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Switzerland is made up of 26 states known as cantons. They are the states that originally united in 1848 to form the Confederation, to which they each relinquished part of their sovereignty.
The cantons, as member states of the Swiss federal state, have a permanent constitutional status and, in comparison with the situation in other countries, a high degree of independence. Under the Federal Constitution, all 26 cantons are equal in status. Accordingly, at a federal level, all cantons have the same rights of intervention (e.g. cantonal initiative, referendum requested by the cantons). Each canton has its own constitution, and its own parliament, government and courts. However, there are considerable differences between the individual cantons, most particularly in terms of population, geographical area, economic power and political tradition. The character of each canton is largely determined by its geographical location, its predominant culture and its history. Direct democracy in the form of a People’s Assembly still exists in the cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus. In the other cantons, the people vote at the ballot box.
| Abbr | Canton | Since | Capital | Population | Official languages | | ZH | Zürich | 1351 | Zürich | 1,228,600 | German | | BE | Bern | 1353 | Bern | 947,100 | German,
French | | LU | Lucerne | 1332 | Lucerne | 350,600 | German | | UR | Uri | 1291 | Altdorf | 35,000 | German | | SZ | Schwyz | 1291 | Schwyz | 131,400 | German | | OW | Obwalden | 1291 | Sarnen | 32,700 | German | | NW | Nidwalden | 1291 | Stans | 38,600 | German | | GL | Glarus | 1352 | Glarus | 38,300 | German | | ZG | Zug | 1352 | Zug | 100,900 | German | | FR | Fribourg | 1481 | Fribourg | 239,100 | French,
German | | SO | Solothurn | 1481 | Solothurn | 245,500 | German | | BS | Basel-Stadt | 1501 | Basel | 186,700 | German | | BL | Basel-Land | 1501 | Liestal | 261,400 | German | | SH | Schaffhausen | 1501 | Schaffhausen | 73,400 | German | | AR | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 1513 | Herisau | 53,200 | German | | AI | Appenzell Innerrhoden | 1513 | Appenzell | 15,000 | German | | SG | St. Gallen | 1803 | St. Gallen | 452,600 | German | | GR | Graubünden | 1803 | Chur | 185,700 | German,
Romansh,
Italian | | AG | Aargau | 1803 | Aarau | 550,900 | German | | TG | Thurgau | 1803 | Frauenfeld | 228,200 | German | | TI | Ticino | 1803 | Bellinzona | 311,900 | Italian | | VD | Vaud | 1803 | Lausanne | 626,200 | French | | VS | Valais | 1815 | Sion | 278,200 | French,
German | | NE | Neuchatel | 1815 | Neuchâtel | 166,500 | French | | GE | Geneva | 1815 | Geneva | 414,300 | French | | JU | Jura | 1979 | Delémont | 69,100 | French | | | | | | 7,261,200 | |
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