Switzerland

(WIPO code: CH) (latest review January 2021)

by KATZAROV S.A., Patent & Trademark Attorneys, European Patent Attorneys, Geneva, Switzerland

General Information

Area

41,285 sq. km; agricultural land 35.9%, forests 31.3%, built-up area 7.5%, lakes and rivers and other unproductive areas 25.3%.

Population

8,542,323 (estimated 2018), including 25.1% foreigners.

Capital

Bern.

Official languages

German (spoken by about 63.4% of the population), French (22.9%), Italian (8.4%) and Romansch (0.6%).

Currency

Swiss franc (CHF).

Administration

The Swiss Confederation comprises 26 republics (cantons) with partial independence, each having its own parliament, government and courts. The Federal Parliament and government are located in the capital Bern; the Federal Supreme Court is in Lausanne.

Imports

(2018) Total: 201.8 billion CHF - raw materials and semi-finished products: 44.3; consumer goods: 101.1; capital goods: 47; energy resources: 9.5.

Exports

(2018) Total: 233.2 billion CHF - machinery and electronics: 33.5; chemicals and pharmaceuticals: 104.4; precision instruments, watchmaking and jewelry: 49.6; textiles, apparel and shoes: 4.9; agriculture and forestry: 10.