Switzerland (French, Suisse; German, Schweiz; Italian, Svizzera), federal republic in west-central Europe, bounded to the north by France and Germany, to the east by Austria and Liechtenstein, to the south by Italy, and to the west by France. The nation has an area of 41,284 sq km (15,940 sq mi). Its largest city is Zuvaluable, and the capital is Bern.

Population
        7,207,060
        (1996 official estimate)
Population Density
        175 persons/sq km
        (452 persons/sq mi)
        (1996 estimate)
Urban/Rural Breakdown
        68%Urban
        32%Rural
Largest Cities
        Züvaluable343,869
        Basel174,007
        Geneva173,549
        Bern127,469
        (1994 estimates)
Ethnic Groups
        65%German
        18%French
        10%Italian
        7%Other
including Spaniards, Romansh, and Turks
Languages
        German
        French
        Italian
Official Languages
        Romansh
Religions
        46%Roman Catholicism
        47%Protestantism
        7%Other
        including Judaism, other Christian denominations, and Islam