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Introduction | Liechtenstein

Background: | The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleanic wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the Germanic Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. 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. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US went into effect in 2003.

Geography | Liechtenstein

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

People | Liechtenstein

Population: | 34,498 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 16.9% (male 2,892/female 2,927) 15-64 years: 69.8% (male 11,905/female 12,180) 65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,964/female 2,630) (2008 est.)
Median age: | total: 40.5 years male: 40 years female: 41 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate: | 0.713% (2008 est.)
Birth rate: | 9.86 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: | 7.42 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate: | 4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 4.52 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.03 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 79.95 years male: 76.38 years female: 83.52 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 1.51 children born/woman (2008 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: | Liechtensteiner 65.6%, other 34.4% (2000 census)
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%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): | total: 15 years male: 16 years female: 13 years (2004)
Education expenditures: | NA

Government | Liechtenstein

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 08 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
Administrative divisions: | 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence: | 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 (Prime Minister) Otmar HASLER (since 5 April 2001); Deputy Head of Government (Deputy Prime Minister) Klaus TSCHUETSCHER (since 21 April 2005) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch elections: 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 [Marcus VOGT]; The Free List or FL [Claudia HEEB-FLECK and Egon MATT]
Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA
International organization participation: | CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE chancery: 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 | Liechtenstein

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): | $36.33 billion (2007 est.)
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)
Unemployment rate: | 1.3% (September 2002)
Population below poverty line: | NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget: | revenues: $424.2 million expenditures: $414.1 million (1998 est.)
Fiscal year: | calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 1% (2001)
Agriculture - products: | wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries: | electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments
Industrial production growth rate: | NA%
Exports: | $2.47 billion (1996)
Exports - commodities: | 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)
Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA
Currency (code): | Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code: | CHF
Exchange rates: | Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003)

Communications | Liechtenstein

Telephones - main lines in use: | 20,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 27,500 (2005)
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: | 7,639 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)
Internet users: | 22,000 (2006)

Transportation | Liechtenstein

Pipelines: | gas 20 km (2007)
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 (2007)
Waterways: | 28 km (2006)

Military | Liechtenstein

Military branches: | no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited); Principality of Liechtenstein National Police (Landespolizei, LP) (2008)
Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 8,102 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 6,584 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: | male: 202 female: 222 (2008 est.)
Military - note: | Liechtenstein has no military forces, but is interested in European security policy and is an active member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

Transnational Issues | Liechtenstein

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

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008