Geneva is second to Zurich in terms of population of cities in Switzerland. It is the most populated in Romandie city. Geneva is situated where the Rhone River leaves or exits Lake Geneva and is the capital of the Republic and Canton of Geneva.

An estimated population of 186,825 residents in June 2008 lives in the city proper alone. The metropolis area has about 812,000 residents in a 2007 census. The metropolitan area of Geneva extends over Switzerland for a bit and over France.

It is the diplomacy and international corporation center worldwide, and is popularly regarded as a global city due to the number of international organizations it has, particular of these are the headquarters of the many agencies of the United Nations and the Red Cross.

It is also where Geneva Conventions are signed, mainly concerning the way non-combatants and prisoners of war are treated. Geneva is considered the world´s sixth most significant center for finance by the Global financial center index in the world and has the 3rd highest quality of life in the world as well.