Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a small, mountainous country located in South-Central Europe. It is entirely landlocked and bordered by France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein.
Though compact—roughly twice the size of New Jersey—Switzerland is remarkably diverse. It features three main geographic regions: the towering Swiss Alps in the south, the rolling hills of the Swiss Plateau (where most of the population lives), and the Jura Mountains in the northwest. Switzerland is not a conventional nation-state based on a single ethnic or linguistic group; instead, it is a “nation of volition” united by shared values, a highly decentralized federal system of 26 cantons, and four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh.
The country is globally renowned for its high standard of living, deep-rooted policy of armed neutrality (it has not fought an international war since 1815), and its direct democracy. While Bern serves as the de facto capital, cities like Zürich and Geneva are major global hubs for finance and diplomacy
Highlights
- Global Diplomacy: Switzerland is the birthplace of the Red Cross and hosts the headquarters of numerous major international institutions in Geneva.
- Economic Powerhouse: It regularly ranks at the very top of the Global Innovation Index and boasts one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world
- Culinary and Craftsmanship Exports: Switzerland is the undisputed leader in luxury watchmaking and is globally famous for its chocolate and cheese production.
- Natural Geography: The country holds about 6% of Europe's freshwater reserves and is home to more than 1,500 lakes, earning it the nickname "Europe's water tower".