Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

115 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

21,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

19,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

12,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $424.2 million expenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SFR) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi

Debt - external [time series]

$0 (1996)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

none

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - exports [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - imports [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - production [time series]

150 million kWh (1995)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exchange rates [time series]

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)

Exports [time series]

$2.47 billion (1996)

Exports - commodities [time series]

small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery

Exports - partners [time series]

EU and EFTA countries 60.57% (Switzerland 15.7%) (1995)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $730 million (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $23,000 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$917.3 million (1996)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

Imports - partners [time series]

EU countries, Switzerland (1996)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.5% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

22,891 of which 13,847 are foreigners; 8,231 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

industry, trade, and building 45%, services 53%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 2% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

1.8% (February 1999)

Area [time series]

total: 160 sq km land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

NA

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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 signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

47 10 N, 9 32 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 76 km border countries: Austria 35 km, Switzerland 41 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 24% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 16% forests and woodland: 35% other: 25% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

NA

Natural resources [time series]

hydroelectric potential, arable land

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

Administrative divisions [time series]

11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

Capital [time series]

Vaduz

Constitution [time series]

5 October 1921

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein

Data code [time series]

LS

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

Liechtenstein does not have an embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in routine diplomatic matters

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968) head 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 monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band

Government type [time series]

hereditary constitutional monarchy

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior Court or Obergericht

Legal system [time series]

local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Assumption Day, 15 August

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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]

Suffrage [time series]

20 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of Switzerland

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 18% (male 2,970; female 2,988) 15-64 years: 71% (male 11,379; female 11,370) 65 years and over: 11% (male 1,393; female 2,107) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

11.83 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.64 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Alemannic 87.5%, Italian, Turkish, and other 12.5%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

5.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

German (official), Alemannic dialect

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.81 years male: 75.16 years female: 82.47 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1981 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: Liechtenstein

Net migration rate [time series]

5.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

32,207 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.02% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 7.4%, unknown 7.7%, other 4.9% (1996)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.49 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

claims 1,600 sq km 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 [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

none

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 250 km paved: 250 km unpaved: 0 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

total: 18.5 km; note - owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)