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Compare Switzerland (2001) - Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2003)

Compare Switzerland (2001) z Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2003)

 Switzerland (2001)Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2003)
 SwitzerlandFalkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Administrative divisions 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Age structure 0-14 years:
16.97% (male 634,030; female 601,929)

15-64 years:
67.73% (male 2,505,450; female 2,427,408)

65 years and over:
15.3% (male 453,366; female 661,091) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA%
Agriculture - products grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products
Airports 67 (2000 est.) 5 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
42

over 3,047 m:
3

2,438 to 3,047 m:
4

1,524 to 2,437 m:
13

914 to 1,523 m:
7

under 914 m:
15 (2000 est.)
total: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
25

under 914 m:
25 (2000 est.)
total: 3


under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Area total:
41,290 sq km

land:
39,770 sq km

water:
1,520 sq km
total: 12,173 sq km


land: 12,173 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands
Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey slightly smaller than Connecticut
Background 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, may be rendering obsolete the country's concern for neutrality. Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and the islands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, first between Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. The UK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a naval garrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landed seven weeks later and after fierce fighting forced Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982.
Birth rate 10.12 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA births/1,000 population
Budget revenues:
$32.66 billion

expenditures:
$34.89 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.3 billion (1998 est.)
revenues: $66.2 million


expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.)
Capital Bern Stanley
Climate temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inches in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 1,288 km
Constitution 29 May 1874 3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998
Country name 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)
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Currency Swiss franc (CHF) Falkland pound (FKP)
Death rate 8.77 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population
Debt - external $NA $NA
Dependency status - overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador J. Richard FREDERICKS

embassy:
Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3001 Bern

mailing address:
use embassy street address

telephone:
[41] (31) 357 70 11

FAX:
[41] (31) 357 73 44
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Alfred DEFAGO

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
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Disputes - international none claimed by Argentina whose forces briefly occupied it in 1982, but now declares it will no longer seek settlement by force
Economic aid - donor ODA, $1.1 billion (1995) -
Economic aid - recipient - none
Economy - overview Switzerland, a prosperous and stable modern market economy with a per capita GDP 20% above that of the big western European economies, experienced solid growth of 3% in 2000, but growth is expected to fall back to about 2% in 2001. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. Although the Swiss are not pursuing full EU membership in the near term, in 1999 Bern and Brussels signed agreements to further liberalize trade ties, and the agreements should come into force in 2001. Switzerland is still considered 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. The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which goes to support the island's health, education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day; to date no exploitable site has been identified. An agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Tourism, especially eco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on money the government has in the bank. The British military presence also provides a sizeable economic boost.
Electricity - consumption 51.862 billion kWh (1999) 15.19 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 31.955 billion kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 21.723 billion kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 66.768 billion kWh (1999) 16.33 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
3.44%

hydro:
59.16%

nuclear:
35.43%

other:
1.97% (1999)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Lake Maggiore 195 m

highest point:
Dufourspitze 4,634 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Environment - current issues air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster
Environment - international agreements 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 German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6% British
Exchange rates Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.6303 (January 2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996) Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.67 (2002), 0.69 (2001), 0.66 (2000), 0.62 (1999), 0.6 (1998); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
Executive branch chief of state:
President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2001); Vice President Kaspar VILLIGER (since 1 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2001); Vice President Kaspar VILLIGER (since 1 January 2001); 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 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 6 December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2001)

election results:
Moritz LEUENBERGER elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 76%; Kaspar VILLIGER elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 72%
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Governor Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002); Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since NA March 2003); Financial Secretary Derek F. HOWATT (since NA)


cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor


elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch
Exports $91.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products wool, hides, meat
Exports - partners EU 65.8% (Germany 22.6%, France 9.2%, Italy 8.0%, UK 5.5%, Austria 3.2%), US 12.4%, Japan 4.0% (1999) Spain 76.2%, UK 9.2%, US 7.1% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
GDP purchasing power parity - $207 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $75 million (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
2.8%

industry:
31.1%

services:
66.1% (1995)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $28,600 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3% (2000 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 47 00 N, 8 00 E 51 45 S, 59 00 W
Geography - note landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest elevations in Europe deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season
Highways total:
71,059 km (including 1,638 km of expressways)

paved:
71,059 km

unpaved:
0 km (1999)
total: 440 km


paved: 50 km


unpaved: 390 km (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
2.8%

highest 10%:
25.2% (1992)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs 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 $91.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
Imports - partners EU 77.7% (Germany 31.0%, France 12.0%, Italy 9.7%, Netherlands 5.1%, UK 5.7%), US 7.1%, Japan 2.9% (1999) UK 57.9%, Spain 19.8%, Italy 16.7% (2002)
Independence 1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation) none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Industrial production growth rate 8.6% (2000 est.) NA%
Industries machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments fish and wool processing; tourism
Infant mortality rate 4.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.5% (2000 est.) 3.6% (1998)
International organization participation ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC ICFTU
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000) 2 (2000)
Irrigated land 250 sq km (1993 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly) Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Labor force 3.9 million (964,000 foreign workers, mostly Italian) (1998 est.) 1,100 (est.)
Labor force - by occupation services 69.1%, industry 26.3%, agriculture 4.6% (1998 est.) agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)
Land boundaries total:
1,852 km

border countries:
Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
0 km
Land use arable land:
10%

permanent crops:
2%

permanent pastures:
28%

forests and woodland:
32%

other:
28% (1993 est.)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (1998 est.)
Languages German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch 0.6%, other 8.9% English
Legal system 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 English common law
Legislative branch 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 a basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

elections:
Council of States - last held in 1999 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held 24 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2003)

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 - SPS 22.5%, SVP 22.6%, FDP 19.9%, CVP 15.8%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SPS 51, SVP 44, FDP 43, CVP 35, Greens 9, other small parties 18
unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - 2 ex officio, 8 elected by popular vote, members serve four-year terms); presided over by the governor


elections: last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2005)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8; note - 71% voter turnout
Life expectancy at birth total population:
79.73 years

male:
76.85 years

female:
82.76 years (2001 est.)
total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
99% (1980 est.)

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
-
Location Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina
Map references Europe South America
Maritime claims none (landlocked) continental shelf: 200 NM


exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total:
24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 435,966 GRT/780,458 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 12, cargo 6, chemical tanker 5, petroleum tanker 1

note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: UK 1 (2000 est.)
none (2002 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards British Forces Falkland Islands no regular indigenous military forces; (includes Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy), Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $3.1 billion (FY98) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.2% (FY98) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
1,849,034 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
1,570,918 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - military age 20 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
42,597 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291) Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Nationality noun:
Swiss (singular and plural)

adjective:
Swiss
noun: Falkland Islander(s)


adjective: Falkland Island
Natural hazards avalanches, landslides, flash floods strong winds persist throughout the year
Natural resources hydropower potential, timber, salt fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss
Net migration rate 1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Pipelines crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km -
Political parties and leaders 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) [Adalbert DURRER, 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) [Ruedi BAUMANN, president]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Franz STEINEGGER, 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 none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders NA none
Population 7,283,274 (July 2001 est.) 2,967 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.27% (2001 est.) 2.44% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Basel Stanley


note: the primary port is located in Stanley Harbour and known locally as FIPASS (Falkland Interim Port and Storage System); the facility consists of seven permanently moored barges providing 300 meters of berthing space; it was installed by the military after 1982 and handed over to the Falkland Islands Government in 1988
Radio broadcast stations AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998) AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 7.1 million (1997) -
Railways total:
4,492 km (1,564 km double track)

standard gauge:
3,317 km 1.435-m gauge (3,288 km electrified)

narrow gauge:
1,165 km 1.000-m gauge (1,165 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (1998)
0 km
Religions Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990) primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
Sex ratio 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:
0.69 male(s)/female

total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
-
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system 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)
general assessment: NA


domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries
Telephones - main lines in use 4.82 million (1998) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 1.967 million (1999) NA
Television broadcast stations 115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995) 2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service)


note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)
Terrain mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
Total fertility rate 1.47 children born/woman (2001 est.) NA children born/woman
Unemployment rate 1.9% (2000 est.) full employment; labor shortage
Waterways 65 km

note:
The Rhine carries heavy traffic on the Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee stretches; there are also 12 navigable lakes
none
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