1996 Edition

Description

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band

Location

47 10 N, 9 32 E -- Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland Flag ----

Area

comparative area

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

land area

160 sq km

total area

160 sq km

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

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

natural hazards

NA

Geographic coordinates

47 10 N, 9 32 E

Geographic note

landlocked; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

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

border countries

Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km

total

78 km

Land use

arable land

25%

forest and woodland

19%

meadows and pastures

38%

other

18%

permanent crops

0%

Location

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural resources

hydroelectric potential

Terrain

mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

highest point

Grauspitz 2,599 m

lowest point

Ruggleller Riet 430 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 19% (male 2,961; female 2,871) 15-64 years: 70% (male 10,775; female 11,113) 65 years and over: 11% (male 1,366; female 2,036) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

11.47 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

6.81 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Alemannic 95%, Italian and other 5%

Infant mortality rate

5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

German (official), Alemannic dialect

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.17 years (1996 est.)

male

75.92 years

total population

78.84 years

Literacy

age 10 and over can read and write (1981 est.)

female

100%

male

100%

total population

100%

Nationality

adjective

Liechtenstein

noun

Liechtensteiner(s)

Net migration rate

6.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

31,122 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.08% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 87.3%, Protestant 8.3%, unknown 1.6%, other 2.8% (1988)

Sex ratio

all ages

0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.14 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.37 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Vaduz

Constitution

5 October 1921

Data code

LS

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

Diplomatic representation in US

Liechtenstein does not have an embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in routine diplomatic matters

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was elected by the Diet; confirmed by the prince

chief of state

Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, who is a hereditary monarch, 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) and Deputy Head of Government Dr. Thomas BUECHEL (since 15 December 1993) were elected by the Landtag for a four-year term and confirmed by the prince

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)

International organization participation

CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO

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

Name of country

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

20 years of age; universal

Type of government

hereditary constitutional monarchy

US diplomatic representation

the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has consular accreditation in Vaduz

Agriculture

vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes; livestock

Budget

expenditures

$442 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

revenues

$455 million

Currency

1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi

Economic aid

none

Economic 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 the urban areas of its large European neighbors. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 18% - 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.

Electricity

capacity

23,000 kW

consumption per capita

5,230 kWh (1992)

production

150 million kWh

Exchange rates

Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.1810 (January 1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993), 1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991)

Exports

$1.636 billion (1993)

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $630 million (1990 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$22,300 (1990 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

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)

Labor force

20,000 of which 12,000 are foreigners; 6,885 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day

by occupation

industry, trade, and building 48.1%, services 50.2%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 1.7% (1993)

Unemployment rate

0.9% (1995)

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of Switzerland

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

note

linked to Swiss networks

Radios

11,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

limited, but sufficient automatic telephone system

domestic

NA

international

linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay

Telephones

18,916 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

NA

note

linked to Swiss networks

Televisions

10,620 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

none

Highways

paved

238 km

total

238 km

unpaved

0 km (1986 est.)

Ports

none

Railways

standard gauge

18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)

total

18.5 km; note - owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways