2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
11 communes (gemeinden, singular - gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Age structure
0-14 years: 18.41% (male 2,992; female 2,996) 15-64 years: 70.6% (male 11,455; female 11,511) 65 years and over: 10.99% (male 1,439; female 2,135) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Airports
none Liechtenstein Military
Area
total: 160 sq km land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
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. However, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use of the financial institutions for money laundering. Liechtenstein Geography
Birth rate
11.53 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget
revenues: $424.2 million expenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Capital
Vaduz
Climate
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
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
Currency
Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code
CHF
Death rate
6.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external
$0 (1996)
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's Ambassador to the US, Claudia FRITSCHE, is dually accredited to the UN in New York
Disputes - international
Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of land in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918
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 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 by source
fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 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, Desertification, 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
Ethnic groups
Alemannic 87.5%, Italian, Turkish, and other 12.5%
Exchange rates
Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.6303 (January 2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996)
Executive branch
chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968) head of government: Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 2 February 1997) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the monarch 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
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 Liechtenstein Communications
Flag description
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band Liechtenstein Economy
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%
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 Liechtenstein People
Government type
hereditary constitutional monarchy
Highways
total: 250 km paved: 250 km unpaved: 0 km
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs
multilateral organizations engaged in issuing international guidelines for financial sector oversight have found gaps in Liechtenstein's financial services controls that make it vulnerable to money laundering
Imports
$917.3 million (1996)
Imports - commodities
machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Imports - partners
EU countries, Switzerland (1996)
Independence
23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established; 12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman Empire
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism
Infant mortality rate
4.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
0.5% (1997 est.)
International organization participation
CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO (observer), WIPO, WTrO
Internet country code
.li
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)
Internet users
NA Liechtenstein Transportation
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior Court or Obergericht
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.)
Land boundaries
total: 76 km border countries: Austria 35 km, Switzerland 41 km
Land use
arable land: 24% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 16% forests and woodland: 35% other: 25% (1993 est.)
Languages
German (official), Alemannic dialect
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) elections: last held on 9-11 February 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 49.90%, VU 41.35%, FL 8.71%; seats by party - FBP 13, VU 11, FL 1
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.95 years male: 75.32 years female: 82.6 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1981 est.) Liechtenstein Government
Location
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Switzerland Liechtenstein Transnational Issues
National holiday
Assumption Day, 15 August
Nationality
noun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: Liechtenstein
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
hydroelectric potential, arable land
Net migration rate
4.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders
Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald KRANZ]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Dr. Ernst WALCH]; The Free List or FL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, Karin JENNY, Rene HASLER]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Population
32,528 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Population growth rate
0.98% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors
none
Radio broadcast stations
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
21,000 (1997)
Railways
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)
Religions
Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 7.4%, unknown 7.7%, other 4.9% (1996)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage
20 years of age; universal
Telephone system
general assessment: automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay
Telephones - main lines in use
20,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular
NA
Television broadcast stations
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Televisions
12,000 (1997)
Terrain
mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Total fertility rate
1.5 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
1.8% (February 1999)
Waterways
none