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Compare Bangladesh (2001) - Switzerland (2003)

Compare Bangladesh (2001) z Switzerland (2003)

 Bangladesh (2001)Switzerland (2003)
 BangladeshSwitzerland
Administrative divisions 5 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi; note - there may be one additional division named Sylhet 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
Age structure 0-14 years:
35.04% (male 23,550,607; female 22,451,006)

15-64 years:
61.6% (male 41,432,123; female 39,434,633)

65 years and over:
3.36% (male 2,389,639; female 2,011,852) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 16.6% (male 623,428; female 591,709)


15-64 years: 67.8% (male 2,519,302; female 2,439,560)


65 years and over: 15.6% (male 470,257; female 674,382) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Airports 18 (2000 est.) 66 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
15

over 3,047 m:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
3

1,524 to 2,437 m:
4

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
5 (2000 est.)
total: 41


over 3,047 m: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 10


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 14 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
3

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
total: 25


1524 to 2437 m: 1


under 914 m: 24 (2002)
Area total:
144,000 sq km

land:
133,910 sq km

water:
10,090 sq km
total: 41,290 sq km


land: 39,770 sq km


water: 1,520 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Wisconsin slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Background Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of this extremely poor country annually floods during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development. Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and Switzerland was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations, but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
Birth rate 25.3 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 9.59 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$4.9 billion

expenditures:
$6.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00 est.)
revenues: $30 billion


expenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Capital Dhaka Bern
Climate tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October) temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Coastline 580 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times 18 December 1998
Country name conventional long form:
People's Republic of Bangladesh

conventional short form:
Bangladesh

former:
East Pakistan
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation


conventional short form: Switzerland


local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German), Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)


local short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera (Italian)
Currency taka (BDT) Swiss franc (CHF)
Death rate 8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 8.82 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $17 billion (2000) $NA
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Mary Ann PETERS

embassy:
Road 27, House 110, Banani, Dhaka

mailing address:
G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000

telephone:
[880] (2) 8824700 through 8824722

FAX:
[880] (2) 8823744
chief of mission: Ambassador Mercer REYNOLDS III


embassy: Jubilaeumsstrasse 93, 3005 Bern


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11


FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador-designate A. Tariq KARIM

chancery:
3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 244-0183

consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles and New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Christian BLICKENSTORFER


chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900


FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564


consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco


consulate(s): Boston
Disputes - international a portion of the boundary with India is indefinite; exchange of 151 enclaves along border with India subject to ratification by Indian parliament; dispute with India over South Talpatty/New Moore Island none
Economic aid - donor - ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)
Economic aid - recipient $1.575 billion (2000 est.) -
Economy - overview Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and least developed nations. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single most important product. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned enterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Reform is stalled in many instances by political infighting and corruption at all levels of government. Even so, Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA's Awami League government has made some headway improving the climate for foreign investors and liberalizing the capital markets. Progress on other economic reforms has been halting because of opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested interest groups. Switzerland is a 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 safe haven 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 dropped in 2001 to about 0.8%, to 0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003.
Electricity - consumption 11.216 billion kWh (1999) 53.43 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 34.54 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 24.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 12.06 billion kWh (1999) 68.68 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
93.7%

hydro:
6.3%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 1.3%


hydro: 59.5%


nuclear: 37.1%


other: 2% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Keokradong 1,230 m
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m


highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Environment - current issues many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally-occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998) German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Exchange rates taka per US dollar - 54.000 (January 2001), 52.142 (2000), 49.085 (1999), 46.906 (1998), 43.892 (1997), 41.794 (1996) Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.56 (2002), 1.69 (2001), 1.69 (2000), 1.5 (1999), 1.45 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Shahabuddin AHMED (since 9 October 1996); note - the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the 13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government Amendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times when Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed - at presidential direction - to supervise the elections

head of government:
Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA (since 13 July 1996)

cabinet:
Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president

elections:
president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 24 July 1996 (next to be held by NA October 2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president

election results:
Shahabuddin AHMED elected president without opposition; percent of National Parliament vote - NA%
chief of state: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal Assembly usually from among its own members for a four-year term


elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-year terms that run concurrently; election last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003)


election results: Pascal COUCHEPIN elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - NA%; Ruth METZLER elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - NA%
Exports $5.9 billion (2000) 10,420 bbl/day (2001)
Exports - commodities garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners US 31.2%, Germany 9.95%, UK 8.06%, France 5.82%, Italy 4.42% (1999) Germany 19.2%, US 10.2%, Italy 9.6%, France 8.9%, UK 7.7% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June calendar year
Flag description green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush countryside, and secondarily, the traditional color of Islam red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
GDP purchasing power parity - $203 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $233.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
30%

industry:
18%

services:
52% (2000 est.)
agriculture: 2%


industry: 34%


services: 64% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,570 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $32,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5.3% (2000 est.) 0.1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 24 00 N, 90 00 E 47 00 N, 8 00 E
Geography - note - landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways total:
201,182 km

paved:
19,112 km

unpaved:
182,070 km (1997)
total: 71,011 km


paved: 71,011 km (including 1,638 of expressways)


unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
3.9%

highest 10%:
28.6% (1995-96 est.)
lowest 10%: 2.6%


highest 10%: 25.2% (1992)
Illicit drugs transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries because of more stringent government regulations, used significantly less as a money-laundering center; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
Imports $8.1 billion (2000) 289,500 bbl/day (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, raw cotton, food, crude oil and petroleum products, cement machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Imports - partners India 12.2%, Singapore 7.8%, Japan 6.7%, China 6.4%, US 5.3% (1999) Germany 27.4%, France 11.4%, Italy 9.7%, US 8.5%, Russia 5.8%, UK 5.4%, Austria 4.6%, Netherlands 4.1% (2002)
Independence 16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh 1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation)
Industrial production growth rate 6.1% (2000 est.) 3.2% (2001)
Industries cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Infant mortality rate 69.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 4.36 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 4.47 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.8% (2000 est.) 0.5% (2002 est.)
International organization participation AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 10 (2000) 44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)
Irrigated land 31,000 sq km (1993 est.) 250 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are appointed by the president) Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly)
Labor force 64.1 million (1998)

note:
extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $1.71 billion in 1998-99
4 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 63%, services 26%, industry 11% (FY95/96) services 69.1%, industry 26.3%, agriculture 4.6% (1998)
Land boundaries total:
4,246 km

border countries:
Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
total: 1,852 km


border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Land use arable land:
73%

permanent crops:
2%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
15%

other:
5% (1993 est.)
arable land: 10.57%


permanent crops: 0.61%


other: 88.82% (1998 est.)
Languages Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch (official) 0.6%, other 8.9%
Legal system based on English common law civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad (330 seats; 300 elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies, 30 seats reserved for women; members serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 12 June 1996 (next to be held before 13 October 2001)

election results:
percent of vote by party - AL 33.87%, BNP 30.87%; seats by party - AL 178, BNP 113, JP 33, JI 3, other 3; note - the elections of 12 June 1996 brought to power an Awami League government for the first time in twenty-one years; held under a neutral, caretaker administration, the elections were characterized by a peaceful, orderly process and massive voter turnout, ending a bitter two-year impasse between the former BNP and opposition parties that had paralyzed National Parliament and led to widespread street violence
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats - members serve four-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats - members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)


elections: Council of States - last held NA 1999 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held 19 October 2003 (next to be held NA October 2007)


election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FDP 18, CVP 15, SVP 7, SPS 6; National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 27.7%, SPS 24.2%, FDP 16%, CVP 12.9%, Greens 7.7%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SVP 55, SPS 52, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13, other small parties 16
Life expectancy at birth total population:
60.54 years

male:
60.74 years

female:
60.33 years (2001 est.)
total population: 79.99 years


male: 77.11 years


female: 83.02 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
56%

male:
63%

female:
49% (2000 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99% (1980 est.)


male:


female:
Location Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Map references Asia Europe
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
18 NM

continental shelf:
up to the outer limits of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total:
35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 268,566 GRT/375,110 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 2, cargo 25, container 3, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2 (2000 est.)
total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 597,049 GRT/1,051,380 DWT


ships by type: bulk 16, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, specialized tanker 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: UK 6, US 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Village Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps), Armed Police battalions Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards
Military expenditures - dollar figure $559 million (FY96/97) $2.548 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.8% (FY96/97) 1% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
36,005,553 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,834,638 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
21,362,279 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,552,728 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 42,761 (2003 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Nationality noun:
Bangladeshi(s)

adjective:
Bangladeshi
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)


adjective: Swiss
Natural hazards droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Natural resources natural gas, arable land, timber, coal hydropower potential, timber, salt
Net migration rate -0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines natural gas 1,250 km gas 1,831 km; oil 212 km; refined products 7 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party or BCP [Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIAur Rahman]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Azizol HAQ]; Jamaat-E-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya Party or JP [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD] Christian Democratic People's Party (Christichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Philipp STAEHELIN, president]; Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER and Patrice MUGNY, co-presidents]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Christiane LANGENBERGER, president]; Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Christiane BRUNNER, president]; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER, president]; and other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 131,269,860 (July 2001 est.) 7,318,638 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 35.6% (FY95/96 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 1.59% (2001 est.) 0.21% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port, Narayanganj (2001) Basel
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (1999) AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios 6.15 million (1997) -
Railways total:
2,745 km

broad gauge:
923 km 1.676-m gauge

narrow gauge:
1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2000)
total: 4,511 km


standard gauge: 3,483 km 1.435-m gauge (3,472 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 982 km 1.000-m gauge (975 km electrified); 46 km 0.800-m gauge (46 km electrified) (2002)
Religions Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998) Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
1.19 male(s)/female

total population:
1.05 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
totally inadequate for a modern country

domestic:
modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some fiber-optic cable in cities

international:
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2000)
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services


domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks


international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 500,000 (2000) 4.82 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular 283,000 (2000) 1.967 million (1999)
Television broadcast stations 15 (1999) 115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Total fertility rate 2.78 children born/woman (2001 est.) 1.48 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 35.2% (1996) 1.9% (2002 est.)
Waterways up to 8,046 km depending on season

note:
includes 3,058 km main cargo routes
65 km


note: The Rhine carries heavy traffic on the Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee stretches; there are also 12 navigable lakes
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