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Compare Switzerland (2001) - Holy See (Vatican City) (2001)

Compare Switzerland (2001) z Holy See (Vatican City) (2001)

 Switzerland (2001)Holy See (Vatican City) (2001)
 SwitzerlandHoly See (Vatican City)
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 -
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.)
-
Agriculture - products grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs -
Airports 67 (2000 est.) none
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.)
-
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
25

under 914 m:
25 (2000 est.)
-
Area total:
41,290 sq km

land:
39,770 sq km

water:
1,520 sq km
total:
0.44 sq km

land:
0.44 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
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. Popes in their secular role ruled much of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Vatican and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include the failing health of Pope John Paul II, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the adjustment of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.
Birth rate 10.12 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) -
Budget revenues:
$32.66 billion

expenditures:
$34.89 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.3 billion (1998 est.)
revenues:
$209.6 million

expenditures:
$198.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Capital Bern Vatican City
Climate temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 29 May 1874 Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
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:
The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)

conventional short form:
Holy See (Vatican City)

local long form:
Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)

local short form:
Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Currency Swiss franc (CHF) Italian lira (ITL); euro (EUR)
Death rate 8.77 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) -
Debt - external $NA -
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
chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant)

embassy:
Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00162 Rome

mailing address:
PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624

telephone:
[39] (06) 4674-3428

FAX:
[39] (06) 5758346
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
chief of mission:
Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele MONTALVO

chancery:
3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 333-7121
Disputes - international none none
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. This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
Electricity - consumption 51.862 billion kWh (1999) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 31.955 billion kWh (1999) -
Electricity - imports 21.723 billion kWh (1999) NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy
Electricity - production 66.768 billion kWh (1999) -
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
3.44%

hydro:
59.16%

nuclear:
35.43%

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

hydro:
NA%

nuclear:
NA%

other:
NA%
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Lake Maggiore 195 m

highest point:
Dufourspitze 4,634 m
lowest point:
unnamed location 19 m

highest point:
unnamed location 75 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 NA
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
party to:
none of the selected agreements

signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Ethnic groups German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6% Italians, Swiss, other
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) euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Vatican lire per US dollar - 2,099 (2000), 1817.2 (1999), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996); note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira; the Vatican will start using euros in 2002 in conjunction with Italy at a fixed rate of 1,936.17 lire per euro
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:
Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978)

head of government:
Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since 2 December 1990)

cabinet:
Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope

elections:
pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope

election results:
Karol WOJTYLA elected pope
Exports $91.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000) -
Exports - commodities machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products -
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) -
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band
GDP purchasing power parity - $207 billion (2000 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
2.8%

industry:
31.1%

services:
66.1% (1995)
-
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $28,600 (2000 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 3% (2000 est.) -
Geographic coordinates 47 00 N, 8 00 E 41 54 N, 12 27 E
Geography - note landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest elevations in Europe urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
Heliports - 1 (2000 est.)
Highways total:
71,059 km (including 1,638 km of expressways)

paved:
71,059 km

unpaved:
0 km (1999)
none; all city streets
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 kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy
Imports - commodities machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles -
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) -
Independence 1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation) 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
Industrial production growth rate 8.6% (2000 est.) -
Industries machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Infant mortality rate 4.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) -
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.5% (2000 est.) -
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 CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WHO (observer), WIPO, WToO (observer), WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000) 93 (Holy See and Italy) (2000)
Irrigated land 250 sq km (1993 est.) 0 sq km (1993)
Judicial branch Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly) none; normally handled by Italy
Labor force 3.9 million (964,000 foreign workers, mostly Italian) (1998 est.) NA
Labor force - by occupation services 69.1%, industry 26.3%, agriculture 4.6% (1998 est.) agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%; note - dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican
Land boundaries total:
1,852 km

border countries:
Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
total:
3.2 km

border countries:
Italy 3.2 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%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
100% (urban area)
Languages German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch 0.6%, other 8.9% Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
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 NA
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 Pontifical Commission
Life expectancy at birth total population:
79.73 years

male:
76.85 years

female:
82.76 years (2001 est.)
-
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
99% (1980 est.)

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
definition:
NA

total population:
100%

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
Location Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Map references Europe Europe
Maritime claims none (landlocked) none (landlocked)
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.)
-
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City to provide security and protect the Pope
Military branches Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $3.1 billion (FY98) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.2% (FY98) -
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) Coronation Day of Pope JOHN PAUL II, 22 October (1978)
Nationality noun:
Swiss (singular and plural)

adjective:
Swiss
noun:
none

adjective:
none
Natural hazards avalanches, landslides, flash floods NA
Natural resources hydropower potential, timber, salt none
Net migration rate 1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -
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
Political pressure groups and leaders NA none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
Population 7,283,274 (July 2001 est.) 890 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.27% (2001 est.) 1.15% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Basel none
Radio broadcast stations AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998) AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios 7.1 million (1997) NA
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)
total:
862 m; note - a spur of the Italian Railways system, serving Rome's Saint Peter's station

standard gauge:
862 m 1.435-m gauge (1999)
Religions Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990) Roman Catholic
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 limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
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:
automatic exchange

domestic:
tied into Italian system

international:
uses Italian system
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) 1 (1996)
Terrain mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes low hill
Total fertility rate 1.47 children born/woman (2001 est.) -
Unemployment rate 1.9% (2000 est.) -
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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