Liechtenstein
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
Introduction	Back To Top
Background: 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	Back To Top
Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland Geographic coordinates: 47 16 N, 9 32 E Map references: Europe Area: total: 160 sq km land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: total: 76 km border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km Coastline: 0 km (doubly landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third Elevation extremes: lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (2005) Irrigated land: NA Natural hazards: NA 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 Geography - note: along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
People	Back To Top
Population: 34,498 (July 2008 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.9% (male 2,892/female 2,927) 15-64 years: 69.8% (male 11,905/female 12,180) 65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,964/female 2,630) (2008 est.) Median age: total: 40.5 years male: 40 years female: 41 years (2008 est.) Population growth rate: 0.713% (2008 est.) Birth rate: 9.86 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) Death rate: 7.42 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) Net migration rate: 4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 4.52 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.03 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.95 years male: 76.38 years female: 83.52 years (2008 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Nationality: noun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: Liechtenstein Ethnic groups: Liechtensteiner 65.6%, other 34.4% (2000 census) Religions: Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002) Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years male: 16 years female: 13 years (2004) Education expenditures: NA
Government	Back To Top
Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein Government type: constitutional monarchy 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 Administrative divisions: 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz Independence: 23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire) National holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August Constitution: 5 October 1921; amended 15 September 2003 Legal system: local civil and penal codes based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: 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 Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 11 and 13 March 2005 (next to be held February 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 48.7%, VU 38.2%, FL 13%; seats by party - FBP 12, VU 10, FL 3 Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht Political parties and leaders: Patriotic Union or VU [Adolf HEEB] (was Fatherland Union); Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Marcus VOGT]; The Free List or FL [Claudia HEEB-FLECK and Egon MATT] Political pressure groups and leaders: NA International organization participation: CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO 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 Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy	Back To Top
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. GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.16 billion (2007) GDP (official exchange rate): $4.993 billion (2007) GDP - real growth rate: 3.1% (2007 est.) GDP - per capita (PPP): $118,000 (2007 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 39% services: 54% (2007) Labor force: 31,000 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (31 December 2006) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.7% industry: 43.5% services: 55.4% (31 December 2006) Unemployment rate: 1.5% (31 December 2007) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Budget: revenues: $424.2 million expenditures: $414.1 million (1998 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (2001) Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments Market value of publicly traded shares: $NA Exports: $2.47 billion (1996) Exports - commodities: small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products Imports: $917.3 million (1996) Imports - commodities: agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles Debt - external: $0 (2001) Currency (code): Swiss franc (CHF) Currency code: CHF Exchange rates: Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.0774 (2008 est.), 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004)
Communications	Back To Top
Telephones - main lines in use: 20,000 (2005) Telephones - mobile cellular: 27,500 (2005) Telephone system: general assessment: automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 21,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997) Televisions: 12,000 (1997) Internet country code: .li Internet hosts: 7,639 (2008) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000) Internet users: 22,000 (2006)
Transportation	Back To Top
Pipelines: gas 20 km (2007) Railways: 9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified) note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland (2006) Roadways: total: 380 km paved: 380 km (2007) Waterways: 28 km (2008)
Military	Back To Top
Military branches: no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited); Principality of Liechtenstein National Police (Landespolizei, LP) (2008) Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 8,102 (2008 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 6,584 (2008 est.) Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 202 female: 222 (2008 est.) 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)
Transnational Issues	Back To Top
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