Liechtenstein

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 German 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.

land

160 sq km

total

160 sq km

water

0 sq km

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

0 km (doubly landlocked)

highest point

Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

lowest point

Ruggeller Riet 430 m

47 16 N, 9 32 E

along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

0 sq km (2012)

border countries

Austria 34 km; Switzerland 41 km

total

75 km

agricultural land

37.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 18.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.)

forest

43.1% (2018 est.)

other

19.3% (2018 est.)

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)

Europe

none (landlocked)

avalanches, landslides

hydroelectric potential, arable land

most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River

mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

0-14 years

15.3% (male 3,412/female 2,732)

15-64 years

63.9% (male 12,814/female 12,921)

65 years and over

20.8% (2024 est.) (male 3,846/female 4,547)

10.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

NA

NA

65.2% (2023 est.)

8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

28.3

potential support ratio

3.5 (2021)

total dependency ratio

50.2

youth dependency ratio

21.8

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

2.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Liechtensteiner 65.6%, Swiss 9.6%, Austrian 5.8%, German 4.5%, Italian 3.1%, other 11.4% (2021 est.)

note

note: data represent population by nationality

0.75 (2024 est.)

female

3.5 deaths/1,000 live births

male

4.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

German 91.5% (official, Alemannic is the main dialect), Italian 1.5%, Turkish 1.3%, Portuguese 1.1%, other 4.6% (2015 est.)

major-language sample(s)

Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

female

85.8 years

male

80.7 years

total population

83 years (2024 est.)

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

5,000 VADUZ (capital) (2018)

female

46.1 years

male

42.4 years

total

44.2 years (2024 est.)

31.3 years (2017)

adjective

Liechtenstein

noun

Liechtensteiner(s)

4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

female

20,200 (2024 est.)

male

20,072

total

40,272

most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River

0.69% (2024 est.)

Roman Catholic (official) 73.4%, Protestant Reformed 6.3%, Muslim 5.9%, Christian Orthodox 1.3%, Lutheran 1.2%, other Protestant 0.7%, other Christian 0.3%, other 0.8%, none 7%, unspecified 3.3% (2015 est.)

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

female

14 years (2020)

male

16 years

total

15 years

0-14 years

1.25 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.85 male(s)/female

at birth

1.26 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

1.69 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

14.6% of total population (2023)

11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology

may be a conflation from the Latin vallis (valley) and the High German diutisk (meaning "German") to produce Valdutsch ("German valley"), which over time simplified and came to refer specifically to Vaduz, the town

geographic coordinates

47 08 N, 9 31 E

name

Vaduz

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

amendments

proposed by Parliament, by the reigning prince (in the form of "Government" proposals), by petition of at least 1,500 qualified voters, or by at least four communes; passage requires unanimous approval of Parliament members in one sitting or three-quarters majority vote in two successive sittings; referendum required only if petitioned by at least 1,500 voters or by at least four communes; passage by referendum requires absolute majority of votes cast; amended many times, last in 2023

history

previous 1862; latest adopted 5 October 1921

conventional long form

Principality of Liechtenstein

conventional short form

Liechtenstein

etymology

named after the Liechtenstein dynasty that purchased and united the counties of Schellenburg and Vaduz and that was allowed by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1719 to rename the new property after their family; the name in German means "light (bright) stone"

local long form

Fuerstentum Liechtenstein

local short form

Liechtenstein

embassy

the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein

chancery

2900 K Street NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Georg SPARBER (since 1 December 2021)

email address and website

washington@llv.lihttps://www.liechtensteinusa.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 331-3221

telephone

[1] (202) 331-0590

cabinet

Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch

chief of state

Prince HANS-ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers on 26 August 1984)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in Parliament usually appointed the head of government by the monarch, and the leader of the largest minority party in Parliament usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition government

head of government

Prime Minister Daniel RISCH (since 25 March 2021)

note

note: the prince's successor is Heir Apparent and Regent of Liechtenstein Prince ALOIS (son of the monarch, born 11 June 1968); on 15 August 2004, HANS-ADAM II transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but Prince HANS-ADAM II retains status of chief of state

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

constitutional monarchy

23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire); 24 August 1866 (independence from the German Confederation)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Supreme Court or Fürstlicher Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 5 judges and 5 substitutes); Constitutional Court or Staatsgerichtshof (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 judges appointed for renewable 5-year terms

subordinate courts

Court of Appeal (second instance), Regional Court (first instance), Administrative Court, Tribunal Court, district courts

civil law system influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German law

description

unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members directly elected in 2 multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - FBP 40%, VU 40%, FL 12%, DpL 8%; seats by party - FBP 10, VU 10, FL 3, DpL 2; composition - men 18, women 7, percentage women 28%

elections

last held on 7 February 2021 (next to be held on 7 February 2025)

lyrics/music

Jakob Joseph JAUCH/Josef FROMMELT

name

"Oben am jungen Rhein" (High Above the Young Rhine)

note

note: adopted 1850, revised 1963; uses the tune of "God Save the King"

National Day, 15 August (1940); note - a National Day was originally established in 1940 to combine celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) with those honoring the birthday of former Prince FRANZ JOSEF II (1906-1989) whose birth fell on 16 August; after the prince's death, National Day became the official national holiday by law in 1990

princely hat (crown); national colors: blue, red

Democrats for Liechtenstein (Demokraten pro Liechtenstein) or DpL Fatherland Union (Vaterlaendische Union) or VU Progressive Citizens' Party (Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei) or FBP The Free List (Die Freie Liste) or FL The Independents (Die Unabhaengigen) or DU 

18 years of age; universal

wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

AAA (1996)

high-income European economy; Schengen Area participant; key European financial leader; integrated with Swiss economy and franc currency user; one of the highest GDP per capita countries; relies on US and Eurozone markets for exports

Currency

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

0.994 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.939 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.914 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.955 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.898 (2023 est.)

Exports 2014

$3.774 billion (2014 est.)

Exports 2015

$3.217 billion (2015 est.)

note

note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland

small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products

agriculture

0.2% (2021 est.)

industry

40.2% (2021 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

55.4% (2021 est.)

$7.365 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports 2014

$2.23 billion (2014 est.)

note

note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland

agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

4.3% (2014 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016

-0.4% (2016 est.)

38,520 (2015 est.)

note

note: 51% of the labor force in Liechtenstein commute daily from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014

$4.978 billion (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate 2014

2.4% (2014)

Unemployment rate 2015

2.4% (2015)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

47 (2020 est.)

total

18,050 (2020 est.)

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 one radio station in Liechtenstein

.li

percent of population

96% (2021 est.)

total

37,440 (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line roughly 30 per 100 and mobile-cellular services 126 per 100 (2021)

general assessment

possesses a number of modern communications systems, some of which are shared with the neighboring country of Switzerland (2022)

international

country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay

note

n

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

28 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

11,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

126 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

50,000 (2022 est.)

HB

2 (2024)

by type

bulk carrier 14, general cargo 1, other 2 (includes Switzerland)

total

17 (2023)

434.5 km gas (2018)

note

note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland

standard gauge

9 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (electrified)

total

9 km (2018)

total

420 km (2022)

28 km (2010)

no regular military forces; the National Police maintain internal security and report to the Department of Civil Defense

has strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector

carbon dioxide emissions

0.05 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.02 megatons (2020 est.)

continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

some air pollution generated locally, some carried over from surrounding countries

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Law of the Sea

agricultural land

37.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 18.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.)

forest

43.1% (2018 est.)

other

19.3% (2018 est.)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)

0% of GDP (2017 est.)

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

14.6% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

32,382 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

20,919 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

64.6% (2015 est.)