Statistical information Liechtenstein 1996

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 pageLocation: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaTotal: 160 km²
Land: 160 km²
Comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: Total 78 km, Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km
Coastline: 0 km (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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Ruggleller Riet 430 m
Extremes highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: Hydroelectric potential
Land useArable land: 25%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 38%
Forests and woodland: 19%
Other: 18%
Irrigated land: NA
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation:
31,122 (July 1996 est.)
30,654 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate:1.08% (1996 est.)
1.2% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: Liechtensteiner(s)
Adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups:
Alemannic 95%
Italian and other 5%
Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect
Religions:
Roman Catholic 87.3%
Protestant 8.3%
Unknown 1.6%
Other 2.8% (1988)
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years:19% (male 2,961; female 2,871) (July 1996 est.)
19% (male 2,974; female 2,897) (July 1995 est.)
15-64 years:70% (male 10,775; female 11,113) (July 1996 est.)
71% (male 10,777; female 10,853) (July 1995 est.)
65 years and over:11% (male 1,366; female 2,036) (July 1996 est.)
10% (male 1,223; female 1,930) (July 1995 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate:
1.08% (1996 est.)
1.2% (1995 est.)
Birth rate:
11.47 births/1000 population (1996 est.)
12.95 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate:
6.81 deaths/1000 population (1996 est.)
6.56 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate:
6.11 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.)
5.58 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: NA
Current issues Natural hazards: NA
International agreements: party to_Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified_Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
International agreements note: Landlocked; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.14 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
All ages:0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.) Infant Mortality Rate:5.3 deaths/1000 live births (1996 est.)
5.3 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthTotal population: 78.84 years (1996 est.), 77.52 years (1995 est.)
Male: 75.92 years (1996 est.), 73.86 years (1995 est.)
Female: 82.17 years (1996 est.), 81.17 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.37 children born/woman (1996 est.)
1.47 children born/woman (1995 est.)
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 expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 10 and over that can read and write (1981)
Total population: 100%
Male: 100%
Female: 100%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
Conventional short form: Liechtenstein
Local long form: Furstentum 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
Dependent areasIndependence: 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established)
National holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution: 5 October 1921
Legal system: Local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989; assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein (born 11 June 1968)
Head of government: Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993); Deputy Head of Government Dr. Thomas BUECHEL (since 15 December 1993)
Cabinet: Cabinet; elected by the Diet; confirmed by the sovereign
Legislative branch: Unicameral Diet (Landtag):Elections last held on 24 October 1993 (next to be held by March 1997; results_VU 50.1%, FBP 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats_(25 total) VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal cases, Superior Court (Obergericht) for civil cases
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationFlag 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: Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital service sector and living standards on par with its large European neighbors. 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, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. Liechtenstein plans to join the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between EFTA and EU) in 1995.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity_ $22,300 (1990 est.)
Gross 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: Growth rate NA
Labor force: 20,000 of which 12,000 are foreigners; 6,885 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day
By occupation industry trade andbuilding: 48.1%
By occupation services: 50.2%
By occupation fishing forestry andhorticulture: 1.7% (1993)
Unemployment rate:
0.9% (1995)
1.5% (1994)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $455 million (1995 est.), $259 million (1990 est.)
Expenditures: $442 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.), $292 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1990 est.)
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: total value. NA
Commodities:Small specialty machinery
Dental products
Stamps
Hardware
Pottery
Partners:EC countries 42.7%
EFTA countries 20.9% (Switzerland 15.4%)
Other 36.4% (1990)
Imports: total value: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: 1.1810 (January 1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993), 1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 23,000 kW
Production: 150 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 5,230 kWh (1992)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone system: 18,916 telephones (1993 est.); limited, but sufficient automatic telephone system
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: linked to Swiss networks by cable and radio relay
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirportsHeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs