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Compare Turks and Caicos Islands (2001) - Switzerland (2002)

Compare Turks and Caicos Islands (2001) z Switzerland (2002)

 Turks and Caicos Islands (2001)Switzerland (2002)
 Turks and Caicos IslandsSwitzerland
Administrative divisions none (overseas territory of the UK) 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:
32.58% (male 2,996; female 2,908)

15-64 years:
63.51% (male 6,050; female 5,459)

65 years and over:
3.91% (male 316; female 393) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 16.8% (male 629,513; female 597,472)


15-64 years: 67.7% (male 2,512,273; female 2,433,396)


65 years and over: 15.5% (male 461,722; female 667,618) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Airports 8 (2000 est.) 66 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total:
4

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (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:
4

914 to 1,523 m:
2

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


under 914 m: 24 (2002)
Area total:
430 sq km

land:
430 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total: 41,290 sq km


land: 39,770 sq km


water: 1,520 sq km
Area - comparative 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Background The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands are presently a British overseas territory. 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 24.89 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 9.84 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues:
$47 million

expenditures:
$33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997-1998 est.)
revenues: $30 billion


expenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Capital Cockburn Town (on Grand Turk) Bern
Climate tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Coastline 389 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986; restored and revised 5 March 1988 29 May 1874
Country name conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Turks and Caicos Islands
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 US dollar (USD) Swiss franc (CHF)
Death rate 4.47 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 8.79 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $NA $NA
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Mercer REYNOLDS III


embassy: Jubilaeumsstrasse 93, 3001 Bern


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11


FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) 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 none none
Economic aid - donor - ODA, $1.1 billion (1995) (1995)
Economic aid - recipient $4.1 million (1997) -
Economy - overview The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1996, accounting for more than half of the 87,000 visitors; tourist arrivals had risen to 93,000 by 1998. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts. 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. 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. They continue to discuss further areas for cooperation. 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% and to about 0% in 2002.
Electricity - consumption 4.6 million kWh (1999) 52.62 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 31.4 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 24.33 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 5 million kWh (1999) 64.182 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 4%


hydro: 57%


nuclear: 37%


other: 2% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Blue Hills 49 m
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m


highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Environment - current issues limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater 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: 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 black German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.6668 (January 2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Mervyn JONES (since 27 January 2000)

head of government:
Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995)

cabinet:
Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor
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 $4.7 million (1993) $100.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners US, UK EU 61% (Germany 22.2%, France 9%, Italy 8%, UK 5.3%), US 10.6%, Japan 3.9% (2001)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus 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 - $128 million (1999 est.) purchasing power parity - $231 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
agriculture: 2%


industry: 34%


services: 64% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $7,300 (1999 est.) purchasing power parity - $31,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 8.7% (1999 est.) 2% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 21 45 N, 71 35 W 47 00 N, 8 00 E
Geography - note 30 islands (eight inhabited) 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:
121 km

paved:
24 km

unpaved:
97 km (2000)
total: 71,059 km (including 1,638 km of expressways)


paved: 71,059 km


unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 25% (1992)
Illicit drugs transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe 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 $46.6 million (1993) $94.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Imports - partners US, UK EU 79.9% (Germany 32.2%, France 11%, Italy 10.2%, Netherlands 5.9%, UK 4.6%), US 5.1% (2001)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) 1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 3.2% (2001)
Industries tourism, offshore financial services machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Infant mortality rate 18.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4% (1995) 0.5% (2002 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau) 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, 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
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 14 (2000) 44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 250 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly)
Labor force 4,848 (1990 est.) 4 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services (1997 est.) services 69%, industry 26%, agriculture 5% (1998)
Land boundaries 0 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:
2%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
98% (1993 est.)
arable land: 10.57%


permanent crops: 0.61%


other: 88.82% (1998 est.)
Languages English (official) German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch 0.6%, other 8.9%
Legal system based on laws of England and Wales, with a small number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas 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 Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 4 March 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - PDM 52.2%, PNP 40.9%, independent 6.9%; seats by party - PDM 9, PNP 4
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 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, Green Party 9, other small parties 18
Life expectancy at birth total population:
73.52 years

male:
71.37 years

female:
75.77 years (2001 est.)
total population: 79.86 years


male: 76.98 years


female: 82.89 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:
98%

male:
99%

female:
98% (1970 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99% (1980 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Europe
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine none (2000 est.) total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 509,943 GRT/896,309 DWT


ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 6, chemical tanker 4, petroleum tanker 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience:, United Kingdom 6, United States 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches - Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $2.548 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 1% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 1,841,867 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 1,561,689 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 20 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 42,597 (2002 est.)
National holiday Constitution Day, 30 August (1976) Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Nationality noun:
none

adjective:
none
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)


adjective: Swiss
Natural hazards frequent hurricanes avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Natural resources spiny lobster, conch hydropower potential, timber, salt
Net migration rate 13.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines - crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km
Political parties and leaders People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Wendal SWANN] 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) [Gerold BUEHRER, 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 18,122 (July 2001 est.) 7,301,994 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 3.41% (2001 est.) 0.24% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Grand Turk, Providenciales Basel
Radio broadcast stations AM 3 (one inactive), FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios 8,000 (1997) 7.1 million (1997)
Railways 0 km total: 4,406 km


standard gauge: 3,440 km 1.435-m gauge


narrow gauge: 900 km 1.000-m gauge; 10 km 0.800-m gauge


dual gauge: 56 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (3 rail system)


note: Swiss railways are virtually all electrified (2001)
Religions Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980) Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.07 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: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
fair cable and radiotelephone services

domestic:
NA

international:
2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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 3,000 (1994) 4.82 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1994) 1.967 million (1999)
Television broadcast stations 0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; cable television is established) (1997) 115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Total fertility rate 3.22 children born/woman (2001 est.) 1.47 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 10% (1997 est.) 1.9% (2002 est.)
Waterways none 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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