Doing research in Switzerland

Population (total): 7,639,961 Capital: Bern Population: 346,000 Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF) The Swiss Annual Median Income after taxes is $25,000 USD. Annual Median Income Cint uses the median household income to provide a point of comparison between income-earners in each country. Where the mean income average is the sum of all parts (or aggregate income) divided by the number of items (or income earners), the median average is the point that divides the population into two groups; half of the population makes an income below the median income amount, and half makes more than that amount. The median income is seen as a better indicator as it avoids the effect of dramatically high or low values.
35%owns their own home	25%owns a smartphone
75.5%has access to internet	34.6%is on Facebook
56.7%owns some type of vehicle

Reach 50,682 Swiss through Cint OpinionHUB

Main Regions of Switzerland

1 Lake Geneva
2 Espace Mittelland
3 Northwest
4 Zurich
5 East
6 Central
7 Ticino

Population and Age Distribution

	Population	0-14	15-64	65+
Total	7,639,961	15.2%	67.8%	17.0%
Male	3,758,525	7.9%	34.2%	7.1%
Female	3,881,436	7.3%	33.6%	9.8%

Languages spoken in Switzerland

Language	Proportion of Population
German	63.7%
French	20.4%
Italian	6.5%
Serbo-Croatian	1.5%
Other	8.0%

National Holidays in Switzerland 2012

1 JanuaryNew Year’s Day	2 JanuarySt. Berchtold’s Day	6 AprilGood Friday	9 AprilEaster Monday
17 MayAscension	28 MayWhit Monday	1 AugustSwiss National Day	25 DecemberChristmas Day
26 DecemberSt. Stephen’s Day

Switzerland is comprised of 26 cantons that are responsible for declaration of holidays. There is only one federal holiday, Swiss National Day, on the 1 August.

The holidays listed above are those celebrated by the majority of cantons. Some cantons do not celebrate some of the holidays and may also observe holidays particular to their region.

Keep in mind that your surveys might be affected by lower response rate during these dates as well as during the holiday periods Easter, summer or Christmas, when most people in Switzerland go on annual leave.

Fun Facts

Did you know that Switzerland has the highest average wealth per adult at $372,692.
Find out how over 50,000 Swiss panelists like to spend their money!

Nice to Know about Switzerland

Although Switzerland is surrounded by other European countries that have heavily influenced its culture and languages, economically it is a shining star of the European region. Switzerland was the wealthiest country in Europe for a large portion of the 20^th century and has been first or within the top ten on the Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal’s Index of Economic Freedom. Additionally, the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report ranks Switzerland’s economy as the most competitive in the world the European Union dubbed the Swiss nation the most innovative country in Europe! Over 25 Swiss citizens have received a Nobel Prize and many other winners lived, studied, did research or were dual citizens in Switzerland.

Although Switzerland opted out of joining the European Union (twice in the last 20 years), the country implements policies and initiatives that are in line with EU so as to protect and enhance their global competitiveness. Another indication of a positive relationship with the EU is Switzerland’s investment of a billion francs in the poorer countries of the Union. Charitable support also occurs at the grassroots level, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development reports that 55% of the Swiss population volunteered time, donated or assisted a stranger within the past month.

Environmentally, the Swiss are extremely engaged and have one of the best recycling rates and systems in the world.