# Major companies in Switzerland A thematic map of the Atlas of Switzerland, the national atlas published by ETH Zurich. The map is drawn in the browser; this file describes it and lists its variants and links, but not the data values shown on the map. - Map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/major-companies-in-switzerland/ - Short title: Companies - Map id: 488 - Categories: Portrait of Switzerland › Economy and Energy - Keywords: Companies, Economy, Labour - Published: 2017-08-29 - Last revised: 2023-01-27 - Content language: English - Other languages: [Deutsch](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/de/thema/groesste-unternehmen-der-schweiz.md), [Français](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/fr/theme/majeures-entreprises-de-la-suisse.md), [Italiano](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/it/tema/maggiori-imprese-della-svizzera.md) ## Description *Industry, trading and service* In 2013, some 563,000 private enterprises were counted in Switzerland. Over 430,000 of them are in the services (tertiary) sector, while the industrial (secondary) sector has over 90,000 companies and the primary sector around 56,000. More than 99% of enterprises in Switzerland are SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), i.e. enterprises with fewer than 250 employees (calculated as full-time equivalents); about 87% are micro-enterprises, i.e. with fewer than 10 employees. The average size of enterprises is around 8 employees. *Banks* Switzerland is home to a competitive and varied financial industry that is a world leader. Banks make up the largest part of this highly diverse industry that includes many mostly small or medium-sized institutions focused on the domestic market – such as the regional and cantonal banks – as well the Raiffeisen banks, a host of establishments with a strong international focus – such as the wealth management, private and foreign banks – and the two major global banks UBS and Credit Suisse. - One of Switzerland’s most important industries, the banks account for 6% of value added (2015: CHF 35 billion). This is in addition to the major indirect contribution that they make to general economic growth and value creation through their basic banking services such as loan finance. - The total assets of all banks in Switzerland amount to some CHF 3,000 billion every year. - The banking sector provides secure jobs to 165,000 people in Switzerland. - Banks finance local services, with more than 8% of all tax receipts in Switzerland coming from the banking sector. This equates to around CHF 11 billion, or half the amount the cantons spend on education. *Insurances* In 2015 the Swiss insurers accounts for over 43% of Switzerland's financial industry. It ranks among the top ten Swiss industries and creates value of some 26.1 billion of Swiss francs. This translates into a 4.2% share in the overall economy. Insurances can be classified into three categories : lief, indemnity and reinsurance. - Life insurance : Life insurance encompasses an insurance that protects against financial consequences of life-related risks such as old age, death and disability/incapacity to work. The offering includes individual life insurance and group life insurance and is used especially within the framework of the third pillar of the retirement provision. - Indemnity insurance : Indemnity insurance cover is provided if a financial loss is the prerequisite and criterion upon which the insurer's obligation to indemnify is evaluated. The Swiss Insurance Policies Act classes both non-life and health insurers as indemnity insurance companies. Many types of insurance thus fall under this umbrella, including sickness, fire and property damage, accident, liability and legal expenses. - Reinsurance : Reinsurers are companies which insure insurers. The aim of reinsurance is to spread a risk between a direct insurer and a reinsurer based on a certain percentage. *Comment* The industry indicated is that to which the company’s main activities relate. In some cases, however, industries cannot be assigned uniquely. ## Sources - VBV, Berufsbildungsverband der Versicherungswirtschaft (2017): [Lexikon](http://www.vbv.ch/de/VBV/Dienstleistungen/Lexikon//de/de/) - FSO (2016): [Panorama. Industrie und Dienstleistungen](https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfsstatic/dam/assets/262640/master). Bundesamt für Statistik. Statistische Grundlagen und Übersichten - FINMA (2015): [Versicherungsmarktbericht 2015](https://www.finma.ch/de/dokumentation/finma-publikationen/berichte/versicherungsbericht/) - SwissBanking (2016): [Bankengruppen](http://www.swissbanking.org/de/finanzplatz/akteure-des-finanzplatzes/bankengruppen?set_language=de) ## Data sources - Handelszeitung (2016): Top 500. Die grössten Unternehmen der Schweiz. Bisnode Schweiz AG ## Data owners - [Atlas of Switzerland (AoS)](http://www.atlasderschweiz.ch/) - [Handelszeitung](http://www.handelszeitung.ch/) ## Citation The terms of use ask to name the Atlas of Switzerland and the data owners, and to keep the source references in exports, screenshots and embeds. Cite the map as: > Atlas of Switzerland (2023): Major companies in Switzerland. ETH Zürich. Map data © AoS, Handelszeitung. https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/major-companies-in-switzerland/ ## Variants The map has 6 variants. Levels: time. The `u` value of a variant selects it in the links below. - 2010: `u=AAEAAAAA` - 2011: `u=ARIAAAAA` - 2012: `u=ARMAAAAA` - 2013: `u=ARQAAAAA` - 2014: `u=AmcAAAAA` - 2015: `u=AmAAAAAA` (default) ## Links Replace `{u}` with the `u` value of a variant above, or leave out `u={u}` for the default variant. The map opens at its full extent; a link cannot set the map position. - Map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/major-companies-in-switzerland/?u={u} - Short link, stays valid when the title changes: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/t/488/?u={u} - Side by side with another map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/comparison/?lt=488&lu={u}&rt={id of the other map}&ru={u of the other map, or leave out} Embed in another website (allowed by the terms of use, as long as the source references stay visible): ```html ``` In the embed URL, `dm` sets what is shown: `e` the map with its title bar (default), `p` also the values of an object clicked on the map, `m` only the map with a button that opens it in the atlas. `ig=1` (default) lets the map react to scrolling and dragging only after a click into it, `ig=0` right away. The size can be changed in `style`. ## Related maps - [Major bank companies](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/major-bank-companies.md) (id 527, former edition, desktop atlas only) - [Major industrial, trading and service companies](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/major-industrial-trading-and-service-companies.md) (id 526, former edition, desktop atlas only) - [Major life insurance companies](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/major-life-insurance-companies.md) (id 520, former edition, desktop atlas only) - [Major reinsurance companies](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/major-reinsurance-companies.md) (id 521, former edition, desktop atlas only) - [Major property insurance companies](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/major-property-insurance-companies.md) (id 522, former edition, desktop atlas only) - [Major insurance companies](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/major-insurance-companies.md) (id 525, former edition, desktop atlas only) For the use and citation of maps and data, see the [terms of use](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/terms-of-use/).