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Central Europe · Europe

Switzerland

Schweiz / Suisse
Capital
Bern
Population
8.7M
Area
41,285 km²
Language
German / French / Italian / Romansh

Switzerland is a country in Central Europe, Europe. Its capital is Bern, with a population of approximately 8.7M and a total area of 41,285 km². The official languages are German / French / Italian / Romansh and the currency is the Franc (CHF).

📊 Quick Facts about Switzerland

👥
Population
8.7M
total residents
📐
Total Area
41,285 km²
land coverage
🏙️
Pop. Density
211/km²
people per km²
💰
GDP (nominal)
$800B
total output
💵
GDP per Capita
$91,900
per person
💱
Currency
Franc (CHF)
legal tender
🗣️
Language(s)
German / French / Italian / Romansh
official
🌊
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
total shore
🕐
Timezone
UTC+1/2
UTC offset
🎂
Independence
1291
established
🕐
Local Time in Bern

Switzerland covers an area of 41,285 km² with a population density of 211/km² people per km². The country has a GDP of $800B ($91,900 per capita) and gained independence in 1291. It is a landlocked country with no coastline.

Did You Know?

Switzerland invented milk chocolate, the Swiss Army knife, Velcro, the World Wide Web (Tim Berners-Lee worked at CERN in Geneva), and LSD. It has not been involved in a foreign war since 1815.

See all 14+ facts about Switzerland

✈️ Travel Information for Switzerland

📅
Best Time to Visit
June–September (hiking), December–March (skiing)
Alpine, cold winters, warm summers at lower altitudes
💸
Cost of Travel
Expensive
vs global average
🛂
Visa
Visa-free for EU/US/UK (Schengen)
entry requirements

⚠️ Visa requirements change frequently. Always verify with the official embassy or consulate before travel.

Full Switzerland travel guide: visa, costs, plug, safety →

📍 Switzerland on the Map

🌍
📍 Zürich, Switzerland
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🏆 Switzerland World Rankings

1st
Wealth per Capita
Highest average household wealth per adult globally
1st
Watchmaking
Swiss watches are 50%+ of world's watch value exports
1st
Banking
World's most important offshore banking centre
1st
Chocolate
Highest per-capita chocolate consumption globally

🏛 Must-See Places in Switzerland

🗺️ Countries Bordering Switzerland

Germany
Germany
Berlin
Austria
Austria
Vienna
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
Vaduz
Italy
Italy
Rome
France
France
Paris

⚖️ Compare Switzerland with another country

See how Switzerland stacks up against its neighbours and peers. Each comparison shows population, area, GDP, language, currency and more, side by side.

SwitzerlandvsGermany
Switzerland vs Germany
SwitzerlandvsAustria
Switzerland vs Austria
SwitzerlandvsLiechtenstein
Switzerland vs Liechtenstein
SwitzerlandvsItaly
Switzerland vs Italy
Or compare any two countries →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Switzerland

What is the capital of Switzerland?

The capital of Switzerland is Bern.

What continent is Switzerland in?

Switzerland is located in Europe, in the Central Europe region.

What currency does Switzerland use?

Switzerland uses the Franc (CHF). The international calling code is +41.

What is the GDP of Switzerland?

Switzerland has a GDP of $800B, with a GDP per capita of $91,900.

🌍 Explore More Countries in Central Europe

Austria
Austria
Vienna
Germany
Germany
Berlin
Czech Republic
Czech Republic
Prague
Hungary
Hungary
Budapest

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