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.

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

47 16 N, 9 32 E

Europe

total: 160 sq km
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km

0 km (doubly landlocked)

none (landlocked)

continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

hydroelectric potential, arable land

arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 75% (2005)

NA

NA

NA

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
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

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

33,987 (July 2006 est.)

0-14 years: 17.4% (male 2,922/female 2,988)
15-64 years: 70.2% (male 11,842/female 12,022)
65 years and over: 12.4% (male 1,773/female 2,440) (2006 est.)

total: 39.6 years
male: 39.2 years
female: 40.1 years (2006 est.)

0.78% (2006 est.)

10.21 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

7.18 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

4.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

total: 4.64 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

total population: 79.68 years
male: 76.1 years
female: 83.28 years (2006 est.)

1.51 children born/woman (2006 est.)

NA

NA

NA

noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein

Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%

Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)

German (official), Alemannic dialect

definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

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

hereditary constitutional monarchy on a democratic and parliamentary basis

Vaduz

11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)

Assumption Day, 15 August

5 October 1921

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

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, 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
head of government: Head of Government Ottmar HASLER (since 5 April 2001) and Deputy Head of Government Rita KIEBER-BECK (since 5 April 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch

unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 and 13 March 2005 (next to be held by NA 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 48.7%, VU 38.2%, FL 13%; seats by party - FBP 12, VU 10, FL 3

Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht

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]

NA

CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO

chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590
FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221

the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein

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

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.

$825 million (1999 est.)

NA

11% (1999 est.)

$25,000 (1999 est.)

agriculture: NA%
industry: 40%
services: NA% (1999)

29,000 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (2001)

agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 47.4%
services: 51.3% (31 December 2001)

1.3% (September 2002)

NA%

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

1% (2001)

revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

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

electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments

NA%

$2.47 billion (1996)

small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products

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)

$917.3 million (1996)

agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

EU, Switzerland (2004)

$0 (2001)

$0

Swiss franc (CHF)

CHF

Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001)

calendar year

19,900 (2002)

11,400 (2002)

general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay

AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

21,000 (1997)

NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)

12,000 (1997)

.li

7,491 (2005)

44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)

20,000 (2002)

none (2005)

gas 20 km (2004)

total: 250 km
paved: 250 km

28 km (2005)

none

males age 18-49: 7,736 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49: 6,250 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49: 208 (2005 est.)

defense is the responsibility of Switzerland

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

has strengthened money-laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector