Liechtenstein

Principality of LiechtensteinFuerstentum Liechtenstein

hereditary constitutional monarchyIndependence 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of

Liechtenstein as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 94 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
1999

Every edition of Liechtenstein

Populationas each edition published it
32,057 people July 1999 est. · 28,292 in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.08% 1999 est. · 1.32% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 38.3 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
78.11 years 1999 est. · 77.29 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.6 children per woman 1999 est. · 1.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
5.23 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 5 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$23,000 1998 est. · $22,300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 11% in 2003

Geography

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

18 fields

Land useshare of 160 sq km

arable land 24%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 16%forests and woodland 35%other 25% (1993 est.)
Area
160sq km
land: 160 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmabout 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
0km
(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Highest point
2,599m
Grauspitzlowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
Land boundaries
76km
border countries: Austria 35 km, Switzerland 41 km

Location

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Geographic coordinates

47 10 N, 9 32 E

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

Environment--international agreements

party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geography--note

along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

People

15 fields
Population
32,057
(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 1.08% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth
12.23Death
7.33Net migration
5.9

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)78.11
75.64 · 80.69
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1981 est.)100%
100% · 100%
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 10 and over can read and write

Religions(1996)

Roman Catholic 80%Protestant 7.4%unknown 7.7%other 4.9% (1996)

Age structure

0-14 years:
19% (male 3,076; female 2,949)
15-64 years:
70% (male 11,209; female 11,247)
65 years and over:
11% (male 1,484; female 2,092) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.71 male(s)/female
total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

5.23 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.6 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective:
Liechtenstein

Ethnic groups

Alemannic 87.5%, Italian, Turkish, and other 12.5%

Languages

German (official), Alemannic dialect

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 2 February 1997)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

50.1%
-VU 50.1%FBPL 41.3%FL 8.5%last held on 2 February 1997 (next to be held by NA 2001)

Diet or Landtag, 25 seats, elected 2 February 1997one dot, one seat

VU 13FBPL 10FL 2

Percent of vote

-VU 50.1%FBPL 41.3%FL 8.5%

Country name

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

Government 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

20 years of age; universal

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, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968)
head of government:
Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 2 February 1997)
cabinet:
Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the monarch
elections:
  • none;
  • the monarch is hereditary;
  • following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch

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%, FBPL 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats by party - VU 13, FBPL 10, FL 2

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior Court or Obergericht

Political parties and leaders

Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald

International organization participation

CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, 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 to Switzerland is also accredited 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

31 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$23,000
purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$455 millionExpenditures
$435 million (1996 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Economy--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 73,700 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 European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$730 million (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector

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

Labor force

22,891 of which 13,847 are foreigners; 8,231 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day

Labor force--by occupation

industry, trade, and building 45%, services 53%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 2% (1997 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity--production

150 million kWh (1995)

Electricity--production by source

fossil fuel:
NA%
hydro:
NA%
nuclear:
NA%
other:
NA%

Agriculture--products

wheat, barley, maize, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

Exports

$2.47 billion (1996)

Exports--commodities

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

Exports--partners

EU and EFTA countries 60.57% (Switzerland 15.7%) (1995)

Imports

$917.3 million (1996)

Imports--commodities

machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

Imports--partners

EU countries, Switzerland (1996)

Currency

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

Exchange rates

Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1--1.3837 (January 1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields
Fixed lines
22,857
(1996 est.)

Telephone system

automatic telephone system

domestic:
NA
international:
linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay

Radio broadcast stations

1 broadcast station in Triesen note: linked to Swiss networks

Radios

12,134 (1996)

Television broadcast stations

NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)

Televisions

11,785 (1996)

Transportation

4 fields

Networkskm

Highways
250Railways
18.5
Highways: paved: 250 km · unpaved: 0 km · 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)

Highways

total:
250 km
paved:
250 km
unpaved:
0 km

Military

1 field

Military--note

defense is the responsibility of Switzerland

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes--international

  • claims 1,600 sq km of property in the Czech Republic 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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Liechtenstein.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/liechtenstein/1999.

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