2015 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 (2)

Austria 34 km, Switzerland 41 km

total

75 km

Land use

arable land 18.8%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 18.8%

agricultural land

37.6%

forest

43.1%

other

19.3% (2011 est.)

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

15.54% (male 3,142/female 2,706)

15-24 years

11.73% (male 2,182/female 2,230)

25-54 years

42.65% (male 8,013/female 8,035)

55-64 years

13.58% (male 2,504/female 2,606)

65 years and over

16.49% (male 2,837/female 3,369) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

10.45 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

7.12 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

Liechtensteiner 66.3%, other 33.7% (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

3.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

4.59 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.29 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

German 94.5% (official) (Alemannic is the main dialect), Italian 1.1%, other 4.3% (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

84.5 years (2015 est.)

male

79.6 years

total population

81.77 years

Major urban areas - population

VADUZ (capital) 5,000 (2014)

Median age

female

43.8 years (2015 est.)

male

41.5 years

total

42.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Liechtenstein

noun

Liechtensteiner(s)

Net migration rate

5.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Population

37,624 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.84% (2015 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic (official) 75.9%, Protestant Reformed 6.5%, Muslim 5.4%, Lutheran 1.3%, other 2.9%, none 5.4%, unspecified 2.6% (2010 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2012)

male

16 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.16 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.98 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.84 male(s)/female

at birth

1.26 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.69 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.48% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

14.3% of total population (2015)

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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of Liechtenstein; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

previous 1862; latest adopted 5 October 1921; amended many times, last in 2011 (2015)

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 (since 7 December 2000)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, New York, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 331-3221

telephone

[1] (202) 331-0590

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 on 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August 2004, HANS ADAM II transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM II retains status of chief of state

elections/appointments

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

Prime Minister Adrian HASLER (since 27 March 2013)

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

hereditary constitutional monarchy

Independence

23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire); 24 August 1866 (independence from the German Confederation)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

CD, CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 5 judges); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgericht (consists of 5 judges and 5 alternates)

judge selection and term of office

judges of both courts elected by the Landtag and appointed by the monarch; Supreme Court judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judge tenure NA

subordinate courts

Court of Appeal or Obergericht (second instance), Court of Justice (first instance), Administrative Court, county courts

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - FBP 40.0%, VU 33.5%, DU 15.3% FL 11.1%; seats by party - FBP 10, VU 8, DU 4, FL 3

elections

last held on 3 February 2013 (next to be held in February 2017)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Jakob Joseph JAUCH/Josef FROMMELT

name

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

note

adopted 1850, revised 1963; uses the tune of "God Save the Queen"

National holiday

Assumption Day, 15 August, and National Day, 15 August (1940)

National symbol(s)

princely hat (crown); national colors: blue, red

Political parties and leaders

Fatherland Union (Vaterlaendische Union) or VU [Jakob BUECHEL]

Progressive Citizens' Party (Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei) or FBP [Elfried HASLER]

The Free List (Die Freie Liste) or FL [Wolfgang MARXER]

the independents (Die Unabhaengigen) or DU [Harry QUADERER]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$890.4 million (2011 est.)

revenues

$995.3 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

2.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$0 (2001)

note

public external debt only; private external debt unavailable

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 third highest per capita income in the world, after Qatar and Luxembourg. 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. Since 2008, Liechtenstein has faced renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany and the United States - 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. In 2011 Liechtenstein joined the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel across 26 European countries.

Exchange rates

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -

0.9152 (2014)

0.9377 (2012)

0.94 (2012 est.)

0.8876 (2011 est.)

1.0429 (2010 est.)

Exports

$3.801 billion (2012 est.)

$3.757 billion (2011 est.)

note

trade data exclude trade with Switzerland

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

8%

industry

37%

services

55% (2009)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$89,400 (2009 est.)

$90,600 (2008 est.)

$89,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.8% (2012 est.)

-0.5% (2009 est.)

3.1% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.113 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.2 billion (2009 est.)

$3.216 billion (2008 est.)

$3.159 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$2.09 billion (2012 est.)

$2.218 billion (2011 est.)

note

trade data exclude trade with Switzerland

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% (2012)

0.2% (2011)

Labor force

35,830 (2012)

note

51% of the labor force in Liechtenstein commute daily from Austria, Switzerland, or Germany (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

0.8%

industry

39.4%

services

59.9% (2012)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

19.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.3% (2012)

2.5% (2011)

Electricity - consumption

1.36 billion kWh (2012)

Electricity - imports

1.214 billion kWh (2012)

Electricity - production

145.3 million kWh (2012)

Broadcast media

relies on foreign terrestrial and satellite broadcasters for most broadcast media services; first Liechtenstein-based TV 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 users

percent of population

92.4% (2014 est.)

total

34,500

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

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 (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

48 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

18,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

104 (2014 est.)

total

38,800

Television broadcast stations

NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)

Pipelines

gas 20 km (2013)

Railways

note

belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland (2008)

standard gauge

9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)

total

9 km

Roadways

paved

380 km (2012)

total

380 km

Waterways

28 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49

8,009 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

6,746 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

6,538

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

211 (2010 est.)

male

219

Military - note

Liechtenstein has no military forces, but the modern National Police maintains close relations with neighboring forces (2013)

Military branches

no regular military forces; National Police maintains close relations with neighboring forces (2013)

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