The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. Shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering legislation over the past several years and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US went into effect in 2003.
Location
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates
47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total
160 sq km
land
160 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
total
76 km
border countries
Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
Coastline
0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain
mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point
Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources
hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use
arable land
25%
permanent crops
0%
other
75% (2005)
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
NA
Environment - international agreements
party to
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified
Law of the Sea
Geography - note
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
Population
34,247 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
17.1% (male 2,902/female 2,963)
15-64 years
70% (male 11,887/female 12,101)
65 years and over
12.8% (male 1,862/female 2,532) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
40.1 years
male
39.5 years
female
40.5 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
0.745% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
10.02 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
4.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years
0.979 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.982 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.735 male(s)/female
total population
0.946 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
4.58 deaths/1,000 live births
male
6.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female
3.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
79.81 years
male
76.24 years
female
83.4 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.51 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective
Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups
Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%
Religions
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)
Languages
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy
definition
age 10 and over can read and write
total population
100%
male
100%
female
100%
Country name
conventional long form
Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form
Liechtenstein
local long form
Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form
Liechtenstein
Government type
constitutional monarchy
Capital
name
Vaduz
geographic coordinates
47 09 N, 9 31 E
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
National holiday
Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution
5 October 1921
Legal system
local civil and penal codes based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August 2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state
head of government
Head of Government Otmar HASLER (since 5 April 2001); Deputy Head of Government Klaus TSCHUETSCHER (since 21 April 2005)
cabinet
Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
elections
none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition government
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 and 13 March 2005 (next to be held by 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 48.7%, VU 38.2%, FL 13%; seats by party - FBP 12, VU 10, FL 3
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht
Political parties and leaders
Patriotic Union or VU [Adolf HEEB] (was Fatherland Union); Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Otmar HASLER]; The Free List or FL [Claudia HEEB-FLECK and Egon MATT]
888 17th Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006
telephone
[1] (202) 331-0590
FAX
[1] (202) 331-3221
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy - overview
Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and living standards on a par with its large European neighbors. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.786 billion (2001 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.487 billion (2001)
GDP - real growth rate
11% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$25,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
6%
industry
39%
services
55% (2001)
Labor force
29,500 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (31 December 2001)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
2%
industry
47%
services
51% (31 December 2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
1.3% (September 2002)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1% (2001)
Budget
revenues
$424.2 million
expenditures
$414.1 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
Exports - partners
EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7% (2006)
Imports
$917.3 million (1996)
Imports - commodities
agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Imports - partners
EU, Switzerland (2006)
Debt - external
$0 (2001)
Currency (code)
Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code
CHF
Exchange rates
Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
19,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular
11,400 (2002)
Telephone system
general assessment
automatic telephone system
domestic
NA
international
country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay
Radio broadcast stations
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
21,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Televisions
12,000 (1997)
Internet country code
.li
Internet hosts
4,697 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)
Internet users
20,000 (2002)
Pipelines
gas 20 km (2006)
Railways
9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland (2006)
Roadways
total
380 km
paved
380 km (2006)
Waterways
28 km (2006)
Ports and terminals
none
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49: 7,736 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49: 6,250 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49: 208 (2005 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
Disputes - international
none
Illicit drugs
has strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector
