Switzerland:
Economy

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Geography, People, Government, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Economy - overview	Definition 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)	Definition - World rank and map $300.2 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)	Definition $423.9 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	Definition - World rank and map 3.1% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita	Definition - World rank and map $41,100 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	Definition agriculture: 1.5% industry: 34% services: 64.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force	Definition 3.95 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation	Definition agriculture: 4.6% industry: 26.3% services: 69.1% (1998)
Unemployment rate	Definition - World rank and map 2.5% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line	Definition NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share	Definition lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25.9% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index	Definition - World rank and map 33.7 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	Definition - World rank and map 0.9% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)	Definition - World rank and map 21.5% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget	Definition revenues: $149.5 billion expenditures: $143.1 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt	Definition - World rank and map 45.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products	Definition grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Industries	Definition machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, and insurance
Industrial production growth rate	Definition - World rank and map 6.5% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production	Definition - World rank and map 56.1 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 58.26 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption per capita	Definition - World rank and map 7,684.5 kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports	Definition 32 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports	Definition 38.35 billion kWh (2005)
Oil - production	Definition - World rank and map 3,202 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 275,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption per 1,000 people	Definition - World rank and map 36.3 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports	Definition - World rank and map 11,360 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports	Definition - World rank and map 267,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves	Definition - World rank and map NA
Natural gas - production	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 3.26 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption per capita	Definition - World rank and map 430 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports	Definition - World rank and map 3.26 billion cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance	Definition - World rank and map $72.84 billion (2007 est.)
Exports	Definition - World rank and map $202.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities	Definition machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners	Definition Germany 21.9%, Italy 8.4%, France 8.3%, US 8.3%, UK 5.2%, Austria 4.4% (2006)
Imports	Definition - World rank and map $184.9 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities	Definition machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Imports - partners	Definition Germany 28.3%, Italy 10.4%, US 9.6%, France 8%, Belgium 4.2%, UK 4% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold	Definition - World rank and map $64.5 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external	Definition - World rank and map $1.34 trillion (30 June 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home	Definition $265.7 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad	Definition $591.5 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares	Definition $938.6 billion (2005)
Economic aid - donor	Definition ODA, $1.646 billion (2006)
Currency (code)	Definition Swiss franc (CHF)
Exchange rates	Definition Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003)
Fiscal year	Definition calendar year

Switzerland: Economy

Switzerland:
Economy