Switzerland is a beautiful country, from amazing alpine lake and dramatic cliff faces to mountains and charming villages, it’s easy to see why this place is on everyone’s bucket list. And yet, there are loads of interesting and surprising facts about the country that you probably didn’t know. For instance, did you know that guinea pigs should never be kept alone in Switzerland? Or that the Lord of the Rings was inspired by Switzerland? Find out more and show off your newfound knowledge…
Highest minimum wage in the world
Geneva is home to many wealthy people and still, it houses many minimum wage workers like hotel workers, servers, cleaners and hairdressers. As of 2020, a new hourly rate of 23 Swiss francs was instigated in Geneva, giving a minimum monthly salary of 4000 francs. This ensures that people in working-class positions can still afford to live in Switzerland without working themselves to the bone.
Luxury watches by Swiss watchmakers
If you’re a luxury watch lover, you’ll be pleased to know that luxury watch brands are made by Swiss watchmakers, who have made watchmaking into such an art form that people pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for it. One of the reasons why Swiss watches are famous is down to their distinguished history. Wearing a Swiss watch that carries hundreds of years of fine watchmaking tradition, innovation, and timekeeping excellence, gives the wearers a taste of the exquisite craftmanship and the watch’s continuous refinement. Many of the brands invest millions of dollars in developing cutting-edge materials that are used in rocket ships and Formula 1 cars. It’s no wonder they’re expensive as the timepieces are produced in lower quantities. Here’s an interesting fact, the first waterproof watch was invented by Rolex in 1927 in Switzerland. How cool is that?
Switzerland is entirely landlocked
Switzerland is landlocked, meaning that it has no access to the coastline at all. It’s bordered by 5 countries; France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Italy. Interestingly, the European nation has one of the most active surfing communities in the world. You can ride a wave in the most unusual and unexpected places, and local surfers ride river waves and even build their own wave pools. The river surf season runs from May to August and the Reuss River is one of the go-to Swiss surf spots.
Mandatory military service
Switzerland is one of the last few European countries to have mandatory military service still in its regimen. Every male Swiss citizen over the age of 18 has to serve in the Swiss army. Regular refresher courses take place until age 44, and female Swiss citizens can volunteer to serve in the military if they wish.
Four official languages
Learning one language is hard enough but think about mastering 4! The Swiss have 4 official languages; French, Romansh, German and Italian. But the upside is for anyone who’s travelling, they’ve got more options to communicate with the locals.
Barely anyone owns a home
Whether it’s a studio, an apartment, a condo, a house or a mansion, many do not own their own property. Most people rent. Those who don’t fall into the 37% of the population. The renting culture is so strong that the country has one of the highest rates of renting in the world. In addition, many people find renting easier as they can just move to a new place whenever they want and not worry about the cost of maintenance.
Recycling in huge
The Swiss are great at recycling, There’s a huge system involved and with everyone following rules. Around 96% of all recyclable waste is recycled. With a small surface area and mountains of garbage to deal with, it’s not surprising that Switzerland has extensive recycling systems. Switzerland stopped burying rubbish in landfills in 2000 which means that whatever’s not recycled is incinerated and generates energy.
The Swiss army knife
This is one of the country’s greatest inventions; the Swiss Army Knife by Karl Elsener. The knife is also dubbed the world’s smallest toolbox. This is a perfect and must-have tool when going camping or into the wilderness.
Last few facts
Here are some more facts about Switzerland:
- Switzerland is small. It is only 41,285 km² about the size of New Jersey or the size of New Hampshire and Vermont combined.
- Switzerland’s population is 8.63 million people.
- 25% of Switzerland’s population is foreign, half being from France, Germany, Italy, and Portugal.