Capital of Switzerland: Bern
The capital of Switzerland is Bern. Switzerland sits in Europe, has a population of 8,740,471, and uses the CHF. Official languages include German, French, Italian, Romansh.
Quick facts
- Capital: Bern
- Continent: Europe
- Population: ~8,740,471
- Area: 41,285 km²
- Population density: 212 people per km²
- Official languages: German, French, Italian, Romansh
- Currency: CHF
- ISO code: CH
How big is Switzerland?
By population, Switzerland ranks 101st in the world, holding roughly 0.11% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 132nd.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Switzerland has 212 people per square kilometre, which is about 3.6 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Europe, Switzerland is the 19th most populous country of 46.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Switzerland in population are Togo (8,848,699) and Sierra Leone (8,605,718).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Netherlands (41,850 km²) and Denmark (43,094 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
German is spoken officially in 6 countries in this dataset, including Austria, Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.
The CHF is not unique to Switzerland — it is also used by Liechtenstein. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
Switzerland in Europe
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Russia, Germany, United Kingdom and France.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Europe is the block Switzerland belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Switzerland and a page on the flag of Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Switzerland?
The capital of Switzerland is Bern.
What is the population of Switzerland?
About 8,740,471, making it the 101st most populous country in the world.
How big is Switzerland?
41,285 square kilometres, ranking 132nd by land area, at a density of 212 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Switzerland use?
The CHF, shared with 1 other country.