Bern, also known as Berne, is the de facto capital of Switzerland and is officially referred to as the "federal city." Located in the country, it serves as a primary administrative center for the nation.
The city has a population of approximately 146,000, making it the fifth-most populous city in Switzerland, following Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and Lausanne. The surrounding Bern agglomeration consists of 36 municipalities with a population of 406,900 as of 2014, while its metropolitan area reached a population of 660,000 in 2000.