Vim Syntax Highlighting does not work

I've installed a fresh Arch Linux system on my laptop and downloaded the vim package.

I haven't altered the .vimrc file, but the syntax highlighting doesn't seem to work with any of the languages I tried (Python, Ruby, CSharp, C...).

Auto formatting (gg, =, G) also fails.

Until now when playing with vim (because I can't really say I've extensively used it) in other OSs (Ubuntu, Fedora), the syntax highlighting came on automatically. Is there something I am missing here?

You need to have following settings in .vimrc file as per arch linux documentation

filetype plugin on
syntax on

This is the absolute minimum you need to put in your ~/.vimrc if you intend to use vim as your primary editor:

" activates filetype detection
filetype plugin indent on

" activates syntax highlighting among other things
syntax on

" allows you to deal with multiple unsaved
" buffers simultaneously without resorting
" to misusing tabs
set hidden

" just hit backspace without this one and
" see for yourself
set backspace=indent,eol,start

Anything else depends on your taste, workflow and needs.