Official name: Confédération Suisse (French); Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian) (Swiss Confederation).

Form of government: federal state with two legislative houses (Council of States [46]; National Council [200]).

Head of state and government: President.

Population (1998): 7,118,000.

Population projection: (2000) 7,218,000; (2010) 7,438,000.

Land use (1994): forested 31.6%; meadows and pastures 29.0%; agricultural and under permanent cultivation 11.0%; other 28.4%.