The Swiss Confederation consists of 26 states:

Aargau
Appenzell Innerrhoden
Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Basel-Stadt
Basel-Landschaft
Bern
Fribourg
Geneva
Glarus
Graubünden
Jura
Lucerne
Neuchâtel
Nidwalden*
Obwalden*
Schaffhausen
Schwyz
Solothurn
St. Gallen
Thurgau
Ticino
Uri
Valais
Vaud
Zug
Zürich

These cantons are represented by only one councilor in the Council of States.

Their populations vary between 15,000 (Appenzell Innerrhoden) and 1,253,500 (Zürich), and their area between 37 km² (Basel-Stadt) and 7,105 km² (Graubünden). The Cantons comprise a total of 2,889 municipalities.

The following are enclaves within Switzerland: Büsingen is territory of Germany, Campione d'Italia is territory of Italy.

In a referendum held in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg on 11 May 1919 over 80% of those voting supported a proposal that the state should join the Swiss Confederation. However, this was prevented by the opposition of the Austrian Government, the Allies, Swiss liberals, the Swiss-Italians and the Swiss-French

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( Wintertime view of Sent, in the eastern canton of Graubünden )