Liechtenstein

hereditary constitutional monarchy

Liechtenstein as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 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
LocationCentral Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
1994

Every edition of Liechtenstein

Populationas each edition published it
30,281 people July 1994 est. · 28,292 in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.26% 1994 est. · 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
1.46 children per woman 1994 est. · 1.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
5.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 5 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$22,300 1990 est. · $22,300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 11% in 2003

Geography

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

22 fields
Coastline
0km
(landlocked)Maritime claims: none; landlocked
Land boundaries
78km
total · Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km

Location

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Map references

Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

160 sq km

land area

160 sq km

comparative area

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

International disputes

  • claims 620 square miles of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918;
  • the Czech Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February 1948, when the Communists seized power

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

Natural resources

hydroelectric potential

arable land

25%

permanent crops

0%

meadows and pastures

38%

forest and woodland

19%

other

18%

current issues

NA

natural hazards

NA

international agreements

  • party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands;
  • signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Note

landlocked; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

People

21 fields
Population
30,281
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 1.26% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
13.08Death
6.6Net migration
6.11

Religions(1988)

Roman Catholic 87.3%Protestant 8.3%unknown 1.6%other 2.8% (1988)
Literacy
10and over can read and write
age · (1981)

Infant mortality rate

5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

77.46 years

male

73.76 years

female

81.03 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.46 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Liechtensteiner(s)

adjective

Liechtenstein

Ethnic divisions

Alemannic 95%, Italian and other 5%

Languages

German (official), Alemannic dialect

total population

100%

male

100%

female

100%

Labor force

19,905 of which 11,933 are foreigners; 6,885 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day

by occupation

industry, trade, and building 53.2%, services 45%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 1.8% (1990)

Government

Hereditary constitutional monarchy

24 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

50.1%
VU 50.1%FBP 41.3%FL 8.5%

Legislature, 25 seatsone dot, one seat

VU 13FBP 11FL 1

conventional long form

Principality of Liechtenstein

conventional short form

Liechtenstein

local long form

Furstentum Liechtenstein

local short form

Liechtenstein

Type

hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital

Vaduz

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)

National holiday

Assumption Day, 15 August

Constitution

5 October 1921

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

chief of state

Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989; assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein (born 11 June 1968)

head of government

Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993); Deputy Head of Government Dr. Thomas BUECHEL (since 15 December 1993)

cabinet

  • Cabinet;
  • elected by the Diet;
  • confirmed by the sovereign

Diet (Landtag)

  • elections last held on 24 October 1993 (next to be held by March 1997);
  • results - VU 50.1%, FBP 41.3%, FL 8.5%;
  • seats - (25 total) VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal cases, Superior Court (Obergericht) for civil cases

Political parties and leaders

  • Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Otto HASLER;
  • Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), Emanuel VOGT;
  • Free Electoral List (FL)

Member of

CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO

Diplomatic representation in US

in routine diplomatic matters, Liechtenstein is represented in the US by the Swiss Embassy

US diplomatic representation

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 tourism.

25 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$22,300
(1990 est.)

Overview

The prosperous economy is based primarily on small-scale light industry and tourism. Industry accounts for 53% of total employment, the service sector 45% (mostly based on tourism), and agriculture and forestry 2%. The sale of postage stamps to collectors is estimated at $10 million annually.

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 30% of state revenues. The economy is tied closely to Switzerland's economy in a customs union, and incomes and living standards parallel those of the more prosperous Swiss groups.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $630 million (1990 est.)

revenues

$259 million

expenditures

$292 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

commodities

small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery

partners

EFTA countries 20.9% (Switzerland 15.4%), EC countries 42.7%, other 36.4% (1990)

commodities

machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

partners

NA

capacity

23,000 kW

production

150 million kWh

consumption per capita

5,230 kWh (1992)

Industries

electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism

Agriculture

livestock, vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes

Currency

1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi

Exchange rates

Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.4715 (January 1994), 1.4776 (1993), 1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990), 1.6359 (1989)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

5 fields

Railroads

18.5 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, electrified; owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways

total

322.93 km

paved

322.93 km

Telecommunications

  • limited, but sufficient automatic telephone system;
  • 25,400 telephones;
  • linked to Swiss networks by cable and radio relay for international telephone, radio, and TV services

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

defense is responsibility of Switzerland

Central Intelligence Agency. “Liechtenstein.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/liechtenstein/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →