ARCHIVE // LI // 2002

Liechtenstein

2002 Edition — sovereign

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Communications
Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]
44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)
Internet country code [time series]
.li
Internet users [time series]
NA
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]
general assessment: 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]
20,072 (2000)
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)
Economy
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]
Swiss franc (CHF)
Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]
CHF
Debt - external [time series]
$0 (1996) (2001)
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. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and easy incorporation rules have induced a large number of 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]
313.45 million kWh NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports [time series]
NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports [time series]
232.847 million kWh NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: NA% other: NA% 2% (2001) hydro: NA% 98% nuclear: NA%
Exchange rates [time series]
Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.6668 (January 2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997)
Exports [time series]
$2.47 billion (1996)
Exports - commodities [time series]
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
Exports - partners [time series]
EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7%
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% 40% services: NA% (1999)
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]
agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Imports - partners [time series]
EU countries, Switzerland
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
1% (2001)
Labor force [time series]
28,783 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 48%, services 51%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 1% (37256 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
1.3% (1999)
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 160 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 (doubly 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, Desertification, 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 16 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 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (1998 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
Government
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 short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
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]
chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE chancery: 1300 Eye Street NW, Suite 550W, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 216-0460 FAX: [1] (202) 216-0459
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, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968) 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 cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch head of government: Head of Government Otmar HASLER (since 5 April 2001) and Deputy Head of Government Rita KIEBER-BECK (since 5 April 2001)
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 on a democratic and parliamentary basis
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, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTrO
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht
Legal system [time series]
local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms) election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 49.90%, VU 41.35%, FL 8.71%; seats by party - FBP 13, VU 11, FL 1 elections: last held 11 February 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005)
National holiday [time series]
Assumption Day, 15 August
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Heinz FROMMELT]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Johannes MATT]; The Free List or FL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, Karin JENNY, Rene HASLER]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
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. However, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use of the financial institutions for money laundering.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 3,003; female 3,001) 15-64 years: 70.5% (male 11,530; female 11,639) 65 years and over: 11.2% (male 1,494; female 2,175) (2002 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
11.24 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate [time series]
6.76 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
4.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Languages [time series]
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 79.1 years female: 82.74 years (2002 est.) male: 75.47 years
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]
4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Population [time series]
32,842 (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0.94% (2002 est.)
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.5 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of land in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918
Illicit drugs [time series]
multilateral organizations engaged in issuing international guidelines for financial sector oversight found gaps in Liechtenstein's financial services controls that made it vulnerable to money laundering, but Liechtenstein has become less attractive as a haven for illicit funds, based on implementation in 2001 of new anti-money-laundering legislation and improved mutual legal assistance cooperation with other countries
Transportation
Airports [time series]
none (2001)
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 standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified) note: owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways (2001)
Waterways [time series]
none