Liechtenstein

• continental;
• cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain;
• cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

highest point:

Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

lowest point:

Ruggeller Riet 430 m

noun:

Liechtensteiner(s)

adjective:

Liechtenstein

total:

44.4 years (2025 est.)

male:

42.4 years

female:

46.1 years

at birth:

1.26 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.25 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.85 male(s)/female

total population:

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

4.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

3.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

83 years (2024 est.)

male:

80.7 years

female:

85.8 years

• continental;
• cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain;
• cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

urban population:

14.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

32,400 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

64.6% (2015 est.)

conventional long form:

Principality of Liechtenstein

conventional short form:

Liechtenstein

local long form:

Fuerstentum Liechtenstein

local short form:

Liechtenstein

etymology:

• named after the Liechtenstein family that purchased and united the counties of Schellenburg and Vaduz in 1719;
• the family name was taken from its Austrian castle of the same name, which in German means "light stone"

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

etymology:

may be a conflation from the Latin vallis (valley) and the Old German dutsch (German) to produce Valdutsch ("German valley"), which was simplified over time to Vaduz

history:

previous 1862; latest adopted 5 October 1921

amendment process:

• 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

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

legislature name:

Diet (Landtag)

legislative structure:

unicameral

number of seats:

25 (all directly elected)

electoral system:

proportional representation

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

4 years

most recent election date:

2/9/2025

parties elected and seats per party:

• Patriotic Union (VU) (10);
• Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) (7);
• Democrats for Liechtenstein (DpL) (6);
• Free List (FL) (2)

percentage of women in chamber:

32%

expected date of next election:

February 2029

highest court(s):

• Supreme Court or Supreme Court or Fürstlicher Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 5 judges and 5 substitutes);
• Constitutional Court or Staatsgerichtshof (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 (second instance), Regional Court (first instance), Administrative Court, Tribunal Court, district courts

• Democrats for Liechtenstein (Demokraten pro Liechtenstein) or DpL
• Fatherland Union (Vaterlaendische Union) or VU
• Progressive Citizens' Party (Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei) or FBP
• The Free List (Die Freie Liste) or FL
• The Independents (Die Unabhaengigen) or DU

chief of mission:

Ambassador Georg SPARBER (since 1 December 2021)

chancery:

2900 K Street NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007

telephone:

[1] (202) 331-0590

FAX:

[1] (202) 331-3221

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://www.liechtensteinusa.org/

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

description:

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red, with a gold crown on the left side of the blue band

history:

• the colors may derive from the blue-and-red livery used in the principality's household in the 18th century;
• the prince's crown was added in 1937 to distinguish it from Haiti's flag

• the six motifs on the coat of arms provide a history of the royal House of Liechtenstein since 1719, when the country was founded;
• the small shield at the center is the royal family’s gold-and-red coat of arms, the gold-crowned eagle signifies the Silesia family, the diamond wreath represents the Kuenringer family, the red-and-silver shield is the Duchy of Troppau, the black eagle comes from the coat of arms of a family that married into the royal line, and the golden hunting horn represents the Duchy of Jägerndorf

title:

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

lyrics/music:

Jakob Joseph JAUCH/Josef FROMMELT

history:

adopted 1850, revised 1963; uses the tune of the United Kingdom's anthem, "God Save the King"

• high-income European economy;
• Schengen Area participant;
• key European financial leader;
• integrated with Swiss economy and franc currency user;
• one of the highest GDP per capita countries;
• relies on US and Eurozone markets for exports

• relies on foreign terrestrial and satellite broadcasters for most broadcast media services;
• first Liechtenstein-based TV station established in 2008;
• Radio Liechtenstein operates multiple radio stations;
• a Swiss-based broadcaster operates one radio station

total:

9 km (2018)

standard gauge:

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

note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland

total:

17 (2023)

by type:

bulk carrier 14, general cargo 1, other 2 (includes Switzerland)