). Portuguese workers also increased by 7.4% (+7000). On the other hand, the number of the Italians continued to drop by 3.2% (-5,000).
Almost all Swiss are literate. Switzerland's 13 university institutes enrolled 111,100 students in the academic year of 2004-05. About 25% of the adult population holds a diploma of higher learning.
The Constitution guarantees
freedom of worship, and the different religious communities co-exist
peacefully.
Switzerland consistently ranks high on quality of life indices, including highest per capita income, one of the highest concentrations of computer and Internet usage per capita, highest insurance coverage per individual, and high health care rates. For these and many other reasons, it serves as an excellent test market for businesses hoping to introduce new products into Europe.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Swiss (singular and plural).
Population (2007 est.): 7,591,400.
Annual growth rate: 3.2%.
Ethnic groups: Mixed European.
Religions: Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 4.3%, others 5.4%, no religion 11%.
Languages: German 63.7%, French 20.4%, Italian 6.5%, Romansch 0.5%, other 9.4%.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--100%. Literacy--100%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--3.9/1,000. Life expectancy--men 78.7 yrs., women 83.9 yrs.
Work force (3.96 million): Agriculture and forestry--4.2%. Industry and business--25.6%. Services and government--70.2%.
