1995 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1995 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 160 sq km land area: 160 sq km comparative area: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Environment
current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
International disputes
claims 1,600 square kilometers of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February 1948, when the Communists seized power
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
total 78 km, Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km
Land use
arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 38% forest and woodland: 19% other: 18%
Location
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
none; landlocked
Natural resources
hydroelectric potential
Note
landlocked; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
Terrain
mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 19% (female 2,897; male 2,974) 15-64 years: 71% (female 10,853; male 10,777) 65 years and over: 10% (female 1,930; male 1,223) (July 1995 est.)
Birth rate
12.95 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate
6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Ethnic divisions
Alemannic 95%, Italian and other 5%
Infant mortality rate
5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Labor force
19,905 of which 11,933 are foreigners; 6,885 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day by occupation: industry, trade, and building 53.2%, services 45%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 1.8% (1990)
Languages
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.52 years male: 73.86 years female: 81.17 years (1995 est.)
Literacy
age 10 and over can read and write (1981) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%
Nationality
noun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: Liechtenstein
Net migration rate
5.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Population
30,654 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate
1.2% (1995 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 87.3%, Protestant 8.3%, unknown 1.6%, other 2.8% (1988)
Total fertility rate
1.47 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
11 communes (gemeinden, singular - gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Capital
Vaduz
Constitution
5 October 1921
Diet (Landtag)
elections last held on 24 October 1993 (next to be held by March 1997); results - VU 50.1%, FBP 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats - (25 total) VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1
Digraph
LS
Diplomatic representation in US
in routine diplomatic matters, Liechtenstein is represented in the US by the Swiss Embassy
Executive branch
chief of state: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989; assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein (born 11 June 1968) head of government: Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993); Deputy Head of Government Dr. Thomas BUECHEL (since 15 December 1993) cabinet: Cabinet; elected by the Diet; confirmed by the sovereign
Flag
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band
Independence
23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal cases, Superior Court (Obergericht) for civil cases
Legal system
local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch
unicameral
Member of
CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, GATT, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO
Names
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Furstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein
National holiday
Assumption Day, 15 August
Political parties and leaders
Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Oswald KRANTZ; Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), Otmar HASLER; The Free List (FL)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Type
hereditary constitutional monarchy
US diplomatic representation
the US has no diplomatic or consular mission in Liechtenstein, but the US Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has consular accreditation at Vaduz
Economy
Agriculture
livestock, vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes
Budget
revenues: $259 million expenditures: $292 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Currency
1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi
Economic aid
none
Electricity
capacity: 23,000 kW production: 150 million kWh consumption per capita: 5,230 kWh (1992)
Exchange rates
Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.2880 (January 1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993), 1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990)
Exports
$NA commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery partners: EC countries 42.7%, EFTA countries 20.9% (Switzerland 15.4%), other 36.4% (1990)
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
calendar year
Imports
$NA commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles partners: NA
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5.4% (1990)
National product
GDP - purchasing power parity - $630 million (1990 est.)
National product per capita
$22,300 (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate
NA%
Overview
Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital service sector and living standards on par with its large European neighbors. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and easy incorporation rules have induced about 25,000 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. Liechtenstein plans to join the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between EFTA and EU) in 1995.
Unemployment rate
1.5% (1994)
Communications
Radio
broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA radios: NA note: linked to Swiss networks
Telephone system
25,400 telephones; limited, but sufficient automatic telephone system local: NA intercity: NA international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and radio relay
Television
broadcast stations: NA televisions: NA note: linked to Swiss networks
Transportation
Airports
none
Highways
total: 322.93 km paved: 322.93 km
Ports
none
Railroads
total: 18.5 km; note - owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
Military and Security
Note
defense is responsibility of Switzerland ________________________________________________________________________ LITHUANIA