Liechtenstein
Furstentum Liechtenstein
hereditary constitutional monarchy
Liechtenstein as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 85 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
18 fieldsLand useshare of 160 sq km
Climate
- continental;
- cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain;
- cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Environment - 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
Geography - note
along with Uzbekistan, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1997 est.)
Religions(1995)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 19% (male 3,032; female 2,909)
- 15-64 years:
- 70% (male 10,952; female 11,059)
- 65 years and over:
- 11% (male 1,410; female 2,027) (July 1997 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth :
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.99 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.7 male(s)/female
- total population :
- 0.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Government
Hereditary constitutional monarchy; Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 14 April 1997)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Diet or Landtag, 25 seats, elected 2 February 1997one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form :
- Principality of Liechtenstein
- conventional short form:
- Liechtenstein
- local long form:
- Furstentum Liechtenstein
- local short form:
- Liechtenstein
Administrative divisions
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Executive branch
- 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:
- Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 14 April 1997)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the prince
- elections :
- none;
- the prince is a hereditary monarch;
- following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually appointed the head of government by the prince and the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the prince
Legislative branch
unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 2 February 1997 (next to be held by NA 2001)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - VU 50.1%, FBP 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats by party - VU 13, FBP 10, FL 2
Political parties and leaders
- Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald KRANZ];
- Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Otmar HASLER];
- The Free List or 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 the US
Liechtenstein does not have an embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in routine diplomatic matters
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador at Bern (Switzerland) has been nominated to be the non-resident US Ambassador 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
22 fieldsEconomy - 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 living standards on a 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. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein is a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between EFTA and EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.
Labor force
- total:
- 22,187 of which 13,576 are foreigners; 7,781 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day
- by occupation :
- industry, trade, and building 45%, services 53%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 2% (1995 est.)
Industries
electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism
Exports
- total value:
- $2.14 billion (1994)
- commodities:
- small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery
- partners:
- EU and EFTA countries 60.57% (Switzerland 15.7%) (1995)
Imports
- total value :
- $852.3 million (1994)
- commodities:
- machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
- partners :
- EU countries, Switzerland (1996)
Exchange rates
Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.3936 (January 1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993), 1.4062 (1992)
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone system
limited, but sufficient automatic telephone system
- domestic:
- NA
- international:
- linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay
Transportation
4 fieldsNetworkskm
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)
Military
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
- claims 1,600 sq km 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 LITHUANIA
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Liechtenstein.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/liechtenstein/1997.