2010 Edition

Background

The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleonic 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 that went into effect in 2003.

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 (doubly landlocked)

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

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

border countries

Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km

total

76 km

Land use

arable land

25%

other

75% (2005)

permanent crops

0%

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: 16.6% (male 2,877/female 2,901) 15-64 years: 69.4% (male 11,917/female 12,220) 65 years and over: 13.9% (male 2,085/female 2,761) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

9.69 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

7.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 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

female

2.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

5.45 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

German (official), Alemannic dialect

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.66 years (2010 est.)

male

76.73 years

total population

80.19 years

Literacy

definition: age 10 and over can read and write

female

100%

male

100%

total population

100%

Median age

female

41.9 years (2010 est.)

male

40.8 years

total

41.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Liechtenstein

noun

Liechtensteiner(s)

Net migration rate

4.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

35,002 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.683% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2008)

male

16 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.006 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.53 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

14% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

47 08 N, 9 31 E

name

Vaduz

time difference

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

Constitution

5 October 1921; amended 15 September 2003

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

chancery

2900 K Street, NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE

FAX

[1] (202) 331-3221

telephone

[1] (202) 331-0590

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers on 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

the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition government

head of government

Head of Government Klaus TSCHUETSCHER (since 25 March 2009)

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band; the colors may derive from the blue and red livery design used in the principality's household in the 18th century; the prince's crown was introduced in 1937 to distinguish the flag from that of Haiti

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, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UPU, 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 elected by popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - VU 47.6%, FBP 43.5%, FL 8.9%; seats by party - VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1

elections

last held on 8 February 2009 (next to be held in February 2013)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Jakob Joseph JAUCH/unknown note: adopted 1850, revised 1963; the anthem uses the tune of "God Save the Queen"

name

"Oben am jungen Rhein" (High Above the Young Rhine)

National holiday

Assumption Day, 15 August

Political parties and leaders

Die Freie Liste (The Free List) or FL [Wolfgang MARXER]; Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei (Progressive Citizens' Party) or FBP [Alexander BATLINER]; Vaterlaendische Union (Fatherland Union) or VU [Adolf HEEB]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

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 the highest per capita income in the world. 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 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. In 2008, Liechtenstein came under renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany - to improve transparency in its banking and tax systems. In December 2008, Liechtenstein signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the US. Upon Liechtenstein's conclusion of 12 bilateral information-sharing agreements, the OECD in October 2009 removed the principality from its "grey list" of countries that had yet to implement the organization's Model Tax Convention.

Exchange rates

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.0723 (2010), 1.0881 (2009), 1.0774 (2008), 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006)

Exports

$3.92 billion (2008)

Exports - commodities

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

8%

industry

39%

services

54% (2007)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$122,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.1% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.603 billion (2007)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.16 billion (2007) $4.035 billion (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$2.59 billion (2008)

Imports - commodities

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.5% (2009)

Labor force

32,440 of whom 16,200 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (2008)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

1.7%

industry

43.5%

services

55.4% (December 2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

1.5% (31 December 2007) 1.3% (September 2002)

Broadcast media

relies on foreign terrestrial and satellite broadcasters for most broadcast media services; first Liechtenstein-based television station established August 2008; Radio Liechtenstein operates multiple radio stations; a Swiss-based broadcaster operates several radio stations in Liechtenstein (2008)

Internet country code

.li

Internet hosts

9,418 (2010)

Internet users

23,000 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined telephone service subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons

general assessment

automatic telephone system

international

country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

19,600 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

35,000 (2009)

Pipelines

gas 20 km (2009)

Railways

9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified) note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland (2008)

Roadways

paved

380 km (2010)

total

380 km

Waterways

28 km (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 8,041 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 6,559 females age 16-49: 6,782 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

208 (2010 est.)

male

209

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) (2010)

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 page last updated on January 3, 2011 ======================================================================