--- title: Switzerland — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 5 description: Wikipedia's «Switzerland», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located at the intersection of Central, Western, and Southern Europe. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Switzerland/page/5/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Switzerland # Switzerland · page 5 From Wikipedia, [«Switzerland»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Switzerland/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Switzerland/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Switzerland/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Switzerland/page/4/) **5** [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Switzerland/page/6/) ### Science Main article: [Science and technology in Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_technology_in_Switzerland) See also: [List of Swiss Nobel laureates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Swiss_Nobel_laureates) Switzerland is among the [countries with the highest number of Nobel laureates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nobel_laureates_by_country), both in total and per capita; of the 28 Swiss nationals who have won the [Nobel Prize](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize), 23 were recognised in the sciences.[426](../../426/ "tree and pragmatics") Among the most famous is [Albert Einstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein),[\[192\]](../../page/6/#ref-192 "note 192") who became a Swiss citizen in 1901 and developed his theory of [special relativity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_relativity) in Bern.[427](../../427/ "tree and pragmatics") Among the Nobel laureates born or naturalised in Switzerland are [Vladimir Prelog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Prelog), [Heinrich Rohrer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Rohrer), [Richard Ernst](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_R._Ernst), [Edmond Fischer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_Fischer), [Rolf Zinkernagel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolf_Zinkernagel), [Kurt Wüthrich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Wüthrich) and [Jacques Dubochet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Dubochet).[428](../../428/ "tree and pragmatics") Over 100 laureates across all fields have a relationship to Switzerland.[\[193\]](../../page/6/#ref-193 "note 193")[\[194\]](../../page/6/#ref-194 "note 194")[429](../../429/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Nobel Peace Prize](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Peace_Prize) has been awarded nine times to organisations headquartered in Switzerland.[\[195\]](../../page/6/#ref-195 "note 195")[430](../../430/ "tree and pragmatics") Geneva and the nearby French department of [Ain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ain) co-host the world's largest laboratory, [CERN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CERN),[\[196\]](../../page/6/#ref-196 "note 196") dedicated to [particle physics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_physics) [research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_institute).[431](../../431/ "tree and pragmatics") Another important research centre is the Paul Scherrer Institute, which conducts multi-disciplinary research in the [natural](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_science) and [engineering sciences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_sciences).[432](../../432/ "tree and pragmatics") Notable Swiss inventions include [lysergic acid diethylamide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysergic_acid_diethylamide) (LSD), [diazepam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diazepam) (Valium), [Velcro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velcro), and the [scanning tunnelling microscope](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scanning_tunnelling_microscope), which earned inventors [Gerd Binnig](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerd_Binnig) and [Heinrich Rohrer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Rohrer) the 1986 [Nobel Prize in Physics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize_in_Physics).[433](../../433/ "tree and pragmatics") [Auguste Piccard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguste_Piccard) became the first person to enter the [Stratosphere](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratosphere) with his pressurised hydrogen ballon, while his son [Jacques Piccard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Piccard) became one of the first people to explore the deepest known part of the world's [ocean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean) (along with American [Don Walsh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Walsh)).[434](../../434/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Swiss Space Office](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Space_Office) has been involved in various space technologies and programmes.[435](../../435/ "tree and pragmatics") It was one of the 10 founders of the [European Space Agency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Space_Agency) in 1975 and is the seventh largest contributor to the ESA budget.[436](../../436/ "tree and pragmatics") In the private sector, several companies participate in the space industry, such as [Oerlikon Space](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oerlikon_Space)[\[197\]](../../page/6/#ref-197 "note 197") and Maxon Motors.[\[198\]](../../page/6/#ref-198 "note 198")[437](../../437/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Energy See also: [Energy in Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Switzerland) Electricity generated in Switzerland is 56% from [hydroelectricity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectricity) and 39% from [nuclear power](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power), producing negligible CO2.[438](../../438/ "tree and pragmatics") On 18 May 2003, two [anti-nuclear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-nuclear) referendums were defeated: Moratorium Plus, aimed at forbidding the building of new [nuclear power plants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_plants) (41.6% supported),[\[199\]](../../page/6/#ref-199 "note 199") and Electricity Without Nuclear (33.7% supported) after a moratorium expired in 2000.[\[200\]](../../page/6/#ref-200 "note 200")[439](../../439/ "tree and pragmatics") After the [Fukushima nuclear disaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_nuclear_disaster), in 2011 the government announced plans to end the use of nuclear energy in the following 20 to 30 years.[\[201\]](../../page/6/#ref-201 "note 201")[440](../../440/ "tree and pragmatics") In November 2016, Swiss voters rejected a [Green Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Party_of_Switzerland) referendum to accelerate the phaseout of nuclear power (45.8% supported).[\[202\]](../../page/6/#ref-202 "note 202")[441](../../441/ "tree and pragmatics") The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) is responsible for energy supply and energy use within the [Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Department_of_Environment,_Transport,_Energy_and_Communications) (DETEC).[442](../../442/ "tree and pragmatics") The agency supports the [2000-watt society](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000-watt_society) initiative to cut the nation's energy use by more than half by 2050.[\[203\]](../../page/6/#ref-203 "note 203")[443](../../443/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Transport Main article: [Transport in Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Switzerland) Switzerland had approximately 6,562,600 motor vehicles (excluding mopeds) in 2025.[\[204\]](../../page/6/#ref-204 "note 204")[444](../../444/ "tree and pragmatics") The largest category was passenger cars with 4,829,500 units (58.7% running on petrol, 24% on diesel, 5.2% on electricity and 11.9% hybrid).[\[204\]](../../page/6/#ref-204 "note 204")[445](../../445/ "tree and pragmatics") The densest [rail network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Switzerland) in Europe spans 5250 km and carried 614 million passengers in 2023.[\[205\]](../../page/6/#ref-205 "note 205")[\[206\]](../../page/6/#ref-206 "note 206")[446](../../446/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2023, each Swiss resident travelled on average 2446 km by rail, more than any other European country.[\[207\]](../../page/6/#ref-207 "note 207")[\[208\]](../../page/6/#ref-208 "note 208")[447](../../447/ "tree and pragmatics") Virtually 100% of the network is electrified.[448](../../448/ "tree and pragmatics") 60% of the network is operated by the [Swiss Federal Railways](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Federal_Railways) (SBB CFF FFS).[449](../../449/ "tree and pragmatics") Besides the second largest [standard gauge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_gauge) railway company, [BLS AG](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BLS_AG), two railways companies operate on [narrow gauge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrow_gauge) networks: the [Rhaetian Railway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhaetian_Railway) (RhB) in Graubünden, which includes some World Heritage lines,[\[209\]](../../page/6/#ref-209 "note 209") and the [Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matterhorn_Gotthard_Bahn) (MGB), which co-operates with RhB the [Glacier Express](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier_Express) between [Zermatt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zermatt) and [St. Moritz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Moritz)/[Davos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davos).[450](../../450/ "tree and pragmatics") Switzerland operates the [world's longest and deepest railway tunnel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest_tunnels) and the first flat, low-level route through the Alps, the 57.1 km [Gotthard Base Tunnel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotthard_Base_Tunnel), the largest part of the [New Railway Link through the Alps (NRLA)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NRLA) project.[451](../../451/ "tree and pragmatics") [Public transport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_transport) is very popular.[452](../../452/ "tree and pragmatics") For example, a 2010 microcensus discovered that in [Zurich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zurich), Switzerland's largest city, 32% of its inhabitants use [the city's public transport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_transport_in_Zurich) regularly (trams or trolleybuses, of which 60% used at least those two modes), while 26% depended on a personal vehicle.[453](../../453/ "tree and pragmatics") Fewer than half the residents owned a car or a motorcycle.[\[210\]](../../page/6/#ref-210 "note 210")[454](../../454/ "tree and pragmatics") Switzerland has a publicly managed, toll-free road network financed by highway permits as well as vehicle and petrol taxes.[455](../../455/ "tree and pragmatics") The Swiss autobahn/autoroute system requires the annual purchase of a [vignette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vignette_%28road_tax%29) (toll sticker)—for 40 [Swiss francs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_franc)—to use its roadways, including passenger cars and trucks.[456](../../456/ "tree and pragmatics") The Swiss autobahn/autoroute network stretches for 2259 km and has one of the highest motorway densities in the world.[\[211\]](../../page/6/#ref-211 "note 211")[\[212\]](../../page/6/#ref-212 "note 212")[457](../../457/ "tree and pragmatics") [Zurich Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zurich_Airport) is Switzerland's largest international flight gateway; it handled 31.2 million passengers in 2024.[\[213\]](../../page/6/#ref-213 "note 213")[458](../../458/ "tree and pragmatics") The other international airports are [Geneva Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Airport) (13.9 million passengers in 2012),[\[214\]](../../page/6/#ref-214 "note 214") [EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuroAirport_Basel_Mulhouse_Freiburg) (located in France), [Bern Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bern_Airport), [Lugano Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugano_Airport), [St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Gallen-Altenrhein_Airport) and [Sion Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sion_Airport).[459](../../459/ "tree and pragmatics") [Swiss International Air Lines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_International_Air_Lines) is the flag carrier.[460](../../460/ "tree and pragmatics") Its main hub is Zurich, but it is legally domiciled in Basel.[461](../../461/ "tree and pragmatics") In November 2025, Switzerland's Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) granted [WeRide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WeRide), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, a driverless permit which authorises it to operate autonomously on public roads in the Furttal region.[462](../../462/ "tree and pragmatics") This is the first driverless Robotaxi permit for passengers issued in Switzerland.[\[215\]](../../page/6/#ref-215 "note 215")[463](../../463/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Environment Main article: [Environment of Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environment_of_Switzerland), [Waste management in Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_management_in_Switzerland) Switzerland has one of the best environmental records among developed nations.[\[216\]](../../page/6/#ref-216 "note 216")[464](../../464/ "tree and pragmatics") It is a signatory to the [Kyoto Protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol); alongside Mexico and South Korea, it was a founding member of the [Environmental Integrity Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_Integrity_Group) (EIG).[\[217\]](../../page/6/#ref-217 "note 217")[465](../../465/ "tree and pragmatics") The country is active in recycling and anti-littering programs and is one of the world's top recyclers, recovering 66% to 96% of recyclable materials, varying across the country.[\[218\]](../../page/6/#ref-218 "note 218")[466](../../466/ "tree and pragmatics") The 2014 Global Green Economy Index placed Switzerland among the top 10 green economies.[\[219\]](../../page/6/#ref-219 "note 219")[467](../../467/ "tree and pragmatics") Switzerland has an economic system for garbage disposal, which is based mostly on recycling and energy-producing [incinerators](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incinerator).[\[220\]](../../page/6/#ref-220 "note 220")[468](../../468/ "tree and pragmatics") As in other European countries, the illegal disposal of garbage is heavily fined.[469](../../469/ "tree and pragmatics") In almost all Swiss municipalities, mandatory stickers or dedicated garbage bags allow the identification of disposable garbage.[\[221\]](../../page/6/#ref-221 "note 221")[470](../../470/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Demographics Main article: [Demographics of Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Switzerland), [Swiss people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_people), [Crime in Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Switzerland) Further information: [List of Swiss people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Swiss_people) The Swiss population is about 9 million as of June 2024.[\[222\]](../../page/6/#ref-222 "note 222")[471](../../471/ "tree and pragmatics") Like other developed countries, Switzerland experienced rapid population growth during the [industrial era](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_era), with the number of inhabitants quadrupling between 1800 and 1990.[472](../../472/ "tree and pragmatics") Population growth is projected to continue to 2035, due mostly to immigration.[473](../../473/ "tree and pragmatics") Like [most of Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageing_of_Europe), Switzerland faces an [ageing population](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageing_population), with a fertility rate close to [replacement level](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replacement_fertility_rate).[\[223\]](../../page/6/#ref-223 "note 223")[474](../../474/ "tree and pragmatics") Switzerland has one of the world's oldest populations, with an average age of 44.5 years.[\[224\]](../../page/6/#ref-224 "note 224")[475](../../475/ "tree and pragmatics") According to the [World Factbook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Factbook), as of 2020, the largest ethnic group in the country is [Swiss](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_people) (69.2%), which includes several ethno-linguistic groups, followed by German (4.2%), Italian (3.2%), Portuguese (2.5%), French (2.1%), Kosovan (1.1%), Turkish (1%), and other (16.7%).[\[224\]](../../page/6/#ref-224 "note 224")[476](../../476/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Council of Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Europe) suggests a population of around 30,000 [Romani people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romani_people).[\[225\]](../../page/6/#ref-225 "note 225")[477](../../477/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Largest cities Main article: [List of cities in Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_Switzerland) ### Immigration Main article: [Immigration to Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Switzerland) In 2023, resident foreigners made up 26.3% of Switzerland's population.[\[24\]](../../page/6/#ref-24 "note 24")[478](../../478/ "tree and pragmatics") Most of these (83%) were from European countries.[479](../../479/ "tree and pragmatics") Italy provided the largest single group of foreigners, accounting for 14.7% of total foreign population, followed closely by Germany (14.0%), Portugal (11.7%), France (6.6%), Kosovo (5.1%), Spain (3.9%), Turkey (3.1%), [North Macedonia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Macedonia) [corpus](../../../North_Macedonia/ "in our corpus") (3.1%), Serbia (2.8%), Austria (2.0%), United Kingdom (1.9%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (1.3%) and Croatia (1.3%).[480](../../480/ "tree and pragmatics") Immigrants from [Sri Lanka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka) [corpus](../../../Sri_Lanka/ "in our corpus") (1.3%), most of them former [Tamil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_Tamils) refugees, were the largest group of Asian origin (7.9%).[\[226\]](../../page/6/#ref-226 "note 226")[481](../../481/ "tree and pragmatics") 2021 figures show that 39.5% (compared to 34.7% in 2012) of the permanent resident population aged 15 or over (around 2.89 million), had an immigrant background.[482](../../482/ "tree and pragmatics") 38% of the population with an immigrant background (1.1 million) held Swiss citizenship.[\[227\]](../../page/6/#ref-227 "note 227")[\[228\]](../../page/6/#ref-228 "note 228")[483](../../483/ "tree and pragmatics") In the 2000s, domestic and international institutions expressed concern about what was perceived as an increase in [xenophobia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenophobia).[484](../../484/ "tree and pragmatics") In reply to one critical report, the Federal Council noted that "racism unfortunately is present in Switzerland", but stated that the high proportion of foreign citizens in the country, as well as the generally successful integration of foreigners, underlined Switzerland's openness.[\[229\]](../../page/6/#ref-229 "note 229")[485](../../485/ "tree and pragmatics") A follow-up study conducted in 2018 reported that 59% considered [racism a serious problem in Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Switzerland#Racism).[\[230\]](../../page/6/#ref-230 "note 230")[486](../../486/ "tree and pragmatics") The proportion of the population that claimed to have been targeted by racial discrimination increased from 10% in 2014 to almost 17% in 2018, according to the Federal Statistical Office.[\[231\]](../../page/6/#ref-231 "note 231")[487](../../487/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Languages Main article: [Languages of Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Switzerland) Switzerland has four [national languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_language): mainly German (spoken natively by 62% of the population in 2026); French (22.7%) spoken natively in the west; and Italian (8.2%) spoken natively in the south.[\[232\]](../../page/6/#ref-232 "note 232")[\[233\]](../../page/6/#ref-233 "note 233")[488](../../488/ "tree and pragmatics") The fourth national language, [Romansh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romansh_language) (0.5%), is a [Romance language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_language) spoken locally in the southeastern trilingual [canton of Grisons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canton_of_Grisons), and is designated by Article 4 of the Federal Constitution as a national language along with German, French, and Italian.[489](../../489/ "tree and pragmatics") In Article 70 it is mentioned as an official language if the authorities communicate with persons who speak Romansh.[490](../../490/ "tree and pragmatics") However, federal laws and other official acts do not need to be decreed in Romansh.[491](../../491/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2016, the languages most spoken at home among permanent residents aged 15 and older were [Swiss German](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_German) (59.4%), French (23.5%), [Standard German](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_German) (10.6%), and Italian (8.5%).[492](../../492/ "tree and pragmatics") Other languages spoken at home included English (5.0%), [Portuguese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_language) (3.8%), [Albanian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanian_language) (3.0%), Spanish (2.6%) and [Serbian and Croatian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_and_Croatian) (2.5%).[493](../../493/ "tree and pragmatics") 6.9% reported speaking another language at home.[\[234\]](../../page/6/#ref-234 "note 234")[494](../../494/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2019 more than two-thirds (68%) of the permanent resident population indicated speaking more than one language regularly.[\[235\]](../../page/6/#ref-235 "note 235")[\[236\]](../../page/6/#ref-236 "note 236")[495](../../495/ "tree and pragmatics") The federal government is obliged to communicate in the official languages, and in the federal parliament simultaneous translation is provided from and into German, French and Italian.[\[237\]](../../page/6/#ref-237 "note 237")[496](../../496/ "tree and pragmatics") Aside from the official forms of their respective languages, the four linguistic regions of Switzerland also have local dialectal forms.[497](../../497/ "tree and pragmatics") The role played by dialects in each linguistic region varies dramatically: in German-speaking regions, [Swiss German](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_German) dialects have become more prevalent since the second half of the 20th century, especially in the media, and are used as an everyday language for many, while the [Swiss variety of Standard German](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Standard_German) is almost always used instead of dialect for written communication (cf. [diglossic usage of a language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diglossia)).[\[238\]](../../page/6/#ref-238 "note 238")[498](../../498/ "tree and pragmatics") Conversely, in the French-speaking regions, local [Franco-Provençal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Provençal) dialects have almost disappeared (only 6.3% of the population of Valais, 3.9% of Fribourg, and 3.1% of Jura still spoke dialects at the end of the 20th century), while in the Italian-speaking regions, the use of [Lombard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombard_language) dialects is mostly limited to family settings and casual conversation.[\[238\]](../../page/6/#ref-238 "note 238")[499](../../499/ "tree and pragmatics") The principal official languages have terms not used outside of Switzerland, known as [Helvetisms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helvetism).[500](../../500/ "tree and pragmatics") German Helvetisms are, roughly speaking, a large group of words typical of [Swiss Standard German](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Standard_German) that do not appear in [Standard German](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_German), nor in other German dialects.[501](../../501/ "tree and pragmatics") These include terms from Switzerland's surrounding language cultures (German Billett[\[239\]](../../page/6/#ref-239 "note 239") from French), from similar terms in another language (Italian azione used not only as act but also as discount from German Aktion).[\[240\]](../../page/6/#ref-240 "note 240")[502](../../502/ "tree and pragmatics") [Swiss French](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_French), while generally close to the French of France, also contains some Helvetisms.[503](../../503/ "tree and pragmatics") The most frequent characteristics of Helvetisms are in vocabulary, phrases, and pronunciation, although certain Helvetisms denote themselves as special in syntax and [orthography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthography).[504](../../504/ "tree and pragmatics") [Duden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duden), the comprehensive German dictionary, contains about 3000 Helvetisms.[\[240\]](../../page/6/#ref-240 "note 240")[505](../../505/ "tree and pragmatics") Current French dictionaries, such as the [Petit Larousse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petit_Larousse), include several hundred Helvetisms; notably, Swiss French uses different terms than that of France for the numbers 70 (septante) and 90 (nonante) and often 80 (huitante) as well.[\[241\]](../../page/6/#ref-241 "note 241")[506](../../506/ "tree and pragmatics") Learning one of the other national languages is compulsory for all Swiss pupils, hence many Swiss are supposed to be at least [bilingual](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilingual), especially those belonging to linguistic minority groups.[\[242\]](../../page/6/#ref-242 "note 242")[507](../../507/ "tree and pragmatics") Because the largest part of Switzerland is German-speaking, many French, Italian, and Romansh speakers migrating to the rest of Switzerland and the children of those non-German-speaking Swiss born within the rest of Switzerland speak German.[508](../../508/ "tree and pragmatics") While learning one of the other national languages at school is important, most Swiss learn English to communicate with Swiss speakers of other languages, as it is perceived as a neutral means of communication.[509](../../509/ "tree and pragmatics") English often functions as the de facto [lingua franca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingua_franca).[\[243\]](../../page/6/#ref-243 "note 243")[510](../../510/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Religion Main article: [Religion in Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Switzerland) [Christianity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity) is the predominant religion according to national surveys of Swiss Federal Statistical Office,[\[245\]](../../page/6/#ref-245 "note 245") divided between the [Catholic Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church) (31.9% of the population), the [Swiss Reformed Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Reformed_Church) (20.4%) and other Christian denominations.[\[5\]](../../page/6/#ref-5 "note 5")[511](../../511/ "tree and pragmatics") Switzerland has no official [state religion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_religion), though most [cantons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantons_of_Switzerland) (except [Geneva](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canton_of_Geneva) and [Neuchâtel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canton_of_Neuchâtel)) recognise official churches, either the Catholic Church or the Swiss Reformed Church.[512](../../512/ "tree and pragmatics") These churches, and in some cantons the [Old Catholic Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Catholic_Church) and Jewish congregations, are financed by official taxation of members.[\[246\]](../../page/6/#ref-246 "note 246")[513](../../513/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2020, the Roman Catholic Church had 3,048,475 registered and [church tax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_tax) paying members (corresponding to 35.2% of the total population), while the Swiss Reformed Church had 2,015,816 members (23.3% of the total population).[\[247\]](../../page/6/#ref-247 "note 247")[\[248\]](../../page/6/#ref-248 "note 248")[514](../../514/ "tree and pragmatics") As of 2023, according to a national survey conducted by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office,[\[245\]](../../page/6/#ref-245 "note 245") the next largest Christian groups are [Eastern](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church) and [Oriental Orthodoxy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Orthodox_Churches) (2.8%), [Reformed Evangelicalism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformed_evangelical) (1.1%), Neo-[Pietism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietism) (0.4%), [Pentecostalism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecostalism) and other [Charismatic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charismatic_Christianity) communities (0.4%, mostly incorporated in the [Schweizer Pfingstmission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schweizer_Pfingstmission)), [Adventism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventism) (0.4%), [Apostolic communities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Apostolic_Church) (0.2%), the [Old Catholic Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Catholic_Church) (0.1%), and other Christian denominations (0.3%).[515](../../515/ "tree and pragmatics") Non-Christian religions are [Islam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Switzerland) (5.8%), [Hinduism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism) (0.6%), [Buddhism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism) (0.5%), [Judaism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism) (0.2%) and others (0.2%).[\[5\]](../../page/6/#ref-5 "note 5")[\[245\]](../../page/6/#ref-245 "note 245")[516](../../516/ "tree and pragmatics") Close to one-third (33.8%) of the population are not affiliated with a religious community.[\[5\]](../../page/6/#ref-5 "note 5")[517](../../517/ "tree and pragmatics") Some traditionally Protestant cantons and cities have a slight Catholic majority, reflecting a growing trend in seculairsation and irreligion since 1970; as 2012, the proportion of religiously unaffiliated people was largest in Basel-City (42%), canton of Neuchâtel (38%), canton of Geneva (35%), canton of Vaud (26%), or Zurich city (city: \>25%; canton: 23%).[\[249\]](../../page/6/#ref-249 "note 249")[518](../../518/ "tree and pragmatics") By 2024, half the Swiss population never attended a religious event in the 12 months preceding, according to the Federal Statistical Office.[519](../../519/ "tree and pragmatics") More than a quarter who left their religion cite loss of faith or disagreement with their religious community.[\[250\]](../../page/6/#ref-250 "note 250")[520](../../520/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Switzerland/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Switzerland/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Switzerland/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Switzerland/page/4/) **5** [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Switzerland/page/6/) - ← previous: [page 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Switzerland/page/4/) - next →: [page 6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Switzerland/page/6/) - ↑ back to [English Wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/)