Background: 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.

Geographic coordinates: 47 10 N 9 32 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington DC

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

Natural resources: hydroelectric potential arable land

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: NA

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

Population: 32,207 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 1.02% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

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)

Population growth rate: 1.02% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 11.83 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 6.64 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: 5.03 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

Environment
Current issues: NA

Infant mortality rate: 5.07 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

Independence: 23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established; 12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman Empire

National holiday: Assumption Day 15 August

Constitution: 5 October 1921

Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

Legislative branch: unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior Court or Obergericht

Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald KRANZ]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBPL [Norbert SEEGER]; The Free List or FL [Christel HILTI Hansjorg HILTI Helen MARXER Hugo RISCH Margrit WILLE]

International organization participation: CE EBRD ECE EFTA IAEA ICRM IFRCS Intelsat Interpol IOC ITU OPCW OSCE PCA UN UNCTAD UPU WCL WIPO WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In 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 to 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

Economy 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 has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,000 (1998 est.)

Agriculture products: wheat barley corn potatoes; livestock dairy products

Industries: electronics metal manufacturing textiles ceramics pharmaceuticals food products precision instruments tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 22,891 of which 13,847 are foreigners; 8,231 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day
By occupation industry trade and building: 45%
By occupation services: 53%
By occupation agriculture fishing forestry and horticulture: 2% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.8% (February 1999)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 0.5% (1997 est.)

Exports: $2.47 billion (1996)
Commodities: small specialty machinery dental products stamps hardware pottery
Partners: EU and EFTA countries 60.57% (Switzerland 15.7%) (1995)

Imports: $917.3 million (1996)
Commodities: machinery metal goods textiles foodstuffs motor vehicles
Partners: EU countries Switzerland (1996)

Debt external: $0 (1996)

Exchange rates: Swiss francs franken or franchi (SFR) per US$1 - 1.5878 (January 2000) 1.5022 (1999) 1.4498 (1998) 1.4513 (1997) 1.2360 (1996) 1.1825 (1995)

Electricity
Production: 150 million kWh (1995)
Consumption: NA kWh
Exports: NA kWh
Imports: NA kWh

Telephones
Main lines in use: 19,000 (1995)
Mobile cellular: NA

Telephone system: automatic telephone system

Internet
Service providers isps: 115 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (1999)

Airports: none

Disputes international: claims 1600 km² of land 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