Liechtenstein

Principality of LiechtensteinFurstentum Liechtenstein

hereditary constitutional monarchyIndependence 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of

Liechtenstein as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 80 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

Position47 10 N, 9 32 E

Area160 sq km

LocationCentral Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Populationas each edition published it

31,122 people July 1996 est. · 28,292 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.08% 1996 est. · 1.32% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 38.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.84 years 1996 est. · 77.29 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.37 children per woman 1996 est. · 1.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

5.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 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

15 fields

Land useshare of 160 sq km

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

Area

160sq km

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

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Land boundaries

78km

border countries: Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km

Location

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

International disputes

claims 1,600 square kilometers 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

lowest point:: Ruggleller Riet 430 m
highest point:: Grauspitz 2,599 m

Environment

current issues:: NA
natural hazards:: NA
international agreements:: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands;
signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

Geographic note

landlocked; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

People

15 fields

Population

31,122

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 1.08% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

11.47Death

6.81Net migration

6.11

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years78.84

75.92 · 82.17

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy100%

100% · 100%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 10 and over can read and write (1981 est.)

Religions(1988)

Roman Catholic 87.3%Protestant 8.3%unknown 1.6%other 2.8% (1988)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 19% (male 2,961; female 2,871)
15-64 years:: 70% (male 10,775; female 11,113)
65 years and over:: 11% (male 1,366; female 2,036) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.14 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.67 male(s)/female
all ages:: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective:: Liechtenstein

Government

Hereditary constitutional monarchy; Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, who is a hereditary monarch, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Dr. Thomas BUECHEL (since 15 December 1993) were elected by the Landtag for a four-year term and confirmed by the prince

19 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

Name of country

conventional long form:: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form:: Liechtenstein
local long form:: Furstentum Liechtenstein
local short form:: Liechtenstein

Data code

Type of government

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

Legal system

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

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, who is a hereditary monarch, 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) and Deputy Head of Government Dr. Thomas BUECHEL (since 15 December 1993) were elected by the Landtag for a four-year term and confirmed by the prince
cabinet:: Cabinet was elected by the Diet; confirmed by the prince

Legislative branch

unicameral

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. Oswald KRANTZ;
Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), Otmar HASLER;
The Free List (FL)

International organization participation

CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US

Liechtenstein does not have an embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in routine diplomatic matters

US diplomatic representation

the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has consular accreditation in Vaduz

Flag

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

Economy

20 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$22,300

(1990 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

5.4%

(1990)

Unemployment rate

0.9%

(1995)

Budget

Revenues

$455 millionExpenditures

$442 million (1995 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 23,000 kW

Electricity production

150 millionElectricity consumption per capita

5,230 (1992)

Economic overview

Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital service sector and living standards on par with the urban areas of its large European neighbors. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 18% - and easy incorporation rules have induced about 25,000 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. Liechtenstein plans to join the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between EFTA and EU) in 1995.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $630 million (1990 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

GDP composition by sector

agriculture:: NA%
industry:: NA%
services:: NA%

Labor force

20,000 of which 12,000 are foreigners; 6,885 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day; by occupation: industry, trade, and building 48.1%, services 50.2%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 1.7% (1993)

Industries

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

Agriculture

vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes; livestock

Exports

$1.636 billion (1993)

commodities:: small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery
partners:: EC countries 42.7%, EFTA countries 20.9% (Switzerland 15.4%), other 36.4% (1990)

Imports

$NA

commodities:: machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
partners:: NA

External debt

$NA

Economic aid

none

Currency

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

Exchange rates

Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.1810 (January 1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993), 1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

4 fields

Networkskm

Highways

238Railways

18.5

Highways: paved: 238 km · unpaved: 0 km (1986 est.) · Railways: ; note - owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways · standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)

Railways

total:: 18.5 km; note - owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways
standard gauge:: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)