2019 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 German 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

Highest Point

Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

Lowest Point

Ruggeller Riet 430 m

Environment Current Issues

some air pollution generated locally, some transfered from surrounding countries

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

0 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

Austria 34 km, Switzerland 41 km

Total

75 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

37.6% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

18.8% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

18.8% (2011 est.)

Forest

43.1% (2011 est.)

Other

19.3% (2011 est.)

Location

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Map References

Europe

Maritime Claims

none (landlocked)

Natural Hazards

avalanches, landslides

Natural Resources

hydroelectric potential, arable land

Population Distribution

most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River

Terrain

mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

Age Structure

0 14 Years

15.23% (male 3,179 /female 2,692)

15 24 Years

11.53% (male 2,256 /female 2,190)

25 54 Years

41.18% (male 7,923 /female 7,951)

55 64 Years

14.14% (male 2,640 /female 2,811)

65 Years And Over

17.91% (male 3,171 /female 3,734) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

10.4 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

7.6 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Education Expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic Groups

Liechtensteiner 66%, Swiss 9.6%, Austrian 5.8%, German 4.3%, Italian 3.1%, other 11.2% (2017 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

3.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

4.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

4.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

German 91.5% (official) (Alemannic is the main dialect), Italian 1.5%, Turkish 1.3%, Portuguese 1.1%, other 4.6% (2015 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

84.8 years

Male

79.8 years

Total Population

82 years (2018 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

5,000 VADUZ (capital) (2018)

Median Age

Female

44.8 years

Male

41.8 years

Total

43.4 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Liechtenstein

Noun

Liechtensteiner(s)

Net Migration Rate

5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Population

38,547 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.78% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic (official) 73.4%, Protestant Reformed 6.3%, Muslim 5.9%, Christian Orthodox 1.3%, Lutheran 1.2%, other Protestant .7%, other Christian .3%, other .8%, none 7%, unspecified 3.3% (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

13 years (2016)

Male

16 years

Total

15 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.18 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.03 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.94 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.85 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.26 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.99 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.69 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

0.81% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

14.4% of total population (2019)

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

Amendments

proposed by Parliament, by the reigning prince (in the form of "Government" proposals), by petition of at least 1,500 qualified voters, or by at least four communes; passage requires unanimous approval of Parliament members in one sitting or three-quarters majority vote in two successive sittings; referendum required only if petitioned by at least 1,500 voters or by at least four communes; passage by referendum requires absolute majority of votes cast; amended several times, last in 2011 (2019)

History

previous 1862; latest adopted 5 October 1921

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Principality of Liechtenstein

Conventional Short Form

Liechtenstein

Etymology

named after the Liechtenstein dynasty that purchased and united the counties of Schellenburg and Vaduz and that was allowed by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1719 to rename the new property after their family; the name in German means "light (bright) stone"

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 Kurt JAEGER (since 16 September 2016)

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 and Regent of Liechtenstein Prince ALOIS (son of the monarch, born 11 June 1968); note - 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 Parliament 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

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 Courts

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 judges appointed for renewable 5-year terms

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 2 multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

Election Results

percent of vote by party - FBP 35.2%, VU 33.7%, DU 18.4% FL 12.6%; seats by party - FBP 9, VU 8, DU 5, FL 3; composition - men 22, women 3, percent of women 12%

Elections

last held on 5 February 2017 (next to be held in February 2021)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Jakob Joseph JAUCH/Josef FROMMELT

Name

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

National Holiday

National Day, 15 August (1940); note - a National Day was originally established in 1940 to combine celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) with those honoring the birthday of former Prince FRANZ JOSEF II (1906-1989) whose birth fell on 16 August; after the prince's death, National Day became the official national holiday by law in 1990

National Symbol S

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

Political Parties And Leaders

Fatherland Union (Vaterlaendische Union) or VU [Guenther FRITZ] Progressive Citizens' Party (Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei) or FBP [Thomas BANZER] The Free List (Die Freie Liste) or FL [Pepo FRICK and Conny BUECHEL BRUEHWILER] 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 (2012 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

1.6% (of GDP) (2012 est.)

Debt External

2015

$0

Economy Overview

Despite its small size and lack of natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial services sector and one of the highest per capita income levels in the world. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the services sector. Low business taxes - a flat tax of 12.5% on income is applied - 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 and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated EU. As of 2015, 54% of Liechtenstein’s workforce consisted of cross-border commuters, largely from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.Since 2008, Liechtenstein has faced renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany and the US - 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. In 2015, Liechtenstein and the EU agreed to clamp down on tax fraud and evasion and in 2018 will start automatically exchanging information on the bank accounts of each other’s residents.

Exchange Rates

2013

0.9152

2014

0.9627

2015

0.9852

2016

0.9852

2017

0.9875

Currency

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -

Exports

2014

$3.774 billion

2015

$3.217 billion

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

7% (2014)

Industry

41% (2014)

Services

52% (2014)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$6.672 billion (2014 est.) (2014 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2007

$91,300

2008

$90,100

2009

$139,100

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2008

$3.216 billion

2009

$3.2 billion

2014

$4.978 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2007

3.1%

2011

-0.5%

2012

1.8%

Imports

2014

$2.23 billion

Imports Commodities

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

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2013

-0.2%

2016

-0.4%

Labor Force

38,520 (2012) (2015 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

0.8%

Industry

36.9%

Services

62.3% (2015)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

NA

Taxes And Other Revenues

14.9% (of GDP) (2012 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2014

2.4%

2015

2.4%

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

393.6 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2015 est.) (2015 est.)

Electricity Imports

325.2 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity Production

68.43 million kWh (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

42 (2017 est.)

Total

15,935

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 one radio station in Liechtenstein

Internet Country Code

.li

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

98.1% (July 2016 est.)

Total

37,214

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line 41 per 100 and mobile-cellular services 122 per 100; widely available (2018)

General Assessment

automatic telephone system; 44 Internet service providers in Liechtenstein and Switzerland combined (2018)

International

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

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

41 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

15,852

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

122 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

46,625

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

HB (2016)

Pipelines

434.5 km gas (2018)

Railways

Standard Gauge

9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified) (2018)

Total

9 km (2018)

Roadways

630 km (2019)

Waterways

28 km (2010)

Military And Security Forces

no regular military forces; National Police maintain close relations with neighboring forces (2019)

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