The Swiss Federal Constitution[12] declares the cantons to be sovereign to the extent that their sovereignty is not limited by federal law.[13] Areas specifically reserved to the Confederation are the armed forces, currency, the postal service, telecommunications, immigration into and emigration from the country, granting asylum, conducting foreign relations with sovereign states, civil and criminal law, weights and measures, and customs duties. Each canton has its own constitution, legislature, executive, police and courts.[13] The cantonal constitutions determine the internal organisation of the canton, including the degree of autonomy accorded to the municipalities, which varies but almost always includes the power to levy taxes and pass municipal laws; some municipalities have their own police forces. Swiss citizens are citizens of a particular municipality (the place of origin) and the canton in which that municipality is part. Cantons therefore have a role in and set requirements for the granting of citizenship (naturalisation), though the process is typically undertaken at a municipal level and is subject to federal law.
Each canton of the Old Swiss Confederacy, formerly also Ort (from before 1450), or Stand ("estate", from c. 1550), was a fully sovereign state with its own border controls, army, and currency from at least the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848, with a brief period of centralised government during the Helvetic Republic (1798–1803). The term Kanton has been widely used since the 19th century.[2]
1. République et canton du Jura
The population is almost entirely
French-speaking. Just one municipality is
German-speaking:
Ederswiler. The majority of the population is
Roman Catholic (75% as of 2000) with a small
Protestant minority (13%).
[7] The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2018) is 73,419.
[2] As of 2007, the population included 8,195 foreigners, or about 11.8% of the total population.
[8]
2. République et canton de Genève
The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2018) is 499,480.
[2] As of 2013, the population included 194,623 foreigners from 187 different nations, or about 40.1% of the total population.
[2] In 2012, 5.4% of the Genevan population (aged 15 years and older) belonged to other Christian groups, 5.5% were
Muslims, and 5.9% belonged to other religious groups.
[19][20] The remainder of the population was religiously unaffiliated or did not answer the census question.
3. République et Canton de Neuchâtel
The population is almost entirely
French-speaking. The canton has historically been strongly
Protestant, but in recent decades it has received an influx of
Roman Catholic arrivals, notably from
Portugal and
Italy. In 2000, its population was closely split between Protestants (38%) and Roman Catholics (31%).
[8]
4. Canton of Valais
The western part of Valais (Central and Lower Valais) is French-speaking, while the eastern part (Upper Valais) is German-speaking. The language border crosses the Rhône between the towns of
Sierre and
Salgesch and follows the mountain ridge including
Bella Tola,
Weisshorn and
Dent Blanche. At the 2000 census, 62.8% of the population of Valais spoke
French or
Arpitan, 28.4% spoke
German or
Walser German, 2.2% spoke
Italian and 6.6% spoke other languages. Only 114 people reported speaking
Romansh.
[7] Its population (as of 31 December 2018) is 343,955.
[2] There is no major city located in the canton. As of 2017, 77% of total population is
Roman Catholic, while only 6% are members of
Swiss Reformed Church.
[9]
5. Canton de Vaud
The population is
French-speaking and historically was mostly
Protestant (Calvinist), dating from the early years of the
Reformation. Recently, however, this has been changing due to immigration from
Southern Europe. In 2000, the population was nearly evenly split between Protestants (40%) and
Roman Catholics (34%).
[14] The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2018) was 799,145.
[2] As of 2010, the population included about 28% foreigners, including many
Italians.
[15]
6. Repubblica e Cantone Ticino
Ticino has a population (as of 31 December 2018) of 353,343.
[2] As of 2013, the population included 94,366 foreigners, or about 27.2% of the total population. The largest groups of foreign population were Italians (46.2%), followed by Croats (6.5%) and the Portuguese (5.9%).
[25] The population density (in 2005) is 114.6 persons per km
2.
[9] As of 2000, 83.1% of the population spoke Italian, 8.3% spoke German and 1.7% spoke
Serbo-Croatian.
[9] As of 2016, 70.1% of total population is
Roman Catholic.
[26] According to a 2012 survey, the population aged 15 years and older is mostly Roman Catholic (70%), further Christian denominations account for 10% of the population (including
Swiss Reformed 4%), 2% are
Muslims and 1% of the population has another religion (including
Jews 0.1%).
[25]
7. Kanton Thurgau
The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2018) is 276,472.
[2] The canton is mostly
German speaking. The population (as of 2000) is split between
Protestants (45%) and
Roman Catholics (36%).
[4]
8. Kanton Aargau
In the 17th century, Aargau was the only federal condominium where Jews were tolerated. In 1774, they were restricted to just two towns,
Endingen and
Lengnau. While the rural upper class pressed incessantly for the expulsion the Jews, the financial interests of the authorities prevented it. They imposed special taxes on peddling and cattle trading, the primary Jewish professions. The Protestant occupiers also enjoyed the discomfort of the local Catholics by the presence of the Jewish community.
[15] The Jews were directly subordinate to the governor; from 1696, they were compelled to renew a letter of protection from him every 16 years.
[13]
Aargau has a population (as of December 2018) of 678,207.
[2] As of 2010, 21.5% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (2000–2010) the population has changed at a rate of 11%. Migration accounted for 8.7%, while births and deaths accounted for 2.8%.
[22] Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks German (477,093 or 87.1%) as their first language, Italian is the second most common (17,847 or 3.3%) and
Serbo-Croatian is the third (10,645 or 1.9%). There are 4,151 people who speak French and 618 people who speak
Romansh.
[23]
9. Canton of Grisons
The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2018) is 198,379.
[2] As of 2007, the population included 28,008 foreigners, or about 14.84% of the total population.
[23] The main religions are
Catholicism and
Protestantism. Both are well represented in the canton, with Roman Catholics forming a slight plurality (47% Catholic to 41% Protestant).
[24]
The constitution allows for the
enfranchisement of foreign residents at a municipal level, at discretion of the local governments. In 2009, the municipality of
Bregaglia became the first in the canton to make use of this provision, granting voting rights to foreigners.
[19]
10. Kanton St. Gallen
88% of the population is German-speaking.
[9] The main centres of population are the capital St. Gallen (69,700 inhabitants),
Jona (18,100),
Wil (17,500) and
Gossau (17,000).
[2] As of 2007, the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population.
[10] The majority of the population (as of 2000) is Roman Catholic (52%) while a large minority is
Protestant (28%).
[11]
11. & 12. Kanton Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden
Appenzell Innerrhoden is the smallest
canton of
Switzerland by population and the second smallest by area, with
canton of Basel-City being the smallest.The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2018) is 16,145.
[2] As of 2007, the population included 1,510 foreigners, or about 9.76% of the total population.
[14] Owing to the split of Appenzell along religious lines, the population (as of 2000) is nearly all
Roman Catholic (81%), with a small
Protestant minority (10%).
[15] It was the last Swiss canton to grant women the right to vote on local issues, in 1991.
The population of the Appenzell Ausserrhoden canton (as of 31 December 2018) is 55,234.
[2] As of 2007, the population included 6,959 foreigners, or about 13.22% of the total population.
[8] Due to the split of Appenzell, the majority of the population (as of 2000) is
Protestant (51%) with a
Roman Catholic minority (31%).
[9]
Settlement in
Appenzell started in the 7th and the 8th century alongside the river
Glatt. The
monastery of St. Gallen was of great influence on the local population. In 907 Herisau is mentioned for the first time, the canton (Appenzell:
abbatis cella) is named first in 1071. The name
Appenzell (
Latin:
abbatis cella) means "cell (i.e. estate) of the
abbot". This refers to the
Abbey of St. Gall, which exerted a great influence on the area. By the middle of the 11th century the abbots of St. Gall had established their power in the land later called Appenzell, which, too, became thoroughly
Teutonized, its early inhabitants having probably been Romanized
Raetians.
13. Kanton Schaffhausen
The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2018) is 81,991.
[3] As of 2007, the population included 16,323 foreigners, or about 21.9% of the total population.
[9] The German language and Protestant faith predominate. The majority of the population (as of 2000) is Protestant (50%) while a large minority is Roman Catholic (24%).
[10] Schaffhausen was a city-state in the
Middle Ages; it is documented that it struck its own coins starting in 1045. It was then documented as
Villa Scafhusun.
[4]
14. & 15. Kanton Basel-Landschaft and Basel-Stadt
The [Basel-Landschaft] population is predominantly German-speaking.
Protestantism is the main religion in the canton (43% as of 2000), while about one-third of the population (32%) is
Roman Catholic.
[5] The
Swiss Reformed Church and
Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland are recognized as state churches. Between 1959 and 1970 the canton was Switzerland's fastest-growing, as the population almost doubled from 108,000 to 205,000. Today, the canton has a population (as of 31 March 2017) of 289,527.
[2] As of 2007, the population included 48,719 foreigners who made up 18.1% of the population.
[6]
Basel-Stadt is a
half-canton. This means that the canton only sends one representative to the
Council of States. The capital of the canton
Basel-Stadt is the city of Basel. The population of the canton (as of 31 August 2019) is 200,298.
[2] As of 2007, the population included 56,106 foreigners, or about 30.29% of the total population.
[9] The population (as of 2000) is nearly evenly split between
Roman Catholic (25%) and
Protestant (27%). About 10% of the population is classed as "Other Religion" while 36% do not belong to any organized religion.
[10]
The present constitution of the canton dates from 1889.The canton has a sister state status with
Massachusetts.
[7]
16. Canton of Solothurn
The population is mostly
German-speaking. About 44% of the population are
Roman Catholic, with most of the remainder being
Protestants (31% as of 2000).
[4] The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2018) is 273,194.
[2] As of 2007, the population included 46,898 foreigners, or about 18.7% of the total population.
[5]
17. Canton of Fribourg
In contrast to the mainly Protestant cantons of
Vaud to its west and
Bern to its east, the canton of Fribourg is a predominantly
Roman Catholic enclave (as of 2000, 70%) with a
Protestant minority (15%).
[4] The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2018) is 318,714.
[2] As of 2007, the population included 43,838 foreign-born residents, or about 16.65% of the total population.
[5] The canton of Fribourg joined the
Swiss Confederation in 1481.
18. Kanton Zug
The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2018) is 126,837.
[2] As of 2014, the population included 31,643 foreigners, or about 26% of the total population, up from 15.6% in 1990.
[4] The largest foreign population is to be found in the municipality of Walchwil with 33.2% foreign nationals, then Zug (31.7%), Baar (28.1%), Risch (26.3%), and Oberägeri (25.3%). The lowest rate is to be found in Menzingen (18.9%) and Hünenberg (16.5%).
[5] The majority of the population (as of 2000) is
Roman Catholic (62%) with a
Protestant minority (18%).
[6] Until 1814, Zug was in the
Diocese of Konstanz, but on the reconstruction of the diocese of
Basel in 1828 it was assigned to the latter.
[3]
19. Kanton Glarus
The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2018) is 40,403.
[2] As of 2007, the population included 7,314 foreigners (or 19.13% of the total population).
[5] The population (as of 2000) is nearly evenly split between
Protestants (44%) and
Roman Catholics (37%).
[6] 83.6% is
German-speaking and 6.8% is
Italian-speaking.
Glarus joined the
Old Swiss Confederacy in 1352 as one of the foundational eight cantons (
Acht Orte) of the period of 1353–1481.
20. Kanton Nidwalden
The population of the canton (as of 31 December 2018) is 43,223.
[2] As of 2007, the population included 4,046 foreigners, or about 10% of the total population. By gender the canton is nearly evenly split with 50.9% male and 49.1% female.
[3] In 2000, 75.6% of the population was Roman Catholic while 11.9% belong to the
Swiss Reformed Church.
[8] The population density in December 2005 was 144.3 persons per km
2.
[6] Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks German (92.5%) with a small minority speaking Italian (1.4%) or
Serbo-Croatian (1.2%).
[6]
The earliest traces of human settlement date to the
Neolithic with sites found near Stansstad that are from 4000–3100 BC.
[4] The same sites, near Stansstad, also contain
Late Bronze Age (1400–1100 BC) artifacts, with additional Bronze Age sites near Hergiswil and Ennetmoos. A
La Tène (500–100 BC) grave for a 10-year-old girl has been found in Stans. Based on these finds, it appears that the Nidwalden region has been settled since the 1st millennium BC.
[4]
21. Kanton Obwalden
Obwalden has a population (as of December 2018) of 37,841.
[2] As of 2010, 12.9% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (2000–2010) the population has changed at a rate of 8.7%. Migration accounted for 5.7%, while births and deaths accounted for 2.5%.
[15] Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks
German (29,920 or 92.3%) as their first language,
Albanian is the second most common (452 or 1.4%) and
Serbo-Croatian is the third (399 or 1.2%). There are 144 people who speak
French, 329 people who speak
Italian and 32 people who speak
Romansh.
[16]
22. Kanton Schwyz
Schwyz has a population (as of December 2018) of 159,165.
[2] As of 2008, 15.6% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (2000–2010) the population has changed at a rate of 12.8%. Migration accounted for 10%, while births and deaths accounted for 3.9%.
[25] Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks
German (115,688 or 89.9%) as their first language,
Serbo-Croatian is the second most common (2,667 or 2.1%) and
Albanian is the third (2,477 or 1.9%). There are 502 people who speak
French, 2,447 people who speak
Italian and 234 people who speak
Romansh.
[27]
23. Kanton Uri
Uri has a population (as of December 2018) of 36,433.
[2] As of 2010, 9.4% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (2000–2010) the population has changed at a rate of −0.4%. Migration accounted for −1.2%, while births and deaths accounted for 1.3%.
[12] Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks German (32,518 or 93.5%) as their first language,
Serbo-Croatian is the second most common (677 or 1.9%) and Italian is the third (462 or 1.3%). There are 67 people who speak French and 51 people who speak
Romansh.
[15]
24. Kanton Luzern
Lucerne has a population (as of December 2018) of 409,557.
[2] As of 2013, 18.1% of the population are resident foreign nationals, of which 15.5% are from
Europe, 1.4% from
Asia, 0.7% from
Africa, and 0.5% from
America.
[12] Over the last 10 years (2000–2010) the population has changed at a rate of −0.4%. Migration accounted for −1.2%, while births and deaths accounted for 1.3%.
[13] Most of the population (as of 2010) speaks
German (91%) as their first language, while
Serbo-Croatian,
Italian,
Albanian and
English are the second most common languages (3%), followed by
Portuguese and
French with 2% each, and
Spanish with 1%.
[14]
25. Canton of Bern
The canton of Bern is
bilingual and has a population (as of 31 December 2018) of 1,034,977.
[2] As of 2007, the population included 119,930 (or 12.45%) foreigners.
[3]
26. Kanton Zürich
Zürich has a population (as of December 2018) of 1,520,968.
[2] As of 2010, 23.7% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (2000–2010) the population has changed at a rate of 12.7%. Migration accounted for 10.3%, while births and deaths accounted for 2.6%.
[8] Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks
German (1,040,168 or 83.4%) as their first language,
Italian is the second most common (49,750 or 4.0%) and
Serbo-Croatian is the third (21,334 or 1.7%).
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...h_matt.svg.png |
ZH |
Zürich |
1351 |
Zürich |
1,520,968[19] |
96,411 |
1,729 |
701 |
166 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...n_matt.svg.png |
BE |
Bern |
1353 |
Bern |
1,034,977[20] |
76,307 |
5,960 |
158 |
347 |
German, French |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...n_matt.svg.png |
LU |
Luzern |
1332 |
Lucerne |
409,557[21] |
65,119 |
1,494 |
233 |
83 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...i_matt.svg.png |
UR |
Uri |
1291[Note 5] |
Altdorf |
36,433[22] |
51,332 |
1,077 |
33 |
20 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Schwyz.svg.png |
SZ |
Schwyz |
1291[Note 5] |
Schwyz |
159,165[23] |
58,788 |
908 |
143 |
30 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...n_matt.svg.png |
OW |
Obwalden |
1291[Note 5] or 1315 (as part of Unterwalden) |
Sarnen |
37,841[24] |
64,253 |
491 |
66 |
7 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...n_matt.svg.png |
NW |
Nidwalden |
1291[Note 5] (as Unterwalden) |
Stans |
43,223[25] |
69,559 |
276 |
138 |
11 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...s_matt.svg.png |
GL |
Glarus |
1352 |
Glarus |
40,403[26] |
67,379 |
685 |
51 |
3 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...g_matt.svg.png |
ZG |
Zug |
1352 |
Zug |
126,837[27] |
150,613 |
239 |
416 |
11 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...g_matt.svg.png |
FR |
Fribourg |
1481 |
Fribourg |
318,714[28] |
58,369 |
1,671 |
141 |
136 |
French, German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...n_matt.svg.png |
SO |
Solothurn |
1481 |
Solothurn |
273,194[29] |
65,588 |
790 |
308 |
109 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...t_matt.svg.png |
BS |
Basel-Stadt |
1501 (as Basel until 1833/1999) |
Basel |
200,298[30] |
163,632 |
37 |
5,072 |
3 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...schaft.svg.png |
BL |
Basel-Landschaft |
1501 (as Basel until 1833/1999) |
Liestal |
289,527[31] |
68,537 |
518 |
502 |
86 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...n_matt.svg.png |
SH |
Schaffhausen |
1501 |
Schaffhausen |
81,991[32] |
85,529 |
298 |
246 |
26 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...n_matt.svg.png |
AR |
Appenzell Ausserrhoden |
1513 (as Appenzell until 1597/1999) |
Herisau[Note 6] |
55,234[33] |
56,663 |
243 |
220 |
20 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...n_matt.svg.png |
AI |
Appenzell Innerrhoden |
1513 (as Appenzell until 1597/1999) |
Appenzell |
16,145[34] |
61,067 |
172 |
87 |
6 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...n_matt.svg.png |
SG |
St. Gallen |
1803[Note 7] |
St. Gallen |
507,697[35] |
72,624 |
2,031 |
222 |
77 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...n_matt.svg.png |
GR |
Graubünden; Grisons |
1803[Note 8] |
Chur |
198,379[36] |
70,968 |
7,105 |
26 |
108 |
German, Romansh, Italian |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...u_matt.svg.png |
AG |
Aargau |
1803[Note 9] |
Aarau |
678,207[37] |
61,959 |
1,404 |
388 |
212 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...u_matt.svg.png |
TG |
Thurgau |
1803[Note 10] |
Frauenfeld[Note 11] |
276,472[38] |
60,533 |
992 |
229 |
80 |
German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...n_matt.svg.png |
TI |
Ticino |
1803[Note 12] |
Bellinzona |
353,343[39] |
82,438 |
2,812 |
110 |
115 |
Italian |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...t_matt.svg.png |
VD |
Vaud |
1803[Note 13] |
Lausanne |
799,145[40] |
68,084 |
3,212 |
188 |
309 |
French |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...s_matt.svg.png |
VS |
Valais |
1815[Note 14] |
Sion |
343,955[41] |
52,532 |
5,224 |
53 |
126 |
French, German |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...g_matt.svg.png |
NE |
Neuchâtel |
1815/1857[Note 15] |
Neuchâtel |
176,850[42] |
83,835 |
802 |
206 |
31 |
French |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...f_matt.svg.png |
GE |
Geneva |
1815 |
Geneva |
499,480[43] |
102,113 |
282 |
1,442 |
45 |
French |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...a_matt.svg.png |
JU |
Jura |
1979[Note 16] |
Delémont |
73,419[44] |
64,606 |
839 |
82 |
55 |
French |
|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...erland.svg.png |
CH |
Switzerland |
|
Bern |
8,544,527[45] |
78,619 |
41,291 |
174 |
2,222 |
German, French, Italian, Romansh |
|---|
