LIECHTENSTEIN
MARCH 25, 2009 BY RANG WHAM
| Introduction | Liechtenstein | Top of Page |
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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.
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| Geography | Liechtenstein | Top of Page |
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Location:
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
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Geographic coordinates:
47 16 N, 9 32 E
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Map references:
Europe
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Area:
total: 160 sq km
land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km |
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Coastline:
0 km (doubly landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
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Climate:
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
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Terrain:
mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
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Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m |
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Natural resources:
hydroelectric potential, arable land
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Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (2005) |
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Irrigated land:
NA
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Natural hazards:
NA
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Environment - current issues:
NA
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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 |
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Geography - note:
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
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| People | Liechtenstein | Top of Page |
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Population:
35,002 (July 2010 est.)
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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.) |
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Median age:
total: 41.4 years
male: 40.8 years female: 41.9 years (2010 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
0.683% (2010 est.)
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Birth rate:
9.69 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Death rate:
7.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
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Net migration rate:
4.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Urbanization:
urban population: 14% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.) |
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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.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.45 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.19 years
male: 76.73 years female: 83.66 years (2010 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
1.53 children born/woman (2010 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
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Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein |
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Ethnic groups:
Liechtensteiner 65.6%, other 34.4% (2000 census)
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Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)
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Languages:
German (official), Alemannic dialect
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Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% |
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 16 years female: 14 years (2008) |
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Education expenditures:
NA
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| Government | Liechtenstein | Top of Page |
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Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein |
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Government type:
constitutional monarchy
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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 |
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Administrative divisions:
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
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Independence:
23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
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National holiday:
Assumption Day, 15 August
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Constitution:
5 October 1921; amended 15 September 2003
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Legal system:
local civil and penal codes based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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
head of government: Head of Government Klaus TSCHUETSCHER (since 25 March 2009) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 |
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Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members elected by popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 February 2009 (next to be held in February 2013) 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 |
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Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht
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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]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
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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
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
chancery: 2900 K Street, NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590 FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein
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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
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National anthem:
name: "Oben am jungen Rhein" (High Above the Young Rhine) lyrics/music: Jakob Joseph JAUCH/unknown note: adopted 1850, revised 1963; the anthem uses the tune of "God Save the Queen" |
| Economy | Liechtenstein | Top of Page |
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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.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.16 billion (2007) $4.035 billion (2006 est.) |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.603 billion (2007) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2007 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
$122,100 (2007 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 39% services: 54% (2007) |
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Labor force:
32,440 of whom 16,200 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (2008)
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Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 43.5% services: 55.4% (December 2006) |
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Unemployment rate:
1.5% (31 December 2007)
1.3% (September 2002)
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Population below poverty line:
NA%
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Budget:
revenues: $943 million
expenditures: $820 million (2008 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.5% (2009)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
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Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
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Industries:
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments
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Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
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Exports:
$3.92 billion (2008)
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Exports - commodities:
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
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Imports:
$2.59 billion (2008)
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Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
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Debt - external:
$0 (2001)
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Exchange rates:
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.1081 (2009), 1.0774 (2008), 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005)
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| Communications | Liechtenstein | Top of Page |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
19,600 (2009)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
35,000 (2009)
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Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined telephone service subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay (2008) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
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Television broadcast stations:
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
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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)
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Internet country code:
.li
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Internet hosts:
9,418 (2010)
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Internet users:
23,000 (2009)
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| Transportation | Liechtenstein | Top of Page |
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Pipelines:
gas 20 km (2010)
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Railways:
total: 9 km
standard gauge: 9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified) note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland (2008) |
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Roadways:
total: 380 km
paved: 380 km (2010) |
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Waterways:
28 km (2010)
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| Military | Liechtenstein | Top of Page |
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Military branches:
no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited); Principality of Liechtenstein National Police (Landespolizei, LP) (2010)
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Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,009 (2010 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,538
females age 16-49: 6,746 (2010 est.) |
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 219
female: 211 (2010 est.) |
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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)
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| Transnational Issues | Liechtenstein | Top of Page |
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Disputes-international:
none
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Illicit drugs:
has strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector
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This page was last updated on 14 May 2009