World Facts

conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
Capital: Vaduz
Type of Government: hereditary constitutional monarchy on a democratic and parliamentary basis-
Administrative Divisions: 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Age Structure: 0-14 years: 17.6% (male 2,938/female 3,009)
Agriculture: wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Airports: none (2004 est.)-
With Paved Runways: -
With Unpaved Runways:
Area: total: 160 sq km. about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Background: The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. Shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use of the financial institutions for money laundering. Liechtenstein has, however, implemented new anti-money-laundering legislation and recently concluded a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US.
Birth rate: 10.41 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget: revenues: $424.2 million
Coastline: 0 km (doubly landlocked)-
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Communications:
Constitution: 5-Oct-21
Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)-
Current account balance:
Death rate: 7.06 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external: $0 (2001)-
Dependency status: -
Dependent areas:
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
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
Disputes - international: in February 2005, the ICJ refused to rule on the restitution of Liechtenstein's land and property assets in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1945 as German property-
Distribution of family income: -
Economic aid - donor:
Economic aid - recipient: none
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 its large European neighbors. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and easy incorporation rules have induced many 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 has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.-
Electricity - consumption:
Electricity - exports:
Electricity - imports:
Electricity - production:
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - International Agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
Ethnic groups: Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%
Exchange rates: Swiss francs per US dollar - NA (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001)
Executive branch: chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August 2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state
Exports: $2.47 billion (1996)
Exports - partners: EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7% (2004)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band
GDP (official exchange rate): NA
GDP (purchasing power parity): $825 million (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $25,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 11% (1999 est.)
Geographic coordinates: 47 16 N, 9 32 E
Geography - note: along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation-
Government - note:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA-
Heliports:
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%-
Illicit drugs:
Imports: $917.3 million (1996)
Imports - partners: EU, Switzerland (2004)
Independence: 23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (2001)
International organization participation: CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO
Internet country code: .li
Internet hosts: 3,727 (2004)
Internet users: 20,000 (2002)-
Investment (gross fixed):
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht-
Labor force:
Labor force - by occupation:
Land boundaries: total: 76 km
Land use: arable land: 25%
Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect
Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch:
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.55 years
Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write
Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland-
Major infectious diseases: -
Manpower available for military service: -
Manpower fit for military service: -
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Map references: Europe
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Median age: total: 39.22 years-
Merchant marine: -
Military - note: -
Military branches: -
Military expenditures - dollar figure: -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: -
Military service age and obligation:
National holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August
Nationality: noun: Liechtensteiner(s)-
Natural gas - consumption: -
Natural gas - exports: -
Natural gas - imports:
Natural gas - production: -
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Natural hazards: NA
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land
Net migration rate: 4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)-
Oil - consumption: -
Oil - exports: -
Oil - imports: -
Oil - production: -
Oil - proved reserves: -
People - note:
Political parties and leaders: Patriotic Union (was Fatherland Union) or VU [Heinz FROMMELT]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Johannes MATT]; The Free List or FL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, Elisabeth TELLENBACH-FRICK, Adolf RITTER]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
Population: 33,717 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Population growth rate: 0.82% (2005 est.)
Ports and terminals: none-
Public debt:
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)-
Railways: -
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Religions: Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)-
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: -
Roadways:
Sex ratio:
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system: general assessment: automatic telephone system
Telephones - main lines in use: 19,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 11,400 (2002)
Television broadcast stations: NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (2005 est.)-
Transportation - note:
Unemployment rate: 1.3% (September 2002)-
Waterways: