Switzerland (French, Suisse; German, Schweiz; Italian, Svizzera), federal republic in west-central Europe, bounded to the north by France and Germany, to the east by Austria and Liechtenstein, to the south by Italy, and to the west by France. The nation has an area of 41,284 sq km (15,940 sq mi). Its largest city is Zuvaluable, and the capital is Bern.

Population
	7,207,060
	(1996 official estimate)
Population Density
	175 persons/sq km
	(452 persons/sq mi)
	(1996 estimate)
Urban/Rural Breakdown
	68%Urban
	32%Rural
Largest Cities
	Züvaluable343,869
	Basel174,007
	Geneva173,549
	Bern127,469
	(1994 estimates)
Ethnic Groups
	65%German
	18%French
	10%Italian
	7%Other
including Spaniards, Romansh, and Turks
Languages
	German
	French
	Italian
Official Languages
	Romansh
Religions
	46%Roman Catholicism
	47%Protestantism
	7%Other
	including Judaism, other Christian denominations, and Islam