History of Switzerland in Timeline

Switzerland is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Germany, France, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Italy. Its geography is divided among the Swiss Alps, the Swiss Plateau, and the Jura mountains, with the Alps covering most of the territory. The majority of Switzerland's population lives on the plateau, where major cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Basel are located. The country's population is around 9 million.

1901: Albert Einstein becomes a Swiss citizen

In 1901, Albert Einstein became a Swiss citizen.

1901: Johanna Spyri Death

In 1901, Johanna Spyri, the Swiss author and creator of Heidi, passed away.

1902: Inscribed on the Federal Palace

In 1902, the Latin name Confoederatio Helvetica appeared on the Federal Palace.

1911: Max Frisch Born

In 1911, Max Frisch, a Swiss author, was born.

1912: SUVA in Lucerne

In 1912 the SUVA was assigned to Lucerne.

August 1914: Second general mobilisation

In August 1914, Switzerland declared its second general mobilisation in response to the outbreak of the First World War.

1917: Federal Insurance Court to Lucerne

In 1917 the Federal Insurance Court was assigned to Lucerne.

1917: Grimm–Hoffmann affair

In 1917, the Swiss neutrality was seriously questioned by the short-lived Grimm–Hoffmann affair. Also Vladimir Lenin remained in Switzerland until 1917.

1920: Joined the League of Nations

In 1920, Switzerland joined the League of Nations, which was based in Geneva, after being exempted from military requirements.

1921: Friedrich Dürrenmatt Born

In 1921, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, a Swiss author, was born.

1928: Winter Olympic Games in St. Moritz

In 1928, St. Moritz, Switzerland, hosted the second Winter Olympic Games.

1930: BIS headquarters moved to Basel

In 1930, the headquarters of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) moved to Basel, Switzerland.

1930: Shift from rural to urban country began

Switzerland went from a largely rural country to an urban one from 1930 to 2000.

1931: First World Ski Championships in Mürren

In 1931, Mürren, Switzerland, hosted the first world ski championships.

1934: World Ski Championships in St. Moritz

In 1934, St. Moritz, Switzerland, hosted the world ski championships.

1934: WIR franc introduced

In 1934, the WIR franc was introduced, complementing the Swiss franc.

1935: Urban development claimed Swiss landscape

After 1935 urban development claimed as much of the Swiss landscape as it did during the prior 2,000 years.

September 1939: Third general mobilisation

In September 1939, Switzerland declared its third general mobilisation in response to the German attack on Poland.

June 1940: Swiss Air Force engaged Luftwaffe

In June 1940, the Swiss Air Force engaged Luftwaffe planes, shooting down 11 intruding aircraft.

1942: Rail link severed, peak of concessions to Germany

In 1942, a crucial rail link through Vichy France was severed, leading to the peak of concessions to Nazi Germany and isolating Switzerland.

1945: Switzerland bombed by the Allies

Between 1940 and 1945, Switzerland was bombed by the Allies, causing fatalities and property damage in cities and towns like Basel and Zurich.

1947: Charles Ferdinand Ramuz Death

Charles Ferdinand Ramuz, a French-speaking Swiss author whose novels describe the lives of peasants and mountain dwellers, set in a harsh environment, died in 1947.

1948: Used in official seal

After 1948, the Latin name Confoederatio Helvetica was used in the official seal.

1948: Winter Olympic Games in St. Moritz

In 1948, St. Moritz, Switzerland, hosted the fifth edition of the Winter Olympic Games.

1954: Switzerland Hosted FIFA World Cup

Switzerland hosted the 1954 FIFA World Cup.

1955: Motorsport Racecourses Ban

Following the 1955 Le Mans disaster, motorsport racecourses and events were banned in Switzerland, with exceptions for events such as hillclimbing.

1956: Eurovision Song Contest

In 1956, Switzerland held the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest in Lugano and won through Lys Assia.

Loading Video...

1959: Some cantons grant women right to vote

In 1959, some Swiss cantons approved granting women the right to vote.

1959: Government coalition since 1959

The government has been a coalition of the four major political parties since 1959.

1960: Expenditures of the Swiss Confederation in 1960

In 1960, the expenditures of the Swiss Confederation were 7% of GDP.

1961: Blaise Cendrars Death

Blaise Cendrars (born Frédéric Sauser), a French-speaking Swiss author, died in 1961.

1963: Joined the Council of Europe

In 1963, Switzerland joined the Council of Europe.

1964: Joined the Council of Europe

In 1964, Switzerland joined the Council of Europe as part of its active foreign policy.

1968: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty seen as alternative

In 1968, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was seen as a valid alternative to building nuclear weapons.

1969: EPFL in Lausanne

In 1969 the EPFL was attributed to Lausanne.

1969: Foundation of École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

In 1969, the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Lausanne was founded; it was formerly associated with the University of Lausanne.

1970: Religious Affiliation Changes

Around 1970, a growing minority in traditionally Protestant cantons and cities in Switzerland began to identify as not affiliated with any religious body.

1971: Women granted right to vote at federal level

In 1971, women were granted the right to vote at the federal level in Switzerland.

1975: Founding member of the European Space Agency

In 1975, Switzerland was one of the 10 founding members of the European Space Agency (ESA).

1979: Canton of Jura formed

In 1979, areas from the canton of Bern attained independence, forming the new canton of Jura.

1984: Elisabeth Kopp on Federal Council

In 1984, Elisabeth Kopp became the first woman on the seven-member Federal Council executive.

1986: Nobel Prize in Physics awarded

In 1986, Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer earned the Nobel Prize in Physics for inventing the scanning tunnelling microscope.

1988: Plans for nuclear weapons dropped

By 1988, plans for building nuclear weapons were dropped and the Paul Scherrer Institute was founded. The Paul Scherrer Institute was founded in his name to explore the therapeutic uses of neutron scattering technologies.

1988: Eurovision Song Contest

In 1988, Celine Dion won the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland.

Loading Video...

1989: End of Elisabeth Kopp's term on Federal Council

In 1989, Elisabeth Kopp's term on the seven-member Federal Council executive came to an end.

1989: Eurovision Song Contest

In 1989, Switzerland held the Eurovision Song Contest in Lausanne.

Loading Video...

1990: Population growth

Between 1800 and 1990, the number of inhabitants quadrupled during the industrial era.

1990: Increase in health costs

From 1990, health costs more or less steadily increased.

1990: Gottfried Keller Death

In 1990, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, a Swiss author, died.

1990: Expenditures of the Swiss Confederation in 1990

In 1990, the expenditures of the Swiss Confederation grew to 9.7% of GDP.

1990: Suffrage in Appenzell Innerrhoden

In 1990, the last canton, Appenzell Innerrhoden, granted women the right to vote.

1990: Baseline for GHG emission reduction

The country pledged to cut GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to the level of 1990.

1991: Max Frisch Death

In 1991, Max Frisch, a Swiss author, died.

May 1992: Application for EU membership sent

In May 1992, an application for membership in the European Union was sent but did not advance.

December 1992: Rejection of the EEA

In December 1992 Switzerland conducted a referendum on the EEA and rejected it.

1995: Austria's entry into EU

Since Austria's entry in 1995, Switzerland, together with Liechtenstein, has been surrounded by the EU.

April 1999: New federal constitution voted in favor

In April 1999, the Swiss population and the cantons voted in favor of a completely revised federal constitution.

1999: Ruth Dreifuss first female president

In 1999, Ruth Dreifuss became the first female president of Switzerland.

1999: 1999 Constitution

In 1999, the Swiss Constitution did not mention a Federal City, and the Federal Council had not addressed the matter, resulting in no city in Switzerland holding the official status of capital or Federal City, although Bern is commonly referred to as "Federal City".

1999: Constitution revised

The Federal Constitution was completely revised in 1999 by referendum.

June 2000: Unemployment rate

In June 2000, the unemployment rate in Switzerland was 1.7%.

2000: Elevation of English in some cantons

In 2000, English was elevated in a few cantons to become the first foreign language taught in schools, changing the tradition of teaching other Swiss languages first.

2000: Moratorium expired

In 2000, a moratorium on building new nuclear power plants expired.

2000: Maintenance of Onyx intelligence gathering system

Since 2000, the Swiss armed force department has maintained the Onyx intelligence gathering system to monitor satellite communications.

2000: Shift from rural to urban country ended

Switzerland went from a largely rural country to an urban one from 1930 to 2000.

2001: Das Versprechen Film Release

In 2001, Friedrich Dürrenmatt's novel "Das Versprechen (The Pledge)" was released as a Hollywood film starring Jack Nicholson.

Loading Video...

2001: First series of bilateral agreements takes effect

In 2001, the first series of seven bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU took effect, liberalizing trade ties and including the free movement of persons.

2002: Switzerland joins the United Nations

In 2002, Switzerland became a full member of the United Nations, marking the first time a state joined the UN by referendum.

2002: Switzerland becomes a member of the UN

In 2002, Switzerland became a full member of the United Nations.

2002: Joined the United Nations

In 2002, Switzerland joined the United Nations, marking a shift from its longstanding neutrality policy.

May 2003: Anti-nuclear referendums defeated

On May 18, 2003, two anti-nuclear referendums were defeated: Moratorium Plus and Electricity Without Nuclear.

2003: Rate of foreign students in tertiary education

In 2003, Switzerland had the second highest rate (almost 18%) of foreign students in tertiary education, after Australia.

2003: Alinghi Wins America's Cup

In 2003, the Swiss sailing team Alinghi was the first European team to win the America's Cup.

2003: Adoption of Army XXI reform

In 2003, the reform "Army XXI" was adopted by popular vote, replacing "Army 95" and reducing the rolls from 400,000 to about 200,000 soldiers.

2003: Distribution of seats in Federal Council

Since 2003, the seven seats in the Federal Council have been distributed according to the "magic formula".

2004: Federal Criminal Court to Bellinzona

In 2004 the Federal Criminal Court was assigned to Bellinzona.

2004: Roger Federer Ranked No. 1

In 2004, Swiss tennis player Roger Federer ended the year ranked no. 1 in the ATP rankings.

2004: Second series of agreements signed

In 2004, a second series of agreements between Switzerland and the EU, covering nine areas including the Schengen Treaty and the Dublin Convention, was signed.

2004: Trade union membership and population growth

In 2004, approximately 25% of employees in Switzerland belonged to a trade union, and population growth reached 0.52% due to net immigration.

June 2005: Swiss voters agree to join Schengen treaty

On 5 June 2005, Swiss voters agreed by a 55% majority to join the Schengen treaty.

2005: Thomas Lüthi Won MotoGP World Championship

In 2005, Swiss motorcycle racer Thomas Lüthi won the MotoGP World Championship in the 125cc category.

2005: Roger Federer Ranked No. 1

In 2005, Swiss tennis player Roger Federer ended the year ranked no. 1 in the ATP rankings.

2006: Roger Federer Ranked No. 1

In 2006, Swiss tennis player Roger Federer ended the year ranked no. 1 in the ATP rankings.

2006: Referendum approves investment in European countries

In 2006, a referendum approved 1 billion francs of supportive investment in Southern and Central European countries to foster positive ties with the EU. A further referendum was needed to approve 300 million francs to support Romania and Bulgaria after their recent admission.

2006: Geneva Hosts United Nations Human Rights Council

Since 2006, Geneva hosts the United Nations Human Rights Council, adding to its importance as a center for international institutions.

2007: Roger Federer Ranked No. 1

In 2007, Swiss tennis player Roger Federer ended the year ranked no. 1 in the ATP rankings.

2007: Switzerland Won A1GP World Cup of Motorsport

In 2007, Switzerland won the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport with driver Neel Jani.

2007: Price levels compared to EU-25 index

In 2007, housing and food price levels in Switzerland were 171% and 145% of the EU-25 index, respectively, compared to 113% and 104% in Germany.

2007: Alinghi Defends America's Cup Title

In 2007, the Swiss sailing team Alinghi successfully defended the America's Cup title.

2008: Switzerland Jointly Hosted UEFA Euro 2008

Switzerland was the joint host, with Austria, of the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament.

December 2009: Unemployment rate

In December 2009, the unemployment rate in Switzerland increased to 4.4%.

2009: Roger Federer Ranked No. 1

In 2009, Swiss tennis player Roger Federer ended the year ranked no. 1 in the ATP rankings.

2009: Switzerland Hosted IIHF World Championship

In 2009, Switzerland hosted the IIHF World Championship for the tenth time.

2010: Microcensus on public transport usage in Zurich

A 2010 microcensus discovered that 32% of Zurich's inhabitants use public transport regularly, while 26% depended on a personal vehicle.

2010: Swiss Federal budget in 2010

In 2010, the Swiss Federal budget reached 62.8 billion Swiss francs, representing 11.35% of GDP, with the value-added tax and direct federal tax being the main sources of income.

2011: Government announced plans to end the use of nuclear energy

In 2011, following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the Swiss government announced plans to end the use of nuclear energy in the following 20 to 30 years.

2012: Federal Courts to St. Gallen

In 2012 the Federal Administrative Court and Federal Patent Court were attributed to St. Gallen.

2012: Religious Affiliation Statistics

In 2012, 21.4% of people in Switzerland were not affiliated with any religious body, especially in traditionally Protestant regions.

2012: Population with an immigrant background

In 2012, 34.7% of the permanent resident population aged 15 or over had an immigrant background.

2012: Geneva Airport passenger statistics

In 2012, Geneva Airport handled 13.9 million passengers.

2013: Switzerland World Vice-Champion in Ice Hockey

In 2013, Switzerland became World Vice-Champion in ice hockey.

February 2014: Ballot initiative to restrict immigration approved

In February 2014, 50.3% of Swiss voters approved a ballot initiative launched by the Swiss People's Party to restrict immigration.

2014: Ranked first in Environmental Performance Index

According to the 2014 Environmental Performance Index, Switzerland ranked first among 132 nations in safeguarding the environment.

2014: Reported cases of racial discrimination

According to the Federal Statistical Office, in 2014, 10% of the population claimed to have been targeted by racial discrimination.

2014: Marcel Fässler Won 24 Hours of Le Mans

In 2014, Swiss driver Marcel Fässler won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

2014: Switzerland Won Davis Cup Title

In 2014, Switzerland won the Davis Cup title.

2014: Unemployment rate

In 2014, the unemployment rate in Switzerland decreased to 3.2%.

2014: Global Green Economy Index ranking

The 2014 Global Green Economy Index placed Switzerland among the top 10 green economies.

2015: Expenditure reduction in agriculture and national defence

By 2015 (estimation), expenditures in agriculture and national defence had decreased from 26.5% to 12.4% of GDP.

2015: Nico Müller Won 24 Hours Nürburgring

In 2015, Swiss driver Nico Müller won the 24 Hours Nürburgring.

2015: Academic Ranking of World Universities

In 2015, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) and the University of Zurich were listed 20th and 54th respectively, on the Academic Ranking of World Universities.

2015: Foreign citizen population

In 2015, the foreign citizen population in Switzerland was 28.9%, similar to Australia.

2015: Richest 1% owned 35% of the wealth

In 2015, the richest 1% owned 35% of the wealth in Switzerland.

November 2016: Referendum to accelerate the phaseout of nuclear power rejected

In November 2016, Swiss voters rejected a Green Party referendum to accelerate the phaseout of nuclear power.

December 2016: Political compromise with EU attained

In December 2016, a political compromise with the EU was attained that eliminated quotas on EU citizens, but still allowed favourable treatment of Swiss-based job applicants.

2016: Christian population

According to national surveys of Swiss Federal Statistical Office in 2016–2018, about 67% of the resident population is Christian, with 35.8% Catholic and 23.8% Swiss Reformed.

2016: Native languages spoken

In 2016, German was spoken natively by 62.8% of the population, French by 22.9%, and Italian by 8.2%.

2016: Withdrawal of EU membership application

In 2016, Switzerland formally withdrew its application for European Union membership due to considerable negative popular sentiment and opposition from parties like the conservative SVP.

2016: Ecological footprint far exceeds biocapacity

In 2016, Switzerland's consumption required 4.6 hectares of biocapacity, exceeding the 1.0 hectares available within its territory.

2016: Languages spoken at home

In 2016, the languages most spoken at home among permanent residents aged 15 and older were Swiss German (59.4%), French (23.5%), Standard German (10.6%), and Italian (8.5%).

2017: Nominal GDP ranking

In 2017, Switzerland was ranked 11th in the world when its nominal GDP was adjusted for purchasing power.

2017: Population growth

In 2017, Switzerland's population growth (from net immigration) was 0.54%.

2018: Perception of racism in Switzerland

A follow-up study conducted in 2018 reported that 59% considered racism a serious problem in Switzerland, with 17% of the population claiming to have been targeted by racial discrimination.

2018: Christian population

According to national surveys of Swiss Federal Statistical Office in 2016–2018, about 67% of the resident population is Christian, with 35.8% Catholic and 23.8% Swiss Reformed.

2018: Cantons comprised 2,222 municipalities

As of 2018 the cantons comprised 2,222 municipalities.

2018: Switzerland World Vice-Champion in Ice Hockey

In 2018, Switzerland became World Vice-Champion in ice hockey.

2018: Nominal GDP ranking

In 2018, Switzerland was ranked 5th in the world when its nominal GDP was adjusted for purchasing power.

2018: Start of WEA military reform

In 2018, the Weiterentwicklung der Armee (WEA), a new military reform, began, aiming to reduce the number of army personnel to 100,000 by 2022.

2018: Highest GDP per capita in Basel-City

In 2018, the canton of Basel-City had the highest GDP per capita in Switzerland, surpassing Zug and Geneva.

2018: Cooperative companies accounting for more than 11% of GDP

In 2018, the ten largest cooperative companies in Switzerland, including Migros and Coop, accounted for more than 11% of the country's GDP.

2018: Unemployment rate

In 2018, the unemployment rate in Switzerland further dropped to 2.5%.

2019: Global Innovation Index 2019

In 2019, Switzerland has been ranked the most innovative country in the Global Innovation Index.

2019: Academic Ranking of World Universities

In 2019, Switzerland ranked 87th on the Academic Ranking of World Universities.

2019: Multilingualism

In 2019, more than two-thirds (68%) of the permanent resident population indicated speaking more than one language regularly.

2019: Average population density

In 2019, the average population density in Switzerland was 215.2 inhabitants per square kilometre.

2019: Unemployment rate

In 2019, the unemployment rate in Switzerland further dropped to 2.3%.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

Switzerland had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 3.53/10, ranking it 150th globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Wealth inequality increased

Wealth inequality increased through 2019 in Switzerland.

September 2020: Referendum to end free movement pact rejected

In September 2020, a referendum calling for a vote to end the pact that allowed a free movement of people from the European Union was rejected by Swiss voters.

September 2020: Anti-free movement referendum rejected

On 27 September 2020, 62% of Swiss voters rejected the anti-free movement referendum by SVP.

2020: Largest ethnic group in Switzerland

According to the World Factbook, as of 2020, the largest ethnic group in Switzerland is Swiss (69.2%).

2020: Ranked third in Environmental Performance Index

In 2020 it was ranked third out of 180 countries in the Environmental Performance Index.

2020: Global Innovation Index 2020

In 2020, Switzerland has been ranked the most innovative country in the Global Innovation Index.

2020: Nominal GDP ranking

In 2020, Switzerland was ranked 9th in the world when its nominal GDP was adjusted for purchasing power.

2020: Christian minority communities statistics

In 2020, according to a national survey conducted by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, Christian minority communities included Neo-Pietism (0.5%), Pentecostalism (0.4%), Apostolic communities (0.3%), other Protestant denominations (1.1%), the Old Catholic Church (0.1%), and other Christian denominations (0.3%). Non-Christian religions included Islam (5.3%), Hinduism (0.6%), Buddhism (0.5%), and Judaism (0.25%).

2020: Religious demographics

In 2020, the Roman Catholic Church had 3,048,475 registered members (35.2% of the population), while the Swiss Reformed Church had 2,015,816 members (23.3% of the population).

2021: Population with an immigrant background

2021 figures show that 39.5% of the permanent resident population aged 15 or over had an immigrant background.

2021: Switzerland's Economy

As of 2021, Switzerland is the thirteenth largest exporter globally and the fifth largest on a per capita basis.

2021: Global Innovation Index 2021

In 2021, Switzerland has been ranked the most innovative country in the Global Innovation Index.

May 2022: Motorsport Ban Lifted

In May 2022, the ban on motorsport racecourses and events in Switzerland was lifted, due to improved safety in motorsport.

2022: Target date for WEA military reform

By the end of 2022, the Weiterentwicklung der Armee (WEA) reform was expected to reduce the number of army personnel to 100,000.

2022: Global Innovation Index 2022

In 2022, Switzerland has been ranked the most innovative country in the Global Innovation Index.

2022: Life expectancy

In 2022, life expectancy at birth was 82.2 years for men and 85.8 years for women.

2022: Median monthly gross income

In 2022, the median monthly gross income in Switzerland was 6,788 francs per month (equivalent to US$7,467 per month).

2023: Switzerland joins the UN Security Council

In 2023, Switzerland became a member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2023–2024 period.

2023: Global Innovation Index 2023

In 2023, Switzerland has been ranked the most innovative country in the Global Innovation Index.

2023: Resident foreigners in Switzerland

In 2023, resident foreigners made up 26.3% of Switzerland's population, with most originating from European countries.

2023: Passenger Statistics on Rail Network

In 2023, the Swiss rail network carried 614 million passengers, with each resident traveling an average of 2,446 kilometres by rail.

2023: Unemployment rate

In 2023, the unemployment rate in Switzerland had reached a 20-year low of 2%.

2023: Index of Economic Freedom 2023

Switzerland had the second-highest global rating in the Index of Economic Freedom for 2023, while also providing significant public services.

June 2024: Swiss population

As of June 2024, the Swiss population is about 9 million.

2024: Global Peace Index

According to the 2024 Global Peace Index, Switzerland is the 6th most peaceful country in the world.

2024: Religious Event Attendance Decline

By 2024, half of the Swiss population never attended a religious event in the past 12 months preceding the Federal Statistical Office's survey. Additionally, more than a quarter of those who have left their religion cite loss of faith or disagreement with their religious community.

2024: Eurovision Song Contest

In 2024, Nemo won the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland.

Loading Video...

2024: Switzerland World Vice-Champion in Ice Hockey

In 2024, Switzerland became World Vice-Champion in ice hockey.

2024: Global Innovation Index 2024

In 2024, Switzerland has been ranked the most innovative country in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: Ranked 9th in the Environmental Performance Index

In 2024, Switzerland ranked 9th in the Environmental Performance Index. It scored well in parameters including air pollution, sanitation and drinking water, waste management, and climate change mitigation.