SwitzerlandChapters
The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country 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.
Key indicators
- Area
- 41,277 km2
- Population
- 8,453,550 (July 2021 est.)
- Government type
- federal republic (formally a confederation)
- Languages
- German (or Swiss German) (official) 62.1%, French (official) 22.8%, Italian (official) 8%, English 5.7%, Portuguese 3.5%, Albanian 3.3%, Serbo-Croatian 2.3%, Spanish 2.3%, Romansh (official) 0.5%, other 7.9%; note - German, French, Italian, and Romansh ar
- GDP
- $747.969 billion (2020 est.)
- Growth rate
- -2.9% (2020 est.)
- HDI
- 2
- Capital
- Bern
Macroeconomic indicators
Growth is projected to become more broad-based during the projection period as the weak domestic economy gradually accelerates. The worldwide recovery will continue to support exports. Inflation will remain subdued and is projected to exceed 1% only at the end of 2019. The large current account surplus will persist.
Monetary policy remains accommodative. With rising consumer price inflation, currently negative policy rates are projected to start to be raised in 2019. The fiscal surplus will gradually decrease as exceptional revenues unwind. Pension reform is becoming increasingly urgent to ensure the system’s financial sustainability. Increasing childcare affordability and availability would remove some constraints on women's full participation in the economy.
Source: OECD - Economic Forecast
IMF Statistics:
| Subject descriptor | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Gross domestic product, constant prices Percent change |
2.756 |
0.761 |
1.260 |
1.620 |
1.588 |
|
Gross domestic product, current prices Percent change (Billions) |
705.546 |
715.360 |
749.424 |
782.014 |
816.372 |
|
Gross domestic product per capita, current prices Percent change (Units) |
83,161.895 |
83,716.813 |
86,673.501 |
89,370.253 |
92,190.423 |
|
Inflation, average consumer prices Percent change |
0.935 |
0.565 |
0.642 |
0.872 |
0.971 |
|
Volume of imports of goods and services Percent change |
-0.286 |
1.843 |
4.147 |
4.277 |
4.048 |
|
Volume of exports of goods and services Percent change |
2.890 |
2.019 |
4.014 |
4.349 |
3.855 |
|
Unemployment rate Percent change |
2.547 |
2.821 |
2.796 |
2.763 |
2.782 |
|
Current account balance Percent change (Billions) |
72.169 |
68.398 |
73.815 |
76.809 |
80.046 |
|
Current account balance Percent change |
10.229 |
9.561 |
9.850 |
9.822 |
9.805 |
Estimates
Source: IMF Statistics
Relationships with Luxembourg
Existing conventions and agreements
Non double taxation agreement
In order to promote international economic and financial relations in the interest of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Luxembourg government negotiates bilateral agreements for the avoidance of double taxation and prevent fiscal evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on fortune with third countries.
- Convention from 21.01.1993 (Memorial 1993, A No.101, p.2125)
- Effective as of 01.01.1994 (Memorial 1993, A No.101, p.2125)
- Protocol of Amendment from 25.08.2009 (Memorial 2010, A No.51, p.830)
- Effective as of 01.01.2011 (Memorial 2010, A No.51, p.830)
- Protocol of Amendment from 11.07.2012 (Memorial 2013, A No.114, p.1696 )
- Effective as of 01.01.2011 (Memorial 2013, A No.114, p.1696)
Air Services agreement
- Agreement from 09.04.1951 (Memorial 1952, p. 1011)
- Effective as of 02.27.1953 (Memorial 1953, p. 263)
Further information
Foreign Trade
The Statec Foreign Trade statistics provide information on the trade of goods - by product and by country. This information is collected respectively through the INTRASTAT declaration and on the basis of customs documents.
You can see the statistics on the website of the Statec.
Contact points in Switzerland
Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Switzerland
Ambassador with residence in Berne: Mr Jean-Claude MEYER
Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Berne
38 Sulgenauweg
CH-3007 Berne
Switzerland
Tel.: (+41 -31) 311 47 32, (+41 -31) 311 68 76
E-Mail: berne.amb@mae.etat.lu ; berne.consulat@mae.etat.lu
Website: berne.mae.lu
Consulate General
Consul General with jurisdiction over the Cantons of Geneva, Vaud, and Valais:
Mr Pierre-Louis LORENZ
13, Chemin de la Rochette
CH-1202 Genève
Switzerland
Tel.: +41 22 91 91 929
Fax: +41 22 91 91 920
E-Mail: geneve.rp@mae.etat.lu
Honorary consuls
Honorary Consul with jurisdiction over the Cantons of Basel, Baselland, and Solothurn:
Mr Michael PFEIFER
Aeschenvorstadt 4
BP 1564
CH-4010 Basel
Switzerland
Tel.: (+41) 58 211 33 40
E-Mail: mpfeifer@vischer.com
Honorary Consul with jurisdiction over the Cantons of Zurich, Glarus, Zoug, Schaffhausen, Appenzell, St.Gallen, Grisons, Aargau, and Thurgau:
Mr Kaspar WENGER
Baugarten Zürich
Genossenschaft und Stiftung
Fraumünsterstraße 19
8001 Zürich
Switzerland
Tel.: (+41 ) (0) 44 218 80 43
E-Mail: kaspar.wenger@baugarten-zuerich.ch
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Luxembourg
Business Club Luxemburg-Schweiz
Mr François Muller
Tel: +41 44 366 55 11
Stockerstrasse 42
CH-8002 Zürich
Email: francois@muller-consulting.ch
Web: https://www.businessclub-luxemburg.ch/
Country risk as defined by Office du Ducroire for Switzerland
Ducroire is the only credit insurer covering open account deals in over 200 countries. A rating on a scale from 1 to 7 shows the intensity of the political risk. Category 1 comprises countries with the lowest political risk and category 7 countries with the highest. Macroeconomics experts also assess the repayment climate for all buyers in a country.
Link: Ducroire Office - Country Risk for Switzerland