World Facts Index
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman
Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleanic
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 went into effect in 2003.
Geography of Liechtenstein
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Location:
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Central Europe, between
Austria and Switzerland |
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Coordinates:
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47 16 N, 9 32 E |
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Area:
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total: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 160 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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about 0.9 times the size of
Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (doubly landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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continental; cold, cloudy
winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy,
humid summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountainous (Alps)
with Rhine Valley in western third |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m |
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Natural resources:
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hydroelectric potential,
arable land |
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Geography - note:
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along with Uzbekistan, one
of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of
microclimatic variations based on elevation
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Population of Liechtenstein
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Population:
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34,498 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 17.4% (male 2,922/female 2,988)
15-64 years: 70.2% (male 11,842/female 12,022)
65 years and over: 12.4% (male 1,773/female 2,440) |
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Median age:
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39.6 years |
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Growth rate:
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0.78% |
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Infant mortality:
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4.64 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.68 years
male: 76.1 years
female: 83.28 years |
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Fertility rate:
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1.51 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein |
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Ethnic groups:
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Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other
14% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%,
unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% |
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Languages:
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German (official), Alemannic dialect |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 10 and over can read
and write
total population: 100%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Principality
of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein |
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Government type:
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hereditary constitutional monarchy on a
democratic and parliamentary basis |
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Capital:
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Vaduz |
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Administrative divisions:
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11 communes (Gemeinden, singular -
Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg,
Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz |
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Independence:
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23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of
Liechtenstein established; 12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman
Empire |
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National holiday:
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Assumption Day, 15 August |
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Constitution:
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5 October 1921 |
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Legal system:
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local civil and penal codes; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13
November 1989, assumed executive powers 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 (Prime Minister) Otmar HASLER (since 5
April 2001); Deputy Head of Government (Deputy Prime Minister) Klaus
TSCHUETSCHER (since 21 April 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the head of
government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the
Landtag is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if
there is a coalition government. |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are
elected by direct, popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year
terms) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof;
Court of Appeal or Obergericht |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Patriotic Union (was Fatherland Union) or VU [Adolf HEEB];
Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Otmar HASLER]; The Free List or FL |
Economy
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 living standards on a par with its
large European neighbors. 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 or so-called
letter box 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.
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GDP:
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$1.786 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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11% |
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GDP per capita:
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$25,000 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: 40% |
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Inflation rate:
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1% |
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Labor force:
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29,000 of whom 19,000 are foreigners;
13,000 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work each day |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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industry 47.4%, services 51.3%, agriculture
1.3% |
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Unemployment:
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1.3% |
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Industries:
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electronics, metal manufacturing, dental
products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism,
optical instruments |
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Agriculture:
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wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock,
dairy products |
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Exports:
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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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Export partners:
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EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy
6.6%, UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7% |
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Imports:
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agricultural products, raw materials,
machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles |
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Import partners:
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EU, Switzerland |
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Currency:
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Swiss franc (CHF) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |