Facts about Switzerland

1. 08

   Every Swiss citizen aged 18 and over serves mandatory military service lasting 21 weeks, with women becoming eligible in 2007 despite Switzerland's long neutrality.

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2. 07

   Nestled between four countries, Switzerland maintains armed neutrality and has not participated in any military conflict since 1815, making it Europe's longest period of peace for a single nation.

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3. 06

   Swiss chocolate production reaches approximately 220,000 tonnes annually, with Switzerland exporting more chocolate per capita than any other nation despite producing only 1% of the world's cocoa beans.

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4. 05

   Voters in Switzerland directly decide on laws and constitutional changes through referendums, with over 600 national votes held since 1848, making it the world's most active direct democracy.

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5. 04

   In 1291, three cantons signed the Federal Charter of Grütli, establishing the Swiss Confederation and making Switzerland one of Europe's oldest surviving republics.

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6. 03

   The Swiss franc, adopted in 1850, is one of only two currencies in the world backed by a gold reserve exceeding 50% of its monetary base, with Switzerland holding approximately 1,040 tonnes of gold.

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7. 02

   Four official languages—German, French, Italian, and Romansh—are spoken across Switzerland's 26 cantons, with German used by 63% of the population.

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8. 01

   Approximately 1,500 trains operate daily across Switzerland's 5,296 kilometers of rail network, the densest in Europe per capita.

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