, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Urs ZISWILER
chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter R. CONEWAY
embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11
FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44

Flag description:

red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that
does not extend to the edges of the flag

Economy
Switzerland

Economy - overview:

Switzerland is a peaceful, 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. Switzerland remains a safehaven 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 stagnated during
the 2001-03 period, improved during 2004-05, and jumped to 2.9% in
2006, and 2.6% in 2007. Unemployment has remained at less than half
the EU average.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$303.2 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$423.9 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$40,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 34%
services: 64.5% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

3.954 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 4.6%
industry: 26.3%
services: 69.1% (1998)

Unemployment rate:

2.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 1