2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.4% (male 2,922/female 2,988) 15-64 years: 70.2% (male 11,842/female 12,022) 65 years and over: 12.4% (male 1,773/female 2,440) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Area

land

160 sq km

total

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 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. Shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering legislation over the past several years and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US went into effect in 2003. Geography Liechtenstein

Birth rate

10.21 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$424.2 million

Capital

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

47 09 N, 9 31 E

name

Vaduz

time difference

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

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (doubly 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 (code)

Swiss franc (CHF)

Currency code

CHF

Death rate

7.18 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$0 (2001)

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

chancery

888 17th Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006

chief of mission

Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE

telephone

[1] (202) 331-0590

Disputes - international

none

Economic aid - recipient

$0

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 its large European neighbors. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and easy incorporation rules have induced many 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 the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.

Elevation extremes

highest point

Vorder-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-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Ethnic groups

Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%

Exchange rates

Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2508 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet elected by the Parliament, 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, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August 2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state

elections

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

head of government

Head of Government Ottmar HASLER (since 5 April 2001) and Deputy Head of Government Klaus TSCHUETSCHER (since 21 April 2005)

Exports

$2.47 billion (1996)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7% (2004)

FAX

[1] (202) 331-3221

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Liechtenstein

Flag description

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

6%

industry

39%

services

55% (2001)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$25,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

11% (1999 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.487 billion (2001)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.786 billion (2001 est.)

Geographic coordinates

47 16 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 People Liechtenstein

Government type

constitutional monarchy

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

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

has strengthened money-laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$917.3 million (1996)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

EU, Switzerland (2004)

Independence

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

3.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

6.24 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.64 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2001)

International organization participation

CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO

Internet country code

.li

Internet hosts

4,697 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)

Internet users

20,000 (2002) Transportation Liechtenstein

Irrigated land

NA

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht

Labor force

29,500 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (31 December 2001)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

2%

industry

47%

services

51% (31 December 2001 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km

total

76 km

Land use

arable land

25%

other

75% (2005)

permanent crops

0%

Languages

German (official), Alemannic dialect

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament 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 - FBP 48.7%, VU 38.2%, FL 13%; seats by party - FBP 12, VU 10, FL 3

elections

last held 11 and 13 March 2005 (next to be held by NA 2009)

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.28 years (2006 est.)

male

76.1 years

total population

79.68 years

Literacy

definition

age 10 and over can read and write

female

100% Government Liechtenstein

male

100%

total population

100%

Location

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49

7,736 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49

6,250 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49

208 (2005 est.)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

40.1 years (2006 est.)

male

39.2 years

total

39.6 years

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Switzerland Transnational Issues Liechtenstein

National holiday

Assumption Day, 15 August

Nationality

adjective

Liechtenstein

noun

Liechtensteiner(s)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

hydroelectric potential, arable land

Net migration rate

4.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Pipelines

gas 20 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Patriotic Union (was Fatherland Union) or VU [Adolf HEEB]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Otmar HASLER]; The Free List or FL [Claudia HEEB-FLECK and Egon MATT]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

33,987 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.78% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

none Military Liechtenstein

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

21,000 (1997)

Railways

9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)

note

belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland (2006)

Religions

Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)

Roadways

paved

380 km (2006)

total

380 km

Sex ratio

at birth

1.01 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

0.98 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

automatic telephone system

international

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

Telephones - main lines in use

19,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

11,400 (2002)

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

1.51 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

1.3% (September 2002)

Waterways

28 km (2005)