Liechtenstein

hereditary constitutional monarchy

Liechtenstein as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 64 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalVaduz

Area160 km2

Populationas each edition published it

28,292 people July 1990 · 40,547 in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 1.32% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 38.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 77.29 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.5 children per woman 1990 · 1.69 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

5 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 3.8 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $22,300 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 11% in 2003

Geography

11 fields

Land useshare of 160 km2

arable land 25%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 38%forest and woodland 19%other 18%

Total area

160km2

land area: 160 km2Comparative area: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

78km total

Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km

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

Environment

variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

People

14 fields

Population

28,292

(July 1990), growth rate 0.7% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

13Death

7Net migration

Ethnic divisions

Alemannic 95%Italian and other 5%

Religion

Roman Catholic 82.7%Protestant 7.1%other 10.2%

Literacy

100%

Nationality

noun--Liechtensteiner(s); adjective--Liechtenstein

Labor force

12,258;
5,078 foreign workers (mostly from Switzerland and Austria);
54.4% industry, trade, and building;
41.6% services;
4.0% agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture

Government

Hereditary constitutional monarchy

17 fields

Diet, 25 seats, elected 5 March 1989one dot, one seat

VU 13FBP 12

Administrative divisions

11 communes (gemeinden, singular--gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

Independence

23 January 1719, Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established

Legal system

local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Executive branch

reigning prince, hereditary prince, prime minister, deputy prime minister

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal cases and Superior Court (Obergericht) for civil cases Chief of State--Prince HANS ADAM von und zu Liechtenstein (since 13 November 1989; assumed executive powers 26 August 1984);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Hans BRUNHART (since 26 April 1978);
Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Herbert WILLE (since 2 February 1986)

Political parties and leaders

Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Otto Hasler;
Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), Dr. Herbert Batliner;
Christian Social Party, Fritz Kaiser

Suffrage

universal at age 18 Diet--last held on 5 March 1989 (next to be held by March 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(25 total) VU 13, FBP 12

Member of

Council of Europe, EFTA, IAEA, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UNICEF, UPU, WIPO;
considering UN membership;
has consultative status in the EC

Diplomatic representation

in routine diplomatic matters, Liechtenstein is represented in the US by the Swiss Embassy;
US--the US has no diplomatic or consular mission in Liechtenstein, but the US Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has consular accreditation at Vaduz

Flag

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

Economy

The prosperous economy is based primarily on small-scale light industry and some farming.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

1.5%

(1987 est.)

Unemployment rate

0.1%

(December 1986)

Budget

Revenues

$171 millionExpenditures

$189 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of NA (1986)

The prosperous economy is based primarily on small-scale light industry and some farming. Industry accounts for 54% of total employment, the service sector 42% (mostly based on tourism), and agriculture and forestry 4%. The sale of postage stamps to collectors is estimated at $10 million annually and accounts for 10% of revenues.

Low business taxes (the maximum tax rate is 20%) and easy incorporation rules have induced about 25,000 holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein. Such companies, incorporated solely for tax purposes, provide an additional 30% of state revenues.

The economy is tied closely to that of Switzerland in a customs union, and incomes and living standards parallel those of the more prosperous Swiss groups.