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Europe :: Liechtenstein

- ## 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 Napoleonic 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 that 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
  country comparison to the world: 219
  Area - comparative:
  about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  total: 75 km
  border countries (2): Austria 34 km, Switzerland 41 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:
  agricultural land: 37.6%
  arable land 18.8%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 18.8%
  forest: 43.1%
  other: 19.3% (2011 est.)
  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 and Society :: LIECHTENSTEIN

- Nationality:
  noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
  adjective: Liechtenstein
  Ethnic groups:
  Liechtensteiner 66.3%, other 33.7% (2013 est.)
  Languages:
  German 94.5% (official) (Alemannic is the main dialect), Italian 1.1%, other 4.3% (2010 est.)
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic (official) 75.9%, Protestant Reformed 6.5%, Muslim 5.4%, Lutheran 1.3%, other 2.9%, none 5.4%, unspecified 2.6% (2010 est.)
  Population:
  37,624 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 214
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 15.54% (male 3,142/female 2,706)
  15-24 years: 11.73% (male 2,182/female 2,230)
  25-54 years: 42.65% (male 8,013/female 8,035)
  55-64 years: 13.58% (male 2,504/female 2,606)
  65 years and over: 16.49% (male 2,837/female 3,369) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Median age:
  total: 42.7 years
  male: 41.5 years
  female: 43.8 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.84% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Birth rate:
  10.45 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Death rate:
  7.12 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Net migration rate:
  5.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 14.3% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 0.48% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  VADUZ (capital) 5,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.26 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 3.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 81.77 years
  male: 79.6 years
  female: 84.5 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Total fertility rate:
  1.69 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Education expenditures:
  2.1% of GDP (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 15 years
  male: 16 years
  female: 14 years (2012)

- ## 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:
  hereditary 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); 24 August 1866 (independence from the German Confederation)
  National holiday:
  Assumption Day, 15 August, and National Day, 15 August (1940)
  Constitution:
  previous 1862; latest adopted 5 October 1921; amended many times, last in 2011 (2015)
  Legal system:
  civil law system influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German law
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Liechtenstein; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers on 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August 2004, HANS ADAM II transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM II retains status of chief of state
  head of government: Prime Minister Adrian HASLER (since 27 March 2013)
  cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag usually appointed the head of government by the monarch, and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition government
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
  elections: last held on 3 February 2013 (next to be held in February 2017)
  election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 40.0%, VU 33.5%, DU 15.3% FL 11.1%; seats by party - FBP 10, VU 8, DU 4, FL 3
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 5 judges); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgericht (consists of 5 judges and 5 alternates)
  judge selection and term of office: judges of both courts elected by the Landtag and appointed by the monarch; Supreme Court judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judge tenure NA
  subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Obergericht (second instance), Court of Justice (first instance), Administrative Court, county courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Fatherland Union (Vaterlaendische Union) or VU [Jakob BUECHEL]
  Progressive Citizens' Party (Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei) or FBP [Elfried HASLER]
  The Free List (Die Freie Liste) or FL [Wolfgang MARXER]
  the independents (Die Unabhaengigen) or DU [Harry QUADERER]
  International organization participation:
  CD, CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE (since 7 December 2000)
  chancery: 2900 K Street, NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007
  telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590
  FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221
  consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York, San Francisco
  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; the colors may derive from the blue and red livery design used in the principality's household in the 18th century; the prince's crown was introduced in 1937 to distinguish the flag from that of Haiti
  National symbol(s):
  princely hat (crown); national colors: blue, red
  National anthem:
  name: "Oben am jungen Rhein" (High Above the Young Rhine)
  lyrics/music: Jakob Joseph JAUCH/Josef FROMMELT
  note: adopted 1850, revised 1963; uses the tune of "God Save the Queen"

- ## 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 the third highest per capita income in the world, after Qatar and Luxembourg. 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 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. Since 2008, Liechtenstein has faced renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany and the United States - to improve transparency in its banking and tax systems. In December 2008, Liechtenstein signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the US. Upon Liechtenstein's conclusion of 12 bilateral information-sharing agreements, the OECD in October 2009 removed the principality from its "grey list" of countries that had yet to implement the organization's Model Tax Convention. By the end of 2010, Liechtenstein had signed 25 Tax Information Exchange Agreements or Double Tax Agreements. In 2011 Liechtenstein joined the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel across 26 European countries.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $3.2 billion (2009 est.)
  $3.216 billion (2008 est.)
  $3.159 billion (2007 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $5.113 billion (2010 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  1.8% (2012 est.)
  -0.5% (2009 est.)
  3.1% (2007 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $89,400 (2009 est.)
  $90,600 (2008 est.)
  $89,700 (2007 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 3
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 8%
  industry: 37%
  services: 55% (2009)
  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%
  Labor force:
  35,830 (2012)
  note: 51% of the labor force in Liechtenstein commute daily from Austria, Switzerland, or Germany (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 0.8%
  industry: 39.4%
  services: 59.9% (2012)
  Unemployment rate:
  2.3% (2012)
  2.5% (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $995.3 million
  expenditures: $890.4 million (2011 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  19.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  2.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  -0.7% (2012)
  0.2% (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  Exports:
  $3.801 billion (2012 est.)
  $3.757 billion (2011 est.)
  note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland
  country comparison to the world: 124
  Exports - commodities:
  small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
  Imports:
  $2.09 billion (2012 est.)
  $2.218 billion (2011 est.)
  note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland
  country comparison to the world: 161
  Imports - commodities:
  agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
  Debt - external:
  $0 (2001)
  note: public external debt only; private external debt unavailable
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Exchange rates:
  Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -
  0.9152 (2014)
  0.9377 (2012)
  0.94 (2012 est.)
  0.8876 (2011 est.)
  1.0429 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: LIECHTENSTEIN

- Electricity - production:
  145.3 million kWh (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 193
  Electricity - consumption:
  1.36 billion kWh (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Electricity - imports:
  1.214 billion kWh (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 59

- ## Communications :: LIECHTENSTEIN

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 18,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 38,800
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: automatic telephone system
  domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined telephone service subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons
  international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  relies on foreign terrestrial and satellite broadcasters for most broadcast media services; first Liechtenstein-based TV station established August 2008; Radio Liechtenstein operates multiple radio stations; a Swiss-based broadcaster operates several radio stations in Liechtenstein (2008)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
  Television broadcast stations:
  NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
  Internet country code:
  .li
  Internet users:
  total: 34,500
  percent of population: 92.4% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 193

- ## Transportation :: LIECHTENSTEIN

- Pipelines:
  gas 20 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 9 km
  standard gauge: 9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
  note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Roadways:
  total: 380 km
  paved: 380 km (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 202
  Waterways:
  28 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 105

- ## Military :: LIECHTENSTEIN

- Military branches:
  no regular military forces; National Police maintains close relations with neighboring forces (2013)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 8,009 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 6,538
  females age 16-49: 6,746 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 219
  female: 211 (2010 est.)
  Military - note:
  Liechtenstein has no military forces, but the modern National Police maintains close relations with neighboring forces (2013)

- ## 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

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