Statistical information Liechtenstein 1998
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 coordinates: 47 10 N, 9 32 E
Map reference:
EuropeAreaTotal: 160 km²
Land: 160 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundariesTotal: 76 km
Border countries: (2) Austria 35 km;
, Switzerland 41 kmCoastline: 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: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
Extremes highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential
Land useArable land: 24%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 16%
Forests and woodland: 35%
Other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: NA
GeographyNote: along with Uzbekistan, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
top of pagePopulation: 31,717 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 1.05% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: Liechtensteiner(s)
Adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups: Alemannic 87.5%, Italian, Turkish, and other 12.5%
Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect
Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 7.4%, unknown 7.7%, other 4.9% (1996)
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 19% (male 3,058; female 2,926)
15-64 years: 70% (male 11,084; female 11,154)
65 years and over: 11% (male 1,442; female 2,053) (July 1998 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.05% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 12.64 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 7.31 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.2 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: NA
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 5.28 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 77.96 years
Male: 75.51 years
Female: 80.52 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (1998 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 can read and write
Total population: 100%
Male: 100%
Female: 100% (1981 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
Conventional short form: Liechtenstein
Local long form: Fuerstentum 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: 20 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): ead of
Government: Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 2 February 1997)
Cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the prince
Elections: none; the prince is a hereditary monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually appointed the head of government by the prince and the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the prince
Legislative branch: unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held on 2 February 1997 (next to be held by NA 2001)
Election results: percent of vote by party_VU 50.1%, FBPL 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats by party - VU 13, FBPL 10, FL 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior Court or Obergericht
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 representationIn the us: Liechtenstein does not have an embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in routine diplomatic matters
From the us: the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador at Bern (Switzerland) is also accredited to Liechtenstein
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: 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 the urban areas of its large European neighbors. Low business taxes_the maximum tax rate is 18%_and easy incorporation rules have induced about 73,700 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 is a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between EFTA and EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA%
Real gdp per capita pppGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%
Agriculture products: wheat, barley, maize, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor forceTotal: 22,891 of which 13,847 are foreigners; 8,231 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day
By occupation industry trade andbuilding: 46%
By occupation services: 52%
By occupation agriculture fishing forestry andhorticulture: 2% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1997)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $455 million
Expenditures: $435 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1996 est.)
Public debtTaxes and other revenuesRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Current account balanceInflation 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:$2.47 billion (1996)
Commodoties: small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery
Partners: EU and EFTA countries 60.57% (Switzerland 15.7%) (1995)
Imports: total value:$917.3 million (1996)
Commodoties: machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Partners: EU countries, Switzerland (1996)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $0 (1996)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1: 1.4757 (January 1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993)
top of pageElectricity accessElectricity production: 150 million kWh (1995)
Electricity consumptionPer capita: 8,000 kWh (1995 est.)
Electricity exportsElectricity importsElectricity installed generating capacityElectricity transmission distribution lossesElectricity generation sourcesPetroleumRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones fixed linesTelephones mobile cellularTelephone system: automatic telephone system
Domestic: NA
International: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay
Broadcast mediaInternet country codeInternet usersBroadband 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
Airports with paved runwaysAirports with unpaved runwaysHeliportsPipelinesRailwaysTotal: 18.5 km; note_owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways
Standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: claims 1,600 km² of territory in the Czech Republic confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February 1948, when the communists seized power
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs