Switzerland is a country in Western Europe, one of the 8 entries this site files under that subregion. The long form of the name is Swiss Confederation. Bern is the capital.
By land area it covers 41,284 km², which ranks it 137th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind the Netherlands and just ahead of Bhutan. That makes it almost exactly the same size as the Netherlands.
Around 9.0 million people live there, placing it 101st of 250 by population — between Belarus above it and Sierra Leone below. Within Western Europe alone it is the 4th largest of 8 and the 5th most populous.
How Switzerland sits on the globe
The coordinates the dataset gives are 47.0° N, 8.0° E, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 5,232 km from the equator, in what geographers would call temperate latitudes.
Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Saint Pierre and Miquelon sit at almost exactly the same latitude on other parts of the globe.
5 countries share a land border with it: Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein and Germany. The largest of them by area is France, while the most populous is Germany. Together those neighbours hold about 220.2 million people.
Switzerland is landlocked. That is true of 45 of the 250 entries here, and it means every shipment in or out has to cross someone else's border first. 2 of its neighbours, Austria and Liechtenstein, are landlocked too. You can see the full picture on the landlocked countries page.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
People, population and language
Density comes out at around 218 people per square kilometre, which makes it densely populated. For comparison, the median entry on this list sits near 90 per square kilometre.
People from Switzerland are called Swiss.
It recognises 4 languages: French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. Romansh and Swiss German are listed for no other entry in this dataset, which makes them effectively unique to Switzerland. French, the first listed, is shared with 45 other entries worldwide.
Inside Europe it places 19th of 53 by population, and it accounts for 4.7% of everyone living in Western Europe.
Currency and codes
Money there is the Swiss franc (Fr., CHF). That currency appears nowhere else on this list.
Bern is the seat of government and the answer most quizzes are looking for.
Websites there use the .ch domain. Calls from overseas start with +41. Its ISO codes are ch and CHE, which is what most databases and flag files use.
As a sovereign state it is among the 193 UN members listed here. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Switzerland shares borders with 5 countries:
Fun facts about Switzerland
- Ranked by land area, Switzerland is 137th out of the 250 countries and territories on this site.
- French is official here and in 45 other entries worldwide.
- It shares land borders with 5 countries: Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein and Germany.
- Within Western Europe it is the 4th largest of 8.
- Its full official name is Swiss Confederation.
- It is 101st of 250 by population, with about 9.0 million residents.
- The Swiss franc is used here and nowhere else on this list.
Switzerland — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Switzerland?
- The capital of Switzerland is Bern.
- Is Switzerland landlocked?
- Yes. Switzerland has no sea coast, which makes it one of 45 landlocked entries in this dataset. Everything it imports or exports by sea has to cross a neighbour's territory first, and that transit dependency is a well-documented drag on trade costs.
- How big is Switzerland?
- Switzerland covers 41,284 km², ranking 137th of 250 by land area. That makes it almost exactly the same size as the Netherlands.
- What currency does Switzerland use?
- Switzerland uses the Swiss franc, written Fr. (currency code CHF). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- Is Switzerland a country?
- Yes. Switzerland is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- What is the population of Switzerland?
- Switzerland has a population of about 9.0 million, which makes it the 101st most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Belarus sits just above it and Sierra Leone just below.
- Where is Switzerland located?
- Switzerland is in Western Europe, part of Europe. Its reference coordinates are 47.0° north and 8.0° east, roughly 5,232 km from the equator in temperate latitudes.
- Which countries border Switzerland?
- Switzerland borders 5 countries: Austria, France, Italy, Liechtenstein and Germany. France is the largest of them by area.
- What language is spoken in Switzerland?
- Switzerland lists 4 official languages: French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. Romansh and Swiss German do not appear as an official language anywhere else in this dataset.
