2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Background
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleanic wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the Germanic Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. 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. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US went into effect in 2003.
Geography
Area
total: 160 sq km land: 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 (doubly landlocked)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 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
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
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
total: 76 km border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
Land use
arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (2005)
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
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 16.9% (male 2,892/female 2,927) 15-64 years: 69.8% (male 11,905/female 12,180) 65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,964/female 2,630) (2008 est.)
Birth rate
9.86 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate
7.42 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Education expenditures
NA
Ethnic groups
Liechtensteiner 65.6%, other 34.4% (2000 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: 4.52 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.03 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Languages
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 79.95 years male: 76.38 years female: 83.52 years (2008 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%
Median age
total: 40.5 years male: 40 years female: 41 years (2008 est.)
Nationality
noun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: Liechtenstein
Net migration rate
4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Population
34,498 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
0.713% (2008 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 15 years male: 16 years female: 13 years (2004)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.51 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Capital
name: Vaduz geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590
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); 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 head of government: Head of Government (Prime Minister) Otmar HASLER (since 5 April 2001); Deputy Head of Government (Deputy Prime Minister) Klaus TSCHUETSCHER (since 21 April 2005) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch elections: 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
FAX
[1] (202) 331-3221
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
constitutional monarchy
Independence
23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
International organization participation
CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht
Legal system
local civil and penal codes based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 11 and 13 March 2005 (next to be held by 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 48.7%, VU 38.2%, FL 13%; seats by party - FBP 12, VU 10, FL 3
National holiday
Assumption Day, 15 August
Political parties and leaders
Patriotic Union or VU [Adolf HEEB] (was Fatherland Union); Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Marcus VOGT]; The Free List or FL [Claudia HEEB-FLECK and Egon MATT]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Budget
revenues: $424.2 million expenditures: $414.1 million (1998 est.)
Currency (code)
Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code
CHF
Debt - external
$0 (2001)
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.
Exchange rates
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003)
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% (2006)
Fiscal year
calendar year
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)
$36.33 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.786 billion (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$917.3 million (1996)
Imports - commodities
agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Imports - partners
EU, Switzerland (2006)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1% (2001)
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)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
1.3% (September 2002)
Communications
Internet country code
.li
Internet hosts
7,639 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)
Internet users
22,000 (2006)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
21,000 (1997)
Telephone system
general assessment: automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay
Telephones - main lines in use
20,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
27,500 (2005)
Television broadcast stations
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Televisions
12,000 (1997)
Transportation
Pipelines
gas 20 km (2007)
Railways
9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified) note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland (2006)
Roadways
total: 380 km paved: 380 km (2007)
Waterways
28 km (2006)
Military and Security
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 8,102 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 6,584 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 202 female: 222 (2008 est.)
Military - note
Liechtenstein has no military forces, but is interested in European security policy and is an active member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Military branches
no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited); Principality of Liechtenstein National Police (Landespolizei, LP) (2008)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none
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 18 December, 2008