2000 Edition

Background

The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to conclude 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.

Area

land

160 sq km

total

160 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

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)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Grauspitz 2,599 m

lowest point

Ruggeller Riet 430 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates

47 10 N, 9 32 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

border countries

Austria 35 km, Switzerland 41 km

total

76 km

Land use

arable land

24%

forests and woodland

35%

other

25% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

16%

Location

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

hydroelectric potential, arable land

Terrain

mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

Age structure

0-14 years: 18% (male 2,970; female 2,988) 15-64 years: 71% (male 11,379; female 11,370) 65 years and over: 11% (male 1,393; female 2,107) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

11.83 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

6.64 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Alemannic 87.5%, Italian, Turkish, and other 12.5%

Infant mortality rate

5.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

German (official), Alemannic dialect

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.47 years (2000 est.)

male

75.16 years

total population

78.81 years

Literacy

definition

age 10 and over can read and write

female

100% (1981 est.)

male

100%

total population

100%

Nationality

adjective

Liechtenstein

noun

Liechtensteiner(s)

Net migration rate

5.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

32,207 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.02% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 7.4%, unknown 7.7%, other 4.9% (1996)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.49 children born/woman (2000 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

Country name

conventional long form

Principality of Liechtenstein

conventional short form

Liechtenstein

local long form

Fuerstentum Liechtenstein

local short form

Liechtenstein

Data code

LS

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein

Diplomatic representation in the 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 elected by the Diet; confirmed by the monarch

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, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch

head of government

Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 2 February 1997)

Flag description

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

Government type

hereditary constitutional monarchy

Independence

23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established; 12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman Empire

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior Court or Obergericht

Legal system

local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - VU 50.1%, FBPL 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats by party - VU 13, FBPL 10, FL 2

elections

last held on 2 February 1997 (next to be held by NA 2001)

National holiday

Assumption Day, 15 August

Political parties and leaders

Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald KRANZ]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBPL ; The Free List or FL [Christel HILTI, Hansjorg HILTI, Helen MARXER, Hugo RISCH, Margrit WILLE]

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$414.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

revenues

$424.2 million

Currency

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

Debt - external

$0 (1996)

Economic aid - recipient

none

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 the urban areas of its large European neighbors. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 18% - and easy incorporation rules have induced about 73,700 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 European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - exports

NA kWh

Electricity - imports

NA kWh

Electricity - production

150 million kWh (1995)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

NA%

hydro

NA%

nuclear

NA%

other

NA%

Exchange rates

Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SFR) per US$1 - 1.5878 (January 2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995)

Exports

$2.47 billion (1996)

Exports - commodities

small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery

Exports - partners

EU and EFTA countries 60.57% (Switzerland 15.7%) (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $730 million (1998 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $23,000 (1998 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$917.3 million (1996)

Imports - commodities

machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

Imports - partners

EU countries, Switzerland (1996)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.5% (1997 est.)

Labor force

22,891 of which 13,847 are foreigners; 8,231 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day

Labor force - by occupation

industry, trade, and building 45%, services 53%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 2% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

1.8% (February 1999)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

115 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

21,000 (1997)

Telephone system

automatic telephone system

domestic

NA

international

linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay

Telephones - main lines in use

19,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)

Televisions

12,000 (1997)

Airports

none

Highways

paved

250 km

total

250 km

unpaved

0 km

Ports and harbors

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

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Switzerland

Disputes - international

claims 1,600 sq km of land in the Czech Republic 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

LITHUANIA