Liechtenstein

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Liechtenstein Population: 34,761

BackgroundThe Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleonic wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the Germanic Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. 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. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Trty with the US that went into effect in 2003.
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GeographyAlong with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation Loion:Central Europe, between Austria and SwitzerlandGeographic coordinates:47 16 N, 9 32 r:total: 160 sq km land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km

Size comparison: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DCLand Boundaries:total: 76 km border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 kmCoastline:0 km (doubly landlocked)Maritime claims:none (landlocked)Climate:continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summersTerrain:mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western thirdElevation extremes:lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 mNatural resources:hydroelectric potential, arable landLand use:arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (2005)Irrigated land:NANatural hazards:NACurrent Environment Issues:NAInternational Environment Agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitro 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, Desertifiion, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the S
PeoplePopulation:34,761 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 210Age structure:0-14 yrs: 16.6% (male 2,877/female 2,901) 15-64 yrs: 69.4% (male 11,917/female 12,220) 65 yrs and over: 13.9% (male 2,085/female 2,761) (2009 est.)Median age:total: 41 yrs male: 40.4 yrs female: 41.5 yrs (2009 est.)Population growth rate:0.702% (2009 est.)Birth rate:9.75 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)Dth rate:7.39 dths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)Net migration rate:4.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)Sex ratio:at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female under 15 yrs: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 yrs: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 yrs and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2009 est.)Infant mortality rate:total: 4.25 dths/1,000 live births male: 5.54 dths/1,000 live births female: 2.95 dths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.06 yrs male: 76.59 yrs female: 83.53 yrs (2009 est.)Total fertility rate:1.52 children born/woman (2009 est.)HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NAHIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NAHIV/AIDS - dths:NANationality:noun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: LiechtensteinEthnic groups:Liechtensteiner 65.6%, other 34.4% (2000 census)Religions:Roman holic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)Languages:German (official), Alemannic dialectLiteracy:definition: age 10 and over can rd and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%
GovernmentCountry name:conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: LiechtensteinGovernment type:constitutional monarchyCapital:name: Vaduz geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahd of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in OctoberAdministrative divisions:11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, VaduzIndependence:23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)National holiday:Assumption Day, 15 AugustConstitution:5 October 1921; amended 15 September 2003Legal system:local civil and penal based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservationsSuffrage:18 yrs of age; universalExecutive 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 hd of government: Hd of Government Klaus TSCHUETSCHER (since 25 March 2009) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch elections: the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the lder of the majority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the hd of government by the monarch and the lder of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the deputy hd of government by the monarch if there is a coalition governmentLegislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 sts; members are elected by popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-yr terms) elections: last held 8 February 2009 (next to be held February 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - VU 47.6%, FBP 43.5%, FL 8.9%; sts by party - VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appl or ObergerichtPolitical parties and lders:Die Freie Liste (The Free List) or FL [Claudia HEEB-FLECK and Egon MATT]; Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei (Progressive Citizens' Party) or FBP [Alexander BATLINER]; Vaterlaendische Union (Fatherland Union) or VU [Adolf HEEB]Political pressure groups and lders:NAInternational organization participation:CE, EBRD, EFTA, IA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schen Convention (de facto m), UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTODiplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE chancery: 2900 K Street, NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590 FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein
EconomyDespite 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 the highest per capita income in the world. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large of small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and sy incorporation rules have induced many holding companies to establish nominal s 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 Europn Economic Ar (an organization serving as a bridge between the Europn 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. Since 2008, Liechtenstein has come under renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany - to improve transparency in its banking and tax systems. Upon Liechtenstein's conclusion of 12 bilateral information-sharing agreements, the OE in October 2009 removed the principality from its "grey list" of countries that had yet to implement the organization's Model Tax Convention. GDP (purchasing power parity):GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.16 billion (2007 est.) $4.035 billion (2006 est.)GDP (official exchange rate):GDP (official exchange rate): $4.993 billion (2007)GDP - rl growth rate:3.1% (2007 est.)GDP - per capita (PPP):GDP - per capita (PPP): $122,100 (2007 est.)GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 8% industry: 39% services: 54% (2007)Labor force:32,440 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work ch day (2007)Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 1.7% industry: 43.5% services: 55.4% (31 December 2006)Unemployment rate:1.5% (31 December 2007 est.) 1.3% (September 2002)Population below poverty line:NA%Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%Inflation rate (consumer prices):Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (2001 est.)Budget:revenues: $424.2 million expenditures: $414.1 million (1998 est.)Agriculture - products:wht, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy productsIndustries:electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instrumentsIndustrial production growth rate:NA%Exports:$2.47 billionExports - commodities:small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and , parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical productsImports:$917.3 millionImports - commodities:agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehiclesDebt - external:$0 (2001 est.)Market value of publicly traded shares:$NAExchange rates:Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.1081 (2009), 1.0774 (2008), 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005)
CommuniionsTele in use:19,600 (2008) country comparison to the world: 195Cellular in use:34,000 (2008)Telephone system:eral assessment: automatic telephone system domestic: fixed line and mobile-cellular services widely available; combined telephone service subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons international: country - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay (2008)Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)Television broadcast stations:NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)Internet country :.liInternet hosts:9,287 (2009)Internet users:23,000 (2008)^Back to TopTransportationPipelines:gas 20 km (2008)Railways:9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified) note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland (2008)Roadways:total: 380 km paved: 380 km (2007)Waterways:28 km (2008)
MilitaryLiechtenstein has no military forces, but is interested in Europn security policy and is an active member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Military branches:no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited); Principality of Liechtenstein National Police (Landespolizei, LP) (2008)Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 8,102 (2008 est.)Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 6,584 females age 16-49: 6,801 (2009 est.)