2011 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

160 sq km 160 sq km 0 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

Ruggeller Riet 430 m Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

highest point

Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

lowest point

Ruggeller Riet 430 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

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 Law of the Sea

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

76 km Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km

border countries

Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km

total

76 km

Land use

25% 0% 75% (2005)

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

16.1% (male 2,809/female 2,856) 69% (male 11,970/female 12,326) 15% (male 2,304/female 2,971) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

16.1% (male 2,809/female 2,856)

15-64 years

69% (male 11,970/female 12,326)

65 years and over

15% (male 2,304/female 2,971) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

9.65 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate

7.61 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Education expenditures

2% of GDP (2007)

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

4.15 deaths/1,000 live births 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births 2.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

2.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

4.15 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

German (official), Alemannic dialect

Life expectancy at birth

80.31 years 76.86 years 83.77 years (2011 est.)

female

83.77 years (2011 est.)

total population

80.31 years

Literacy

age 10 and over can read and write 100% 100% 100%

definition

age 10 and over can read and write

female

100%

male

100%

total population

100%

Major cities - population

VADUZ (capital) 5,000 (2009)

Median age

41.8 years 41.2 years 42.3 years (2011 est.)

female

42.3 years (2011 est.)

male

41.2 years

total

41.8 years

Nationality

Liechtensteiner(s) Liechtenstein

adjective

Liechtenstein

noun

Liechtensteiner(s)

Net migration rate

4.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Population

35,236 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.653% (2011 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

12 years 13 years 12 years (2008)

female

12 years (2008)

male

13 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

1 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.77 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.77 male(s)/female

at birth

1 male(s)/female

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

0.98 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.53 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

14% of total population (2010) 0.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

14% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Vaduz 47 08 N, 9 31 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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

Principality of Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Fuerstentum Liechtenstein Liechtenstein

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

Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE 2900 K Street, NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007 [1] (202) 331-0590 [1] (202) 331-3221

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

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 Head of Government (Prime Minister) Klaus TSCHUETSCHER (since 25 March 2009) Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch 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

cabinet

Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch

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 (Prime Minister) 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 law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTO

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgericht; Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht

Legal system

civil law system influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German law

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members elected by popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms) last held on 8 February 2009 (next to be held in February 2013) percent of vote by party - VU 47.6%, FBP 43.5%, FL 8.9%; seats by party - VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1

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

"Oben am jungen Rhein" (High Above the Young Rhine) Jakob Joseph JAUCH/unknown adopted 1850, revised 1963; the anthem uses the tune of "God Save the Queen"

lyrics/music

Jakob Joseph JAUCH/unknown

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

Budget

$943 million $820 million (2008 est.)

expenditures

$820 million (2008 est.)

revenues

$943 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

2.4% of GDP (2008 est.)

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 likely the second 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. By the end of 2010, Liechtenstein had signed 25 Tax Information Exchange Agreements or Double Tax Agreements.

Exchange rates

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.0429 (2010) 1.0881 (2009) 1.0774 (2008) 1.1973 (2007) 1.2539 (2006)

Exports

$2.83 billion (2009) $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

6% 36% 58% (2008)

agriculture

6%

industry

36%

services

58% (2008)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$141,100 (2008 est.) $122,100 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.8% (2008 est.) 3.1% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.08 billion (2008)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.028 billion (2008) $4.16 billion (2007) $4.035 billion (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$1.77 billion (2009) $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)

0.7% (2010) 0.3% (2009)

Labor force

32,880 (2009) 51% of people at work in Liechtenstein commute daily from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany (2009)

Labor force - by occupation

1.5% 43.5% 55% (December 2006)

agriculture

1.5%

industry

43.5%

services

55% (December 2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

18.6% of GDP (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate

1.5% (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

automatic telephone system fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined telephone service subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay (2008)

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 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

35,500 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 20 km (2010)

Railways

9 km 9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified) belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland (2011)

total

9 km

Roadways

380 km 380 km (2010)

total

380 km

Waterways

28 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

8,009 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

8,009 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

6,538 6,746 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

6,746 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

6,538

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

211 (2010 est.)

female

211 (2010 est.)

male

219

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