Switzerland
Switzerland is a relatively small and mountainous country in Central Europe. Switzerland shares borders with France, Germany, Austria, and Italy. Three-fifths of the country is covered by the Alps; the Swiss Alps is a popular tourist attraction.
Quick Facts
Population: 8.293 million
Ethnic Groups: Swiss, (69.5%), German (4.2%), Italian (3.2%), Portuguese (2.6%), French (2%), Kosovar (1.1%), Other (17.3%), Unspecified (0.1%)
Languages: German or Swiss German(Official) (62.6%), French (Official) (22.9%), Italian (Official) (8.2%), English (5.4%), Portuguese (3.7%), Albanian (3.2%), Serbo-Croatian (2.5%), Spanish (2.4%), Romansch (Official) (0.5%), Other (7.7%)
Religions: Roman Catholic (35.9%), Protestant (23.8%), other Christiaan (5.9%), Muslim (5.4%), Jewish (0.3%), Other (1.4%), None (26%), Unspecified (1.4%)
Capital: Bern
CIA: The World Factbook — Last Updated December 26, 2019
Swiss in Canada
Swiss Population in Canada
155,120
Useful Links
Switzerland is a democratic nation well-known for its neutrality in international politics. It is one of the most prosperous countries in the world; its workforce is highly skilled and educated. It boasts a very high standard of living — its healthcare is excellent, life expectancy is high, and transportation infrastructure is extensive. The federal constitution guarantees religious freedom. In the past, there has been tension between Catholics and Protestants. Today, the tension has subsided but continues to exist. With a majority Christian population, it is unsurprising that Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Christmas are all holidays. It is difficult to speak of a Swiss church in Canada or of churches unique to Swiss immigrants. Since they belong to three major language groups, they have tended to join congregations speaking their particular tongue. Thus German-speaking Swiss of the Reformed or Roman Catholic persuasion have generally established churches together with other German-speaking immigrants of the same religious persuasion. Such is also true of Swiss from other linguistic backgrounds. This tendency has, of course, made it difficult for the church to serve as a focal point for Swiss-Canadian community life. Of the different religious groups, only among Mennonites can one find a significant Swiss influence.
- Central Intelligence Agency. (2019, December 6). The World Factbook: Switzerland. Retrieved December 26, 2019, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/switzerland/
- Encyclopedia of the Nations. (n.d.). Switzerland. Retrieved July 9, 2014, from http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/geography/Slovenia-to-Zimbabwe
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- Mandryk, J. (2010). Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation (7th ed.). Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing.
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- Statistics Canada. (2011, April 7). 2006 Census of Canada: Topic-based tabulations/Ethnic Origin, Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses and Sex for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census – 20% Sample Data. Retrieved July 15, 2014, from http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement
- Swiss. (2009). In T. L. Gall & J. Hobby (Eds.), Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life (2nd ed., Vol. 5, pp. 477-483). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved July 16, 2014.