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Switzerland has an exports per capita figure that is x5.5 that of the UK
It's really interesting if you dig into that stat (I had never looked into it before). Swiss exports are 40% pharmaceuticals and 25% gold, which is presumably imported and refined rather than mined. USA is the biggest single trading partner.
NickCJ-
25% gold, which is presumably imported and refined rather than mined.
Or stolen...
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The other interesting thing is that chocolate and luxury goods arent even in their top five exports.
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which is presumably imported and refined rather than mined
Switzerland do have a few gold deposits left but long ago decided that the environmental impact of mining it outweighed the £££ so it is going to stay in the ground.
Switzerland really is a strange place. Both amazing and depressing. One other amazing thing I learned about Switzerland is that rain that falls on 93% of its surface area will ultimately pass through a hydro power project before leaving the country. 93%!
NotThamesWater
Stonehedge
When I said "even half as" I knew I was being conservative, but didn't realise that Switzerland has an exports per capita figure that is x5.5 that of the UK!