CHF to JPY Live Rate

Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

47 00 N, 8 00 E

36 00 N, 138 00 E

Europe

Asia

total: 41,277 sq km

land: 39,997 sq km

water: 1,280 sq km

country comparison to the world: 136

total: 377,915 sq km

land: 364,485 sq km

water: 13,430 sq km

note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)

country comparison to the world: 63

total: 1,770 km

border countries (5): Austria 158 km, France 525 km, Italy 698 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 348 km

0 km

0 km (landlocked)

29,751 km

none (landlocked)

territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers

varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes

mostly rugged and mountainous

mean elevation: 1,350 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m

highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m

mean elevation: 438 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m

highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m

hydropower potential, timber, salt

negligible mineral resources, fish

note: with virtually no natural energy resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil

agricultural land: 38.7%

arable land 10.2%; permanent crops 0.6%; permanent pasture 27.9%

forest: 31.5%

other: 29.8% (2011 est.)

agricultural land: 12.5%

arable land 11.7%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 0%

forest: 68.5%

other: 19% (2011 est.)

630 sq km (2012)

24,690 sq km (2012)

population distribution corresponds to elevation with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement

all primary and secondary regions of high population density lie on the coast; one-third of the population resides in and around Tokyo on the central plain (Kanto Plain)

avalanches, landslides; flash floods

many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoons

volcanism: both Unzen (1,500 m) and Sakura-jima (1,117 m), which lies near the densely populated city of Kagoshima, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Asama, Honshu Island's most active volcano, Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima, Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu

air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity

0air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere; following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan originally planned to phase out nuclear power, but it has now implemented a new policy of seeking to restart nuclear power plants that meet strict new safety standards; waste management is an ongoing isue; Japanese municipal facilities used to burn high volumes of trash, but air pollution issues forced the government to adopt an aggressive recycling policy

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps

strategic location in northeast Asia; composed of four main islands - from north: Hokkaido, Honshu (the largest and most populous), Shikoku, and Kyushu (the "Home Islands") - and 6,848 smaller islands and islets

8,236,303 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 98

126,451,398 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 10

noun: Swiss (singular and plural)

adjective: Swiss

noun: Japanese (singular and plural)

adjective: Japanese

German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%

Japanese 98.5%, Korean 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.6%

note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil (2004 est.)

German (or Swiss German) (official) 63%, French (official) 22.7%, Italian (official) 8.1%, English 4.9%, Portuguese 3.7%, Albanian 3%, Serbo-Croatian 2.4%, Spanish 2.2%, Romansch (official) 0.5%, other 7.1%

note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national and official languages; totals more than 100% because some respondents indicated more than one main language (2015 est.)

Japanese

Roman Catholic 37.3%, Protestant 24.9%, other Christian 5.8%, Muslim 5.1%, other 1.4%, Jewish 0.2%, none 23.9%, unspecified 1.3% (2015 est.)

Shintoism 79.2%, Buddhism 66.8%, Christianity 1.5%, other 7.1%

note: total adherents exceeds 100% because many people practice both Shintoism and Buddhism (2012 est.)

total dependency ratio: 48.8

youth dependency ratio: 22

elderly dependency ratio: 26.8

potential support ratio: 3.7 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio: 64

youth dependency ratio: 21.3

elderly dependency ratio: 42.7

potential support ratio: 2.3 (2015 est.)

total: 42.4 years

male: 41.4 years

female: 43.4 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 27

total: 47.3 years

male: 46 years

female: 48.7 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

0.69% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 144

-0.21% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 211

10.5 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 187

7.7 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 223

8.3 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 83

9.8 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 45

4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 86

population distribution corresponds to elevation with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement

all primary and secondary regions of high population density lie on the coast; one-third of the population resides in and around Tokyo on the central plain (Kanto Plain)

urban population: 74.1% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 1.1% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population: 94.3% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 0.15% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Zurich 1.246 million; BERN (capital) 358,000 (2015)

TOKYO (capital) 38.001 million; Osaka-Kobe 20.238 million; Nagoya 9.406 million; Kitakyushu-Fukuoka 5.51 million; Shizuoka-Hamamatsu 3.369 million; Sapporo 2.571 million (2015)

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.11 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

30.7 years (2014 est.)

30.7 years (2015 est.)

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 172

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 171

total: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 4 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 202

total: 2 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 2.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 224

total population: 82.6 years

male: 80.3 years

female: 85.1 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 10

total population: 85.3 years

male: 81.9 years

female: 88.8 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

1.56 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 189

1.41 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 209

72.9% (2012)

40.4%

note: percent of women aged 20-49 (2015)

11.7% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 7

10.2% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 23

4.25 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

2.37 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

4.7 beds/1,000 population (2013)

13.4 beds/1,000 population (2012)

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 99.9% of population

rural: 99.8% of population

total: 99.9% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.1% of population

rural: 0.2% of population

total: 0.1% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

19.5% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 112

4.3% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 186

5.1% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 66

3.6% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 115

total: 16 years

male: 16 years

female: 16 years (2014)

total: 15 years

male: 15 years

female: 15 years (2014)

total: 8.4%

male: 8.7%

female: 8.1% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 135

total: 5.1%

male: 5.7%

female: 4.5% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 148

3.4% (2010)

conventional long form: Swiss Confederation

conventional short form: Switzerland

local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German); Confederation Suisse (French); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian); Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh)

local short form: Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera (Italian); Svizra (Romansh)

abbreviation: CH

etymology: name derives from the canton of Schwyz, one of the founding cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy that formed in the 14th century

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Japan

local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku

local short form: Nihon/Nippon

etymology: the English word for Japan comes via the Chinese name for the country "Cipangu"; both Nihon and Nippon mean "where the sun originates" and are frequently translated as "Land of the Rising Sun"

federal republic (formally a confederation)

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

name: Bern

geographic coordinates: 46 55 N, 7 28 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

name: Tokyo

geographic coordinates: 35 41 N, 139 45 E

time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Berne/Bern, Fribourg/Freiburg, Geneve (Geneva), Glarus, Graubuenden/Grigioni/Grischun, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais/Wallis, Vaud, Zug, Zuerich

note: 6 of the cantons - Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden, Obwalden - are referred to as half cantons because they elect only one member (instead of two) to the Council of States and, in popular referendums where a majority of popular votes and a majority of cantonal votes are required, these 6 cantons only have a half vote

47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi

1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)

3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)

Founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291; note - since 1 August 1891 celebrated as Swiss National Day

Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933); note - celebrates the birthday of the current emperor

history: previous 1848, 1874; latest adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, effective 1 January 2000

amendments: proposed by the two houses of the Federal Assembly or by petition of at least one million voters (called the "federal popular initiative"); passage of proposals requires majority vote in a referendum; following drafting of an amendment by the Assembly, its passage requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and approval by the majority of cantons; amended many times, last in 2016 (2016)

history: previous 1890; latest approved 6 October 1946, adopted 3 November 1946, effective 3 May 1947

amendments: proposed by the Diet; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority of both houses of the Diet and approval by majority in a referendum; note - the constitution has not been amended since its enactment in 1947 (2017)

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts, except for federal decrees of a general obligatory character

civil law system based on German model; system also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Switzerland

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 12 years including at least 3 of the last 5 years prior to application

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Japan

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

18 years of age; universal

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation Alain BERSET (since 1 January 2018); Vice President Ueli MAURER (since 1 January 2018); note - the Federal Council, which is comprised of 7 federal councillors, constitutes the federal government of Switzerland; council members rotate in a 1-year term as federal president (chief of state and head of government)

head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Alain BERSET (since 1 January 2018); Vice President Ueli MAURER (since 1 January 2018)

cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) indirectly elected usually from among its members by the Federal Assembly for a 4-year term

elections/appointments: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term; election last held on December 2017 (next to be held in December 2018)

election results: Alain BERSET elected president; Federal Assembly vote - 190 of 210; Ueli MAURER elected vice president; Federal Assembly vote - 178 of 192

chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989); note - The Imperial Council ruled on 2 December 2017 that the Emperor will be allowed to abdicate in April 2019

head of government: Prime Minister Shinzo ABE (since 26 December 2012); Deputy Prime Minister Taro ASO (since 26 December 2012)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister

description: bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or Staenderat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats; members in multi-seat constituencies representing cantons and single-seat constituencies representing half cantons directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats; 195 members in cantons directly elected by proportional representation vote and 6 in half cantons directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons on 18 October 2015 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held on 18 October 2015 (next to be held in October 2019)

election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party as of 18 October 2015 - CVP 13, FDP 13, SDP 12, SVP 5, other 3; National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 29.4%, SPS 18.8%, FDP 16.4%, CVP 11.6%, Green Party 7.1%, GLP 4.6%, BDP 4.1%, other 8.0%; seats by party - SVP 68, SPS 43, FDP 33, CVP 30, Green Party 12, GLP 7, BDP 7

description: bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats; 146 members directly elected in multi-seat districts by simple majority vote and 96 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with half the membership renewed every 3 years) and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (475 seats; 295 members directly elected in single-seat districts by simple majority vote and 180 directly elected in multi-seat districts by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms); note - Japan's amended electoral law, changed in May 2017, reduced the total number of House seats to 465 - the number of House of Representatives seats in single-seat districts is reduced to 289 and the number of House of Representatives seats in multi-seat districts reduced to 176; the change is effective for the December 2018 House of Representatives election

note: the Diet in June 2017 redrew Japan's electoral district boundaries and reduced the current 275 seats in the House of Representatives to 265; the law, which cuts 6 seats in single-seat districts and 4 in multi-seat districts, was reportedly intended to reduce voting disparities between densely and sparsely populated voting districts

elections: House of Councillors - last held on 10 July 2016 (next to be held in July 2019); House of Representatives - last held on 22 October 2017 (next to be held by 21 October 2021)

election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDP 55, DP 32, Komeito 14, JCP 6, Osaka Ishin no Kai (Initiatives from Osaka) 7, PLPTYF 1, SDP 1, independent 5

House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDP 284, CDP 55, Party of Hope 50, Komeito 29, JCP 12, JIP 11, SDP 2, independent 22

highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of 38 judges and 31 substitutes and organized into 5 sections)

judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Federal Assembly for 6-year terms; note - judges are affiliated with political parties and are elected according to linguistic and regional criteria in approximate proportion to the level of party representation in the Federal Assembly

subordinate courts: Federal Criminal Court (began in 2004); Federal Administrative Court (began in 2007); note - each of Switzerland's 26 cantons has its own courts

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Saiko saibansho (consists of the chief justice and 14 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in constitutional issues

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice designated by the Cabinet and appointed by the monarch; associate justices appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the monarch; all justices are reviewed in a popular referendum at the first general election of the House of Representatives following each judge's appointment and every 10 years afterward

subordinate courts: 8 High Courts (Koto-saiban-sho), each with a Family Court (Katei-saiban-sho); 50 District Courts (Chiho saibansho), with 203 additional branches; 438 Summary Courts (Kani saibansho)

Christian Democratic People's Party (Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito Popolare Democratico Svizzero or PPD, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Gerhard PFISTER]

Conservative Democratic Party (Buergerlich-Demokratische Partei Schweiz or BDP, Parti Bourgeois Democratique Suisse or PBD, Partito Borghese Democratico Svizzero or PBD, Partido burgais democratica Svizera or PBD) [Martin LANDOLT]

Free Democratic Party or FDP.The Liberals (FDP.Die Liberalen, PLR.Les Liberaux-Radicaux, PLR.I Liberali, Ils Liberals) [Petra GOESSI]

Green Liberal Party (Grunliberale or GLP, Parti vert liberale or PVL, Partito Verde-Liberale or PVL, Partida Verde Liberale or PVL) [Jurge GROSSEN]

Green Party (Gruene Partei der Schweiz or Gruene, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Regula RYTZ]

Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti Socialiste Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Christian LEVRAT]

Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica di Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Albert ROESTI]

other minor parties

Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan or CDP [Yukio EDANO]

Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Kohei OTSUKA]

Group of Reformists [Sakihito OZAWA]

Japan Communist Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII]

Japan Innovation Party or JIP [Ichiro MATSUI]

Party of Hope or Kibo no To [Yuichiro TAMAKI]

Komeito [Natsuo YAMAGUCHI]

Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Shinzo ABE]

Liberal Party [Ichiro OZAWA] (formerly People's Life Party & Taro Yamamoto and Friends or PLPTYF)

New Renaissance Party [Hiroyuki ARAI]

Party for Japanese Kokoro or PJK [Masashi NAKANO]

Social Democratic Party or SDP [Tadatomo YOSHIDA]

The Assembly to Energize Japan and the Independents [Kota MATSUDA]

NA

other: business groups; trade unions

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, CPLP (associate), EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

chief of mission: Ambassador Martin Werner DAHINDEN (since 18 November 2014)

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Shinsuke SUGIYAMA (since 28 March 2018)

chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700

FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187

consulate(s) general: Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver (CO), Detroit (MI), Honolulu (HI), Houston, Las Vegas (NV), Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville (TN), New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City (OK), Orlando (FL), Philadelphia (PA), Phoenix (AZ), Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle, Saipan (Puerto Rico), Tamuning (Guam)

chief of mission: Ambassador Edward "Ed" MCMULLEN (since 21 November 2017) note - also accredited to Liechtenstein

embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern

mailing address: use embassy street address

telephone: [41] (031) 357-70-11

FAX: [41] (031) 357-73-20

chief of mission: Ambassador William F. "Bill" HAGERTY, IV (since 31 August 2017)

embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420

mailing address: Unit 9800, Box 300, APO AP 96303-0300

telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000

FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862

consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo

consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya

red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag; various medieval legends purport to describe the origin of the flag; a white cross used as identification for troops of the Swiss Confederation is first attested at the Battle of Laupen (1339)

white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center

Swiss cross (white cross on red field, arms equal length); national colors: red, white

red sun disc, chrysanthemum; national colors: red, white

the Swiss anthem has four names: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm)

lyrics/music: Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French], Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS [Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG

note: unofficially adopted 1961, officially 1981; the anthem has been popular in a number of Swiss cantons since its composition (in German) in 1841; translated into the other three official languages of the country (French, Italian, and Romansch), it is official in each of those languages

name: "Kimigayo" (The Emperor"s Reign)

lyrics/music: unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI

note: adopted 1999; unofficial national anthem since 1883; oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or earlier; there is some opposition to the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor

Switzerland, a country that espouses neutrality, is a prosperous and modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP among the highest in the world. Switzerland's economy benefits from a highly developed service sector, led by financial services, and a manufacturing industry that specializes in high-technology, knowledge-based production. Its economic and political stability, transparent legal system, exceptional infrastructure, efficient capital markets, and low corporate tax rates also make Switzerland one of the world's most competitive economies.

The Swiss have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to gain access to the Union’s Single Market and enhance the country’s international competitiveness. Some trade protectionism remains, however, particularly for its small agricultural sector. The fate of the Swiss economy is tightly linked to that of its neighbors in the euro zone, which purchases half of Swiss exports. The global financial crisis of 2008 and resulting economic downturn in 2009 stalled demand for Swiss exports and put Switzerland into a recession. During this period, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) implemented a zero-interest rate policy to boost the economy, as well as to prevent appreciation of the franc, and Switzerland's economy began to recover in 2010.

The sovereign debt crises unfolding in neighboring euro-zone countries, however, coupled with economic instability in Russia and other eastern European economies drove up demand for the Swiss franc by investors seeking a safe-haven currency. In January 2015, the SNB abandoned the Swiss franc’s peg to the euro, roiling global currency markets and making active SNB intervention a necessary hallmark of present-day Swiss monetary policy. The independent SNB has upheld its zero interest rate policy and conducted major market interventions to prevent further appreciation of the Swiss franc, but parliamentarians have urged it to do more to weaken the currency. The franc's strength has made Swiss exports less competitive and weakened the country's growth outlook; GDP growth fell below 2% per year from 2011 through 2017.

In recent years, Switzerland has responded to increasing pressure from neighboring countries and trading partners to reform its banking secrecy laws, by agreeing to conform to OECD regulations on administrative assistance in tax matters, including tax evasion. The Swiss government has also renegotiated its double taxation agreements with numerous countries, including the US, to incorporate OECD standards.

Over the past 70 years, government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (slightly less than 1% of GDP) have helped Japan develop an advanced economy. Two notable characteristics of the post-World War II economy were the close interlocking structures of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, known as keiretsu, and the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force. Both features have significantly eroded under the dual pressures of global competition and domestic demographic change.

Measured on a purchasing power parity basis that adjusts for price differences, Japan in 2017 stood as the fourth-largest economy in the world after first-place China, which surpassed Japan in 2001, and third-place India, which edged out Japan in 2012. For three postwar decades, overall real economic growth was impressive - averaging 10% in the 1960s, 5% in the 1970s, and 4% in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of the aftereffects of inefficient investment and the collapse of an asset price bubble in the late 1980s, which resulted in several years of economic stagnation as firms sought to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. Modest economic growth continued after 2000, but the economy has fallen into recession four times since 2008.

Japan enjoyed an uptick in growth since 2013, supported by Prime Minister Shinzo ABE’s “Three Arrows” economic revitalization agenda - dubbed “Abenomics” - of monetary easing, “flexible” fiscal policy, and structural reform. Led by the Bank of Japan’s aggressive monetary easing, Japan is making modest progress in ending deflation, but demographic decline – a low birthrate and an aging, shrinking population – poses a major long-term challenge for the economy. The government currently faces the quandary of balancing its efforts to stimulate growth and institute economic reforms with the need to address its sizable public debt, which stands at 235% of GDP. To help raise government revenue, Japan adopted legislation in 2012 to gradually raise the consumption tax rate. However, the first such increase, in April 2014, led to a sharp contraction, so Prime Minister ABE has twice postponed the next increase, which is now scheduled for October 2019. Structural reforms to unlock productivity are seen as central to strengthening the economy in the long-run.

Scarce in critical natural resources, Japan has long been dependent on imported energy and raw materials. After the complete shutdown of Japan’s nuclear reactors following the earthquake and tsunami disaster in 2011, Japan's industrial sector has become even more dependent than before on imported fossil fuels. However, ABE’s government is seeking to restart nuclear power plants that meet strict new safety standards and is emphasizing nuclear energy’s importance as a base-load electricity source. In August 2015, Japan successfully restarted one nuclear reactor at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima prefecture, and several other reactors around the country have since resumed operations; however, opposition from local governments has delayed several more restarts that remain pending. Reforms of the electricity and gas sectors, including full liberalization of Japan’s energy market in April 2016 and gas market in April 2017, constitute an important part of Prime Minister Abe’s economic program.

Under the Abe Administration, Japan’s government sought to open the country’s economy to greater foreign competition and create new export opportunities for Japanese businesses, including by joining 11 trading partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Japan became the first country to ratify the TPP in December 2016, but the United States signaled its withdrawal from the agreement in January 2017. In November 2017 the remaining 11 countries agreed on the core elements of a modified agreement, which they renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Japan also reached agreement with the European Union on an Economic Partnership Agreement in July 2017, and is likely seek to ratify both agreements in the Diet this year.

$516.7 billion (2017 est.)

$511.5 billion (2016 est.)

$504.5 billion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 40

$5.405 trillion (2017 est.)

$5.325 trillion (2016 est.)

$5.27 trillion (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 5

$680.6 billion (2017 est.)

$4.884 trillion (2017 est.)

1% (2017 est.)

1.4% (2016 est.)

1.2% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 185

1.5% (2017 est.)

1% (2016 est.)

1.1% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 174

$61,400 (2017 est.)

$61,400 (2016 est.)

$61,200 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 17

$42,700 (2017 est.)

$41,900 (2016 est.)

$41,500 (2015 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars

country comparison to the world: 41

33.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

33.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

34.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 18

27% of GDP (2017 est.)

27.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

27% of GDP (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 41

household consumption: 53.7%

government consumption: 11.5%

investment in fixed capital: 24%

investment in inventories: -0.7%

exports of goods and services: 67.5%

imports of goods and services: -56% (2017 est.)

household consumption: 55.9%

government consumption: 19.5%

investment in fixed capital: 23.5%

investment in inventories: 0.2%

exports of goods and services: 17.8%

imports of goods and services: -16.8% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 0.7%

industry: 25.6%

services: 73.7% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 1%

industry: 29.7%

services: 69.3% (2017 est.)

grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs, dairy products

vegetables, rice, fish, poultry, fruit, dairy products, pork, beef, flowers, potatoes/taros/yams, sugarcane, tea, legumes, wheat and barley

machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals

among world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods

2% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 131

1.4% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 155

5.159 million (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 81

67.77 million (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

agriculture: 3.3%

industry: 19.8%

services: 76.9% (2015 est.)

agriculture: 2.9%

industry: 26.2%

services: 70.9% (February 2015 est)

3% (2017 est.)

3.3% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 35

2.9% (2017 est.)

3.1% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 33

6.6% (2014 est.)

16.1% (2013 est.)

lowest 10%: 7.5%

highest 10%: 19% (2007 est.)

lowest 10%: 2.7%

highest 10%: 24.8% (2008 est.)

29.5 (2014 est.)

33.1 (1992 est.)

country comparison to the world: 133

37.9 (2011 est.)

24.9 (1993 est.)

country comparison to the world: 79

revenues: $223.5 billion

expenditures: $222.1 billion

note: includes federal, cantonal, and municipal budgets (2017 est.)

revenues: $1.678 trillion

expenditures: $1.902 trillion (2017 est.)

32.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 70

34.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 58

0.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

-4.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 152

32.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

32.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: general government gross debt; gross debt consists of all liabilities that require payment or payments of interest and/or principal by the debtor to the creditor at a date or dates in the future; includes debt liabilities in the form of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), currency and deposits, debt securities, loans, insurance, pensions and standardized guarantee schemes, and other accounts payable; all liabilities in the GFSM 2001 system are debt, except for equity and investment fund shares and financial derivatives and employee stock options

country comparison to the world: 154

223.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

222.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 1

calendar year

1 April - 31 March

0.5% (2017 est.)

-0.4% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 20

0.4% (2017 est.)

-0.1% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 19

0.5% (31 December 2016 est.)

0.75% (31 December 2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 132

0.3% (31 December 2015 est.)

0.3% (31 December 2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 135

2.6% (31 December 2017 est.)

2.65% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 175

1.5% (31 December 2017 est.)

1.48% (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 185

$619.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$555.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 11

$6.426 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$5.651 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

$1.335 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.232 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 16

$8.917 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$8.023 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

$1.267 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.166 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 16

$13.63 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$12.11 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

$1.519 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.495 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.541 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 10

$4.895 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

$4.378 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.543 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

$67.33 billion (2017 est.)

$70.54 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

$175 billion (2017 est.)

$188.1 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

$336.8 billion (2017 est.)

$318.1 billion (2016 est.)

note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland

country comparison to the world: 16

$683.3 billion (2017 est.)

$634.9 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

motor vehicles 14.9%; iron and steel products 5.4%; semiconductors 5%; auto parts 4.8%; power generating machinery 3.5%; plastic materials 3.3% (2014 est.)

Germany 14.4%, US 12.1%, UK 10.7%, China 9%, Hong Kong 6.1%, France 5.8%, Italy 4.9%, India 4.8% (2016)

US 20.2%, China 17.7%, South Korea 7.2%, Hong Kong 5.2%, Thailand 4.3% (2016)

$286.7 billion (2017 est.)

$264.9 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 18

$625.7 billion (2017 est.)

$583.5 billion (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles

petroleum 16.1%; liquid natural gas 9.1%; clothing 3.8%; semiconductors 3.3%; coal 2.4%; audio and visual apparatus 1.4% (2014 est.)

Germany 19.4%, US 9%, Italy 7.4%, UK 7.1%, UAE 6.2%, France 6.1%, China 4.7% (2016)

China 25.8%, US 11.4%, Australia 5%, South Korea 4.1% (2016)

$679.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$679.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

$1.217 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

$1.233 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

$1.664 trillion (31 March 2016 est.)

$1.663 trillion (31 March 2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 13

$3.24 trillion (31 March 2016 est.)

$2.83 trillion (31 March 2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

$1.23 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.217 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 9

$268.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$238.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 23

$1.556 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.528 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 7

$1.548 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.363 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -

0.99 (2017 est.)

0.99 (2016 est.)

0.99 (2015 est.)

0.96 (2014 est.)

0.92 (2013 est.)

yen (JPY) per US dollar -

111.1 (2017 est.)

108.76 (2016 est.)

108.76 (2015 est.)

121.02 (2014 est.)

97.44 (2013 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

64.06 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 45

976.3 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

58.45 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 44

933.6 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

30.17 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 152

34.1 billion kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 163

19.62 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 45

322.2 million kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

2.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 208

59.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 130

17% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 12

12.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 14

61% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 126

11.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 67

15% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 48

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 198

3,918 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 84

319.1 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 77

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 142

58,400 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

3.181 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 197

44.12 million bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 80

63,400 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 79

3.536 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

217,400 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 54

4.026 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

8,894 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 85

381,100 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 21

166,300 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 39

1.141 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 5

25 million cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 91

4.453 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

4.639 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 67

123.6 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 10

0 cu m (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 189

0 cu m (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 125

3.484 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 40

114.7 billion cu m (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

NA cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

20.9 billion cu m (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 76

45 million Mt (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 63

1.257 billion Mt (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

total subscriptions: 3,968,500

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 38

total subscriptions: 64,099,179

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 51 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 4

total: 11,242,100

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 136 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 81

total: 166,852,753

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

general assessment: highly developed telecommunications infrastructure with excellent domestic and international services

domestic: ranked among leading countries for fixed-line teledensity and infrastructure; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 140 per 100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks

international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) (2016)

general assessment: excellent domestic and international service

domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of every kind

international: country code - 81; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 7 Intelsat (Pacific and Indian Oceans), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), 2 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions), and 8 SkyPerfect JSAT (2012)

the publicly owned radio and TV broadcaster, Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SSR), operates 7 national TV networks, 3 broadcasting in German, 2 in Italian, and 2 in French; private commercial TV stations broadcast regionally and locally; TV broadcasts from stations in Germany, Italy, and France are widely available via multi-channel cable and satellite TV services; SRG/SSR operates 17 radio stations that, along with private broadcasters, provide national to local coverage (2015)

a mixture of public and commercial broadcast TV and radio stations; 6 national terrestrial TV networks including 1 public broadcaster; the large number of radio and TV stations available provide a wide range of choices; satellite and cable services provide access to international channels (2012)

.ch

.jp

total: 7,312,744

percent of population: 89.4% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 60

total: 116,565,962

percent of population: 92.0% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 6

number of registered air carriers: 12

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 163

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 26,843,991

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,322,379,468 mt-km (2015)

number of registered air carriers: 23

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 627

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 113.762 million

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 8,868.745 million mt-km (2015)

HB (2016)

JA (2016)

63 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 78

175 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 33

total: 40

over 3,047 m: 3

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 12

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 17 (2013)

total: 142

over 3,047 m: 6

2,438 to 3,047 m: 45

1,524 to 2,437 m: 38

914 to 1,523 m: 28

under 914 m: 25 (2017)

total: 23

under 914 m: 23 (2013)

total: 33

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 28 (2013)

2 (2013)

16 (2013)

gas 1,800 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2013)

gas 4,456 km; oil 174 km; oil/gas/water 104 km (2013)

total: 5,651.5 km

standard gauge: 4,424.8 km 1.435-m gauge (3,634.1 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 2 km 1.200-m gauge (2 km electrified); 1,188.3 km 1.000-m gauge (1,167.3 km electrified); 36.4 km 0.800-m gauge (36.4 km electrified) (2014)

country comparison to the world: 34

total: 27,311 km

standard gauge: 4,800 km 1.435-m gauge (4,800 km electrified)

dual gauge: 132 km 1.435-1.067-m gauge (132 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 124 km 1.372-m gauge (124 km electrified); 22,207 km 1.067-m gauge (15,430 km electrified); 48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km electrified) (2015)

country comparison to the world: 11

total: 71,464 km

paved: 71,464 km (includes 1,415 of expressways) (2011)

country comparison to the world: 66

total: 1,218,772 km

paved: 992,835 km (includes 8,428 km of expressways)

unpaved: 225,937 km (2015)

country comparison to the world: 6

1,292 km (there are 1,227 km of waterways on lakes and rivers for public transport and 65 km on the Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee for commercial goods transport) (2010)

country comparison to the world: 57

1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2010)

country comparison to the world: 44

total: 51

by type: bulk carrier 30, general cargo 12, oil tanker 1, other 8 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 115

total: 5,289

by type: bulk carrier 150, container ship 20, general cargo 1,963, oil tanker 714, other 2,442 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 3

river port(s): Basel (Rhine)

major seaport(s): Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Tomakomai, Yokohama

container port(s) (TEUs): Kobe (2,707,000), Nagoya (2,631,000), Osaka (1,970,000), Tokyo (4,150,000), Yokohama (2,787,000) (2015)

LNG terminal(s) (import): Chita, Fukwoke, Futtsu, Hachinone, Hakodate, Hatsukaichi, Higashi Ohgishima, Higashi Niigata, Himeiji, Joetsu, Kagoshima, Kawagoe, Kita Kyushu, Mizushima, Nagasaki, Naoetsu, Negishi, Ohgishima, Oita, Sakai, Sakaide, Senboku, Shimizu, Shin Minato, Sodegaura, Tobata, Yanai, Yokkaichi; Okinawa - Nakagusuku

0.71% of GDP (2016)

0.67% of GDP (2015)

0.66% of GDP (2014)

0.73% of GDP (2013)

0.69% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 132

0.93% of GDP (2016)

0.94% of GDP (2015)

0.96% of GDP (2014)

0.95% of GDP (2013)

0.97% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 119

Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe) (2013)

Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD): Ground Self-Defense Force (Rikujou Jieitai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jieitai, MSDF), Air Self-Defense Force (Koukuu Jieitai, ASDF) (2011)

19-26 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; every Swiss male has to serve at least 260 days in the armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatory training, followed by seven 3-week intermittent recalls for training during the next 10 years (2012)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; mandatory retirement at age 53 for senior enlisted personnel and at 62 years for senior service officers (2012)

none

the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South Korea since 1954; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwan

refugees (country of origin): 26,264 (Eritrea); 11,159 (Syria); 5,675 (Afghanistan); 5,458 (Sri Lanka) (2016)

stateless persons: 66 (2016)

stateless persons: 626 (2016)

a major international financial center vulnerable to the layering and integration stages of money laundering; despite significant legislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist and nonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshore entities and various intermediaries; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and Western European synthetics; domestic cannabis cultivation and limited ecstasy production