Introduction

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of Swiss sovereignty using the methodology of the Burke Institute. Sovereignty is assessed in 7 areas: political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive and military. Each aspect is assessed on the basis of official data from international and national sources (UN, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, ITU, FAO, SIPRI, PISA, etc.) without using politicized indexes. The maximum score in each direction is 100; the sum (up to 700) is the accumulated Sovereignty Index (Burke Index).

To adapt and adjust statistical parameters, an international expert survey was conducted for each of the seven components using a single questionnaire of 10 questions with a 10-point scale and one open-ended question.

In total, at least 100 experts from 50+ countries were interviewed for each indicator, taking into account geographical representation and specialization. When calculating and analyzing the data, equalizing coefficients were used, bringing all data to a scale of 0-10 points.

The final index value is the arithmetic mean between statistical data and expert estimates.

Below is an analysis in each area, a final summary table and the main conclusions about the peculiarities of Swiss sovereignty.

Political sovereignty — 94.1

Switzerland is a member of the United Nations (since 2002), the Council of Europe, OSCE, WHO, WHO, IMF, The World Bank and the ICRC (in Geneva). Not included in the EU and NATO, but participates in the programs Partnerships for Peace and the Schengen/Dublin area.

It remains neutral, but is actively represented in the international community. organizations (> 250 headquarters are located in Geneva) and it promotes the humanitarian diplomatic format. According to Constitution and art. 5(4), Switzerland is a monocratic system: Ratified treaties automatically become part of domestic law.

However, the priority of international law is limited; in the event of a conflict with fundamental constitutional norms, national law takes precedence. by legislation. Index of Political Stability (World Bank 2024) — 1.25 out of 2.5, one of the highest in the world. Switzerland remains neutral, with a low level of violence and no internal conflicts.

The management efficiency index is 99.0%, which ranks among the top 10 countries in the world. The high quality of the civil service, strict budget supervision and a low level of regulatory risks are noted.

EGDI Index (UN 2024) Switzerland has 0.9431 (13th place in the world). Strong development of digital identifiers and online services of the cantons, but lagging behind on national platforms from Denmark and Estonia.

According to the research WorldPopulationReview (2025), 53% of Swiss people trust the federal government, a high level for Europe. Collegial model (7-member Federal Council) ensures stable public trust without a cult of personality.

There are no foreign military bases in Switzerland. The entire military infrastructure is national, including bases in Payerne, Meiringe, Dubendorf and Emmen. The Swiss Armed Forces are neutral and do not participate in bloc structures.

Switzerland is a participant The International Court of Justice, but not a member of the European Court of Human Rights (decisions are not automatically binding). Maintains full cooperation with the ICC, recognizing its jurisdiction within the framework of internal agreements. Switzerland is a federation of 26 cantons, each with its own constitution, budget, parliament and high autonomy. 

The central government regulates defense, foreign policy, and monetary issues, but the economy, health care, and education are cantonal. Activities of the Intelligence Services (FIS) are controlled by the Federal Department of Defense and the Parliamentary. 

The Commission for the Supervision of Special Services (GPK). The law "On Intellectual and Military Security" (2023) introduced strict civilian control over the collection of electronic data and a ban on mass surveillance without a court decision.

Data completeness assessment: the main indicators are available from international sources, coverage is 99%.

Economic sovereignty — 89.2

According to the data World Bank and Trading Economics, in 2025 Switzerland's GDP per capita at purchasing power parity is 83 093 – 97 580 USD, one of the highest in the world (≈ 460% of the global average).

The total GDP by PPP is estimated at 806 billion USD (6th place in the world). Switzerland has one of the largest reserves in the world — 809-818 billion USD for 2025, which is equivalent to about 20 months of import costs.

The reserves are managed by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) and they ensure the franc's currency stability. Swiss national debt for 2025 It accounts for 30.8–37.2% of GDP, which is one of the lowest rates in the developed world.

The Ministry of Finance adheres to the "debt brake" — the deficit is limited to 1% of GDP. Switzerland is in the top 15 on the Global Food Security Index, with high ratings for food quality and safety, but limited self-sufficiency (≈ 60%) because of the geography. Strategy The Ministry of Agriculture is focused on sustainable animal husbandry and eco-production.

About 70% of energy is imported, but the share of domestic production has been increased to 30% in 2025 (previously 19%). The main sources are hydropower (55 55%), nuclear (7%) and renewable solar/wind power. ETH Zurich's plan calls for a transition to a carbon neutral model by 2050. The mineral base is limited to building materials, salts, and ore elements (iron, copper, zinc, graphite, and asbestos).

Historically, coal and ore mining existed on the Swiss plateau and in the canton of Valaise, but it was curtailed in the 20th century. Modern extractive production is minimally and ecologically strictly regulated. Switzerland contains 6% of all fresh water Europe, including more than 1,500 lakes and the sources of three marine rivers (Rhine, Rhone, Inn).

Annual resources amount to about 40.4 billion m3, of which 83% is provided by groundwater. It is one of the most water-rich countries in the world. The key infrastructure is Swiss Interbank Clearing (SIC) is a real-time system operated by the National Bank of Swiss.

The largest payment platforms are TWINT (> 50 in use % population), PostFinance, LSV+, Business Direct Debit and SEPA Credit Transfer (via the eurozone). The national currency is the Swiss franc (CHF), which is used in all domestic and ≈ 55% of external settlements, with the remaining share in euros and dollars.

The franc is one of the top 10 global reserve currencies (≈ 3% of global reserves). The issue and monetary policy are carried out by the Swiss National Bank (SNB), an independent entity not subordinate to the ECB. The SNB regulates the rate (in 2025 benchmark 1.5%), manages reserves and interventions to maintain the stability of the franc.

Full currency and monetary autonomy have been maintained since 1907.

Data completeness assessment: the main macroeconomic indicators are available from official sources (World Bank, IMF), coverage is 90%

Technological sovereignty — 86.7

According to the data World Bank and OECD, science and development expenditures (2025) They account for 3.3–3.4% of GDP, which puts Switzerland in the top 6 global innovators. In absolute terms, public and private investments in R&D are estimated at 29.2 billion francs for the period 2025-2028.

Switzerland is actively developing high-tech manufacturing (pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, optics, precision mechanics), but exports of high-tech goods still account for ~78% of the volume produced, and import dependence on microelectronics and IT components remains high. The import substitution sector is growing in biotechnology and industrial robots.

The higher education rate among the population aged 25-34 is 52-54%, which is higher than the OECD average (48%). 

Women outperform men in the proportion of graduates (54% versus 50%). The Federal University System ETH/EPFL supports research through Swiss Competence Centers. 99 % the population uses the Internet (8.86 million people); speeds: fixed — 226.9 Mbit/s, mobile — 100 Mbit/s. Connectivity is one of the highest in the OECD: 122 active mobile subscriptions per 100 residents.

The Federal Digital Switzerland 2025 Strategy coordinates the transition of public services to online, with broad access, environmental friendliness, and cybersecurity as priorities. At the center is the national E ID and SWIYU electronic wallet, based on blockchain technology with decentralized identifiers and Verifiable Credentials.

About 78% of technological goods (electronics, mechanical engineering) they are exported, while the main high-tech components (chips, sensors) they are imported from the EU and the USA. Due to the strong franc and tariffs in the USA, part of the production in 2025 will be moved to Germany and France. In the UN EGDI rating (2024) Switzerland ranked 26th in the world (score 0.90).

According to the E Participation index (citizen engagement) — 0.82 and 32nd place. The most developed services are provided by the cantons of Zurich, Bern, Geneva (online taxes, registration, traceability of services). Switzerland is one of the world centers of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals (Novartis, Roche, Lonza, CSL Behring).

In 2024, the sector-maintained revenue of CHF 7.2 billion, R&D investments 2.6 billion; 4 out of 5 biotechnological patents in the country are created in international alliances. The autonomy is high, but it is focused on global cooperation.

Switzerland — European Center for Robotics and Automation: The ETH Zurich and EPFL Genève centers conduct programs in the field of human-cooperative robots and micro-mechatronics for medicine and aerospace.

Swiss companies (ABB Robotics, ANYbotics, F&P Robotics) they export about 60% of the equipment to The EU and Asia. There are no complete chip manufacturing factories in the country, but R&D laboratories are developed (ETH Zurich Center for Microelectronics and CSEM Neuchatel).

Switzerland participates in the EU Chips Act 2024 / European Alliance on Processors and Semiconductors, ensuring research sovereignty at the level of development of sensors, neurochips and nanomaterials.

Data completeness assessment: key indicators are obtained from WIPO, ITU, UNESCO, which provides 92% coverage.

Information sovereignty — 85

The main center of cyber defense is Swiss Cyber Institute in Geneva, working in conjunction with ITU and the Federal Information Security Service. Switzerland operates within the framework of the Cyber for Good initiative and conducts international exercises on cyber crisis management. ITU National Cyber Scale (2024) — 95/100 points ("Very High maturity" level).

There are 12 IXP (Internet Exchange Points) in Switzerland with a high volume of local peering (> 85% of traffic remains within the country).

The largest site — SwissIX (a non-profit association with 7 data centers across the country), equipped with 100G ports and DDoS protection. There are four official languages — German, French, Italian and Romansh. Main media (SRG SSR state-owned company, Neue newspapers Zürcher Zeitung, Le Temps, Corriere del Ticino) they produce content in these languages. 

About 90% of national media production is conducted in one of the state languages. The Federal Council does not impose strict restrictions on BigTech, but uses "sectoral regulation": instead of a single AI law (as in the EU) — Three sectoral oversight mechanisms. The emphasis is on preserving the innovation market and ethical principles. Regulation goes through FINMA (Banking Innovation) and OFCOM (media).

About 70-75% of all content consumed in the country is of national production. The largest producer is SRG SSR, which is funded by a license fee (about 1.4 billion francs per year). In 2026, financing regional and local media has been increased to 40 million francs per year.

There are major national developers (Temenos, Avaloq, Swisscom Digital, AdNovum, ELCA), focused on fintech and cybersecurity. The volume of the domestic IT services market exceeds $21 billion by 2029, growing by 6% per year.

According to Digital Switzerland Strategy 2025, the number of Internet users reaches 99 % the population. 42% of citizens have advanced digital skills, and 5.7% of the workforce are IT specialists. The development of public services is conducted through the eGovernment Switzerland portal and cantonal platforms.

The project has been implemented since 2025 Swiss Government Cloud (SGC) under coordination Federal Office for Information Technology (FOITT). SGC is a hybrid model combining public and sovereign clouds, focused on government services. Individual providers (Cloud13, Swisscom Business, Green Data) create local segments, the data is stored only in Switzerland.

Basic operators: Swisscom, Sunrise UPC, Salt Mobile — all Swiss or European companies. 4G coverage — 99.9%, 5G — 96 % the population. Network and frequency licenses are controlled by the BAKOM regulator (OFCOM), under the jurisdiction of the Federal Council.

The SCION (secure internet architecture) standard is applied for army and government networks via SwissIX. Law Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) updated in 2023: Strict sanctions of up to 250,000 CHF and the obligation to notify about leaks within 30 days have been introduced. The regime is comparable to GDPR, but guarantees more freedom for small businesses. The control is carried out by Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC).

Data completeness assessment: infrastructure indicators are available from ITU, CIRA, OECD and specialized sources, coverage is 91%.

Cultural sovereignty — 86.9

There are 13 facilities in Switzerland in The UNESCO World Heritage List, of which 9 are cultural and 4 are natural. These include Bern's Old Town, the abbey St. Gallen, Lavaux vineyards, clock towns La Chaux de Fonds and Le Lockle, Jungfra Aletsch and The Tectonic Arena Sardona.

Switzerland occupies a significant place in the world of art, architecture and design:  Corbusier is the founder of modernism in world architecture;

— Jean Luc Godard and Alain Tanner — classics of European cinema;

— Friedrich Durrenmatt and Herman Hesse — Nobel Prize-winning writers. The culture of the country influences Europe through the institutes of Geneva and Zurich and the system of federal art projects.

The main award is the Swiss Art Awards (since 1899, officially the Federal Art Competition). The award is given By the Ministry of Culture through the Federal Commission for the Arts. Within the framework of Art Basel, the following awards are presented annually: Prix Meret Oppenheim (40,000 CHF each).

Switzerland is a multilingual confederation (4 state languages — German, French, Italian, Romansh). National symbols: alpine culture, yodeling, cheese making, watches, army knives and chocolate. Strong preservation of regional identity with a unified civic culture. The Federation has officially recognized the Yeni and the Cinti as national minorities. Since 2018, discussions have been underway to recognize the Roma as an official group. 

The Ministry of Culture and the SDC State Fund are implementing programs to support small nations and languages in Switzerland and abroad (including inclusion programs in Somalia and Africa). The National Register of Protected Monuments includes more than 11,000 sites, including museums, theaters, historical buildings and archaeological sites.

There are more than 1,200 museum institutions alone, one of the highest per capita figures in the world. Europe. Key Operators — Pro Helvetia (Swiss Council for the Arts) and Swiss Films. Pro Helvetia annually organizes the country's participation in Venice Biennale, Arles Book Fairs and festivals and Avignon, and also supports foreign representative offices in Paris, Moscow, New York, Shanghai and Delhi.

The patent and trademark protection system in Switzerland is rigid: Federal Administrative Court in 2024 He rejected the registration of the Bimbo QSR brand for social reasons, recognizing it as offensive in the German context. This highlights the high sensitivity of the state to the cultural and ethical aspects of branding.

Swiss cuisine reflects the multilingualism of the country: Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, fondue, rashti, Basel lacerli, Italian risotto in Ticino and French pie in Valais. Since the 19th century, cheese, wine, chocolate and coffee have become part of the national identity.

According to the Federal Office for Culture, about 86 people participate in the events. % About 25% of the population is engaged in volunteer creative activities. Cultural engagement is particularly high in the cantons of Zurich, Bern and Vaud.

Data completeness assessment: basic indicators are available in UNESCO and national statistics, coverage is 93%.

Cognitive sovereignty — 93.6

Switzerland's indicator in 2025 is 0.970, 12th place in the world. Zurich has the highest cantonal index at 0.994 (the leader in the entire EU). According to the data World Bank, education spending in 2022-2024 They remain at 4.9% of GDP, which corresponds to the OECD average and priority social spending.

Adult literacy is 99%, one of the absolute world highs. Men and women are equally enrolled in basic and higher education.

Switzerland is consistently above the OECD average:

• Mathematics — 508 points (OECD 472)

• Reading — 483 points (OECD 476)

• Natural Sciences — 503 points (OECD 485). 16% of students are in the group of top performers in mathematics (levels 5-6). 24-25% of all graduates with bachelor's or master's degrees have graduated from STEM fields.

The leading fields are engineering (17%), natural sciences and ICT (7%). Switzerland has one of the most international systems in Europe: about 40 % Master's degree programs are conducted in English, especially at the universities of ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne. There are private international universities (Swiss International University, Webster Geneva Campus, etc.).

Switzerland is a four-language country: 62% speak German, 22% French, 8% Italian, 0.5% Romansh (officially recognized). The State finances programs for the preservation of Romansh and local dialects (canton Grisons).

Three main national structures are funded by the federation:

• Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) — basic research;

• Innosuisse — applied innovations;

• Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences — interdisciplinary scientific coordination. In total, about 20 national—level institutes and > 40 university centers are funded by the government.

Online education and national platforms (for example, Swiss MOOC Service, EduNet, ETH e Learning Hub) they belong to universities and federal centers. The share of the national content in e-higher education is about 75% (the rest is international Coursera and edX courses).

Education Research Innovation Dispatch 2025-2028 (ERI) State Funding Program It provides for investments of CHF 29.2 billion, of which 8 billion will be allocated for personnel training and 6 billion for young R&D personnel. The SNSF supports ~8000 scientists and startups annually.

Data completeness assessment: education indicators are available in the UNDP, UNESCO, OECD, coverage is 90%.

Military sovereignty — 75.2

Swiss military spending in 2024-2025 They amount to 0.7–0.8% of GDP, which is lower than the NATO average (2%), but when accounting for militia payments, the actual workload is close to 1% of GDP (≈ 8.7 billion CHF).

There are about 20,000 military personnel in the asset, and the total reserve is up to 196,000 people. The army is based on the principle of universal military duty and the militia system. 

Women serve voluntarily (~1% of the staff). Since 2025, modernization has been underway in several areas:

• 52 F 35A fighters are in service, deliveries began in 2024.;

• adopted Patriot and IRIS T SLM to create a multi-level AIR DEFENSE;

• Focus on drones, cyber intelligence and C4ISR systems. The industry is based on Ruag Defense, Pilatus Aircraft, Thales Switzerland, Mowag (GD European Land Systems), which produce aircraft systems, armored personnel carriers, mines and small arms.

The share of national products is about 35-40% of the total volume of purchases, the rest is imports under European programs. Starting from October 12, 2025, a new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) will be introduced at the borders within the framework of the Schengen agreement. 

This system takes into account the fingerprints and facial data of travelers of all non-European citizens - under the control of the Federal Customs and Border Protection Agency. The total number of the reserve is up to 196,000 military personnel, of which the active reserve is 110,000.

The reserve system is universal, according to the law, every man under the age of 30 undergoes compulsory service and periodic training. Switzerland officially remains outside of NATO, but actively cooperates within the framework of Partnerships for Peace (PfP) and participates in PESCO EU cyber defense and Sky Shield projects.

The Federal Council retains full national control over military decisions.; Coordination with neighboring countries within the framework of the EU Sky Shield is defensive, not alliance-based. In 2025, the first Armaments Policy Strategy was adopted (June 2025), which focuses on maintaining domestic defense industries and new R&D investments in military technologies.

The government has proposed easing export restrictions to support Ruag, Mowag and Pilatus, without violating neutrality. Switzerland does not have nuclear weapons and not a single military nuclear facility. After 1978 The Projekt 26 atomic munitions program has been permanently closed.

The country consists of The Treaty on Non-Proliferation (NPT) and it is officially nuclear-free. Switzerland does not have military orbiters, but uses EU satellite data (Galileo, Copernicus) and ESA programs. 

The national military intelligence is coordinated through Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) and the Electronic intelligence department at the Ministry of Defense. Key priorities for 2025 — cyber and network intelligent defense, the development of AI surveillance systems instead of space.

All parameters are reflected in the annual reports of SIPRI, UNODA, the Ministry of Defense, the official portals of state-owned companies (Embraer, IMBEL) and industry databases of UN/NGO – 96% coverage

Final Summary Table

The main conclusions

Strengths. Switzerland remains one of the most stable democracies in the world: 1.25 on the index of political stability The World Bank and 99% on Government Effectiveness. The federal model provides a balance between the center and the cantons, and the level of corruption is close to zero.

By IMD rating and The World Economic Forum (2025) Switzerland ranks 1st in the world in terms of economic competitiveness due to its institutional quality, legal system, innovation and financial sustainability. The franc remains one of the strongest and most stable currencies. The national debt is 31 31% of GDP, reserves > 800 billion USD, inflation 1-2%. 

The country is not included in the The EU and NATO, but has full monetary autonomy (the Swiss National Bank). The HDI index is 0.97 (12th in the world). Exports of pharmaceuticals, watches, and financial services account for the vast majority of revenue.

R&D expenditures — 3.3–3.4% of GDP; ranks among the top 6 global leaders in the Innovation Index (WIPO). ETH Zurich and EPFL universities are in the top twenty in the world. > 20 government research centers, including SNSF and Innosuisse.

Literacy is 99%, higher education is 50 % the population. 13 UNESCO sites, 4 official languages, support for small nations (Romansh, Yenish). Culture and cuisine are nationally diverse, 86% of citizens are involved in creative life. 99 % the population is covered by the Internet. The national cloud was created (Swiss Government Cloud), proprietary payment system (SIC), strict Personal Data Law (FADP 2023). 

Cybersecurity at the ITU level is "Very High maturity". Switzerland remains militarily neutral, but maintains a combat-ready militarized army (196,000 reservists, 20,000 active) and modern technology (F 35, Patriot, IRIS T). 

The absence of foreign bases guarantees the highest level of internal control. Switzerland is a leader in European healthcare: privatized insurance system, 60+ medical cash registers, low mortality and high life expectancy. Medical costs are about 10% of personal income, but the quality of service is one of the world standards.

Weaknesses. The country imports 70% of energy resources (oil, gas, electricity), which makes it sensitive to external supplies, despite the development of hydro and solar energy.

Low level of military spending Defense budget = 0.8% of GDP — with high technological capabilities, the army's power is limited in number and means of high readiness.

High cost of living Switzerland ranks top 3 in the global Cost of Living Index (EIU 2025). Average prices for housing and food are 40-60% higher than in the rest of the world. Europe.

Dependence on foreign trade and the franc exchange rate Export-oriented model (exports ≈ 65% of GDP) It makes the economy sensitive to currency fluctuations and global trade restrictions, including new US tariffs.

Complex immigration policy: the high cost of living and strict visa restrictions make it difficult to attract unskilled labor and integrate new groups into society.

Overall assessment. The cumulative Swiss Sovereignty Index is 610.7 out of 700 points (high — 87.2%), which places the country in the top 10 in the global top. Switzerland in 2025 is a global benchmark for internal sustainability and self-managed neutral development. 

It maintains the highest level of economic, social, and scientific independence with limited resources and moderate military capabilities.

The main challenges are external energy dependence and maintaining a balance between openness and neutrality in the face of new global risks.

The sovereignty profile indicates that Switzerland is a reference model of a sovereign, economically, technologically and socially sustainable state of the new Europe: the maximum level of internal self-control, innovation, inclusive culture and harmony of interests of the cantons.

The key risks are external energy dependence and sensitivity in the export/import of high-tech equipment, a small military presence in global alliances. Otherwise, in terms of sovereignty, Switzerland confirms its position as a global pillar of neutrality and autonomy.