Statistical information Liechtenstein 1989

Liechtenstein in the World
top of pageBackground: 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 conclude 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.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: 78 km total; Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km
Coastline: none - landlocked
Maritime claims: none - landlocked
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
ElevationNatural resources: hydroelectric potential
Land use: 25% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 38% meadows and pastures; 19% forest and woodland; 18% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: defense is responsibility of Switzerland
top of pagePopulation: 28,074 (July 1989), growth rate 0.8% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Liechtensteiner(s; adjective - Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups: 95% Alemannic, 5% Italian and other
Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect
Religions: 82.7% Roman Catholic, 7.1% Protestant, 10.2% other
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 13 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 5 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 80 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 100%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Principality of 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
Dependent areasIndependence: 23 January 1719, Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established
National holiday: St. Joseph's Day, 19 March
Constitution: 5 October 1921
Legal system: principality has its own civil and penal codes; lowest court is county court (Landgericht), which decides minor civil cases and summary criminal offenses; criminal court (Kriminalgericht) is for major crimes; the court of assizes is for misdemeanors; Superior Court (Obergericht) and Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) are courts of appeal for civil and criminal cases; an administrative court of appeal from government actions and the State Court determine the constitutionality of laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal adult
Executive branch: Chief of State - Prince FRANZ JOSEF II (since 30 March 1938; Heir Apparent HANS ADAM von und zu Liechtensten (son of Prince Franz Josef II, born 14 February 1945; on 26 August 1984 Prince Franz Josef transferred executive powers to his son; Head of Government - Prime Minister Hans BRUNHART (since 26 April 1978; Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Herbert WILLE (since 2 February 1986)
Legislative branch: unicameral legislature (Diet) with 15 deputies elected to four-year terms (dissolved 23 January 1989; hereditary prince, independent judiciary
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: Council of Europe, EFTA, IAEA, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UNICEF, UPU, WIPO; considering UN membership; has consultative status in the EC; under several post-World War I treaties Switzerland handles Liechtenstein's customs and represents the principality abroad on a diplomatic and consular level whenever requested to do so by the Liechtenstein Government
Diplomatic representationIn the us: in routine diplomatic matters, Liechtenstein is represented in the US by the Swiss Embassy; US - the US has no diplomatic or consular mission in Liechtenstein, but the US Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has consular accreditation at Vaduz
Flag description
: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The prosperous economy is based primarily on small-scale light industry and some farming. Industry accounts for 54% of total employment, the service sector 42% (mostly based on tourism), and agriculture and forestry 4%. The sale of postage stamps to collectors is estimated at $10 million annually and accounts for 10% of revenues. Low business taxes (the maximum tax rate is 20%) and easy incorporation rules have induced about 25,000 holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein. Such companies, incorporated solely for tax purposes, provide an additional 30% of state revenues. The economy is tied closely to that of Switzerland in a customs union, and no national accounts data are available.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: livestock, vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes
Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force:
12,258; 5,078 foreign workers (mostly from Switzerland and Austria; 54.4%
industry, trade, and building; 41.6%
services; 4.0% agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture
Unemployment rate: 0.1% (December 1986)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $171 million; expenditures $189 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1986)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $807 million
Commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery
Partners: EC 40%, EFTA 26% (Switzerland 19%) (1986)
Imports: $NA
Commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Partners: NA
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.5590 (January 1989), 1.4633 (1988), 1.4912 (1987), 1.7989 (1986), 2.4571 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 23,000 kW capacity; 150 million kWh produced, 5,390 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: none
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs