Liechtenstein - LI - LIE - LIE - Europe

embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein

0-14 years: 15.3% (male 3,412/female 2,732)

15-64 years: 63.9% (male 12,814/female 12,921)

65 years and over: 20.8% (2024 est.) (male 3,846/female 4,547)

47 16 N, 9 32 E

at birth: 1.26 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.25 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

avalanches, landslides

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, D.C.

The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleonic Wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the German Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into 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. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US that went into effect in 2003.

some air pollution generated locally, some carried over from surrounding countries

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Law of the Sea

small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware

top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

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

no regular military forces; National Police of the Principality of Liechtenstein (Landespolizei des Fürstentums Liechtenstein)

name: Vaduz

geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: may be a conflation from the Latin vallis (valley) and the High German diutisk (meaning "German") to produce Valdutsch ("German valley"), which over time simplified and came to refer specifically to Vaduz, the town

agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

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

0 km (doubly landlocked)

history: previous 1862; latest adopted 5 October 1921

amendment process: proposed by Parliament, by the reigning prince (in the form of "Government" proposals), by petition of at least 1,500 qualified voters, or by at least four communes; passage requires unanimous approval of Parliament members in one sitting or three-quarters majority vote in two successive sittings; referendum required only if petitioned by at least 1,500 voters or by at least four communes; passage by referendum requires absolute majority of votes cast

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
0.898 (2023 est.)
0.955 (2022 est.)
0.914 (2021 est.)
0.939 (2020 est.)
0.994 (2019 est.)

chief of state: Prince HANS-ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers on 26 August 1984)

head of government: Prime Minister Brigitte HAAS (since 10 April 2025)

cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in Parliament usually appointed the head of government by the monarch, and the leader of the largest minority party in Parliament usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition government

note: the prince's successor is Heir Apparent and Regent of Liechtenstein Prince ALOIS (son of the monarch, born 11 June 1968); on 15 August 2004, HANS-ADAM II transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but Prince HANS-ADAM II retains status of chief of state

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band; the colors may derive from the blue and red livery design used in the principality's household in the 18th century; the prince's crown was introduced in 1937 to distinguish the flag from that of Haiti

total: 420 km (2022)

has strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector

23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire); 24 August 1866 (independence from the German Confederation)

electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments

28 km (2010)

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Supreme Court or Fürstlicher Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 5 judges and 5 substitutes); Constitutional Court or Staatsgerichtshof (consists of 5 judges, and 5 alternates)

judge selection and term of office: judges of both courts elected by the Landtag and appointed by the monarch; Supreme Court judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed for renewable 5-year terms

subordinate courts: Court of Appeal (second instance), Regional Court (first instance), Administrative Court, Tribunal Court, district courts

total: 75 km

border countries (2): Austria 34 km; Switzerland 41 km

agricultural land: 32.3% (2022 est.)

arable land: 10.8% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 21.5% (2022 est.)

forest: 41.9% (2022 est.)

other: 25.8% (2022 est.)

civil law system influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German law

legislature name: Diet (Landtag)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 25 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 2/9/2025

parties elected and seats per party: Patriotic Union (VU) (10); Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) (10); Free List (FL) (3); Democrats for Liechtenstein (DpL) (2)

percentage of women in chamber: 32%

expected date of next election: February 2029

none (landlocked)

CD, CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTO

National Day, 15 August (1940); note - a National Day was originally established in 1940 to combine celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) with those honoring the birthday of former Prince FRANZ JOSEF II (1906-1989) whose birth fell on 16 August; after the prince's death, National Day became the official national holiday by law in 1990

noun: Liechtensteiner(s)

adjective: Liechtenstein

hydroelectric potential, arable land

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

high-income European economy; Schengen Area participant; key European financial leader; integrated with Swiss economy and franc currency user; one of the highest GDP per capita countries; relies on US and Eurozone markets for exports

434.5 km gas (2018)

Democrats for Liechtenstein (Demokraten pro Liechtenstein) or DpL 
Fatherland Union (Vaterlaendische Union) or VU 
Progressive Citizens' Party (Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei) or FBP 
The Free List (Die Freie Liste) or FL 
The Independents (Die Unabhaengigen) or DU 

total: 9 km (2018)

standard gauge: 9 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (electrified)

note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland

18 years of age; universal

general assessment: possesses a number of modern communications systems, some of which are shared with the neighboring country of Switzerland (2022)

domestic: fixed-line roughly 30 per 100 and mobile-cellular services 126 per 100 (2021)

international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay

n

mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

constitutional monarchy

conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein

conventional short form: Liechtenstein

local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein

local short form: Liechtenstein

etymology: named after the Liechtenstein family that purchased and united the counties of Schellenburg and Vaduz in 1719; the family name was taken from its Austrian castle of the same name, which in German means "light stone"

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Europe

0 sq km (2012)

chief of mission: Ambassador Georg SPARBER (since 1 December 2021)

chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007

telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590

FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221

email address and website:
washington@llv.li

https://www.liechtensteinusa.org/

percent of population: 97% (2022 est.)

.li

$7.362 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1996)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

total: 15 years

male: 16 years

female: 14 years (2020)

urban population: 14.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

relies on foreign terrestrial and satellite broadcasters for most broadcast media services; first Liechtenstein-based TV station established August 2008; Radio Liechtenstein operates multiple radio stations; a Swiss-based broadcaster operates one radio station in Liechtenstein

name: "Oben am jungen Rhein" (High Above the Young Rhine)

lyrics/music: Jakob Joseph JAUCH/Josef FROMMELT

note: adopted 1850, revised 1963; uses the tune of "God Save the King"

5,000 VADUZ (capital) (2018)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

princely hat (crown); national colors: blue, red

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Liechtenstein; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

HB

Liechtensteiner 65.6%, Swiss 9.6%, Austrian 5.8%, German 4.5%, Italian 3.1%, other 11.4% (2021 est.)

note: data represent population by nationality

Roman Catholic (official) 73.4%, Protestant Reformed 6.3%, Muslim 5.9%, Christian Orthodox 1.3%, Lutheran 1.2%, other Protestant 0.7%, other Christian 0.3%, other 0.8%, none 7%, unspecified 3.3% (2015 est.)

German 91.5% (official, Alemannic is the main dialect), Italian 1.5%, Turkish 1.3%, Portuguese 1.1%, other 4.6% (2015 est.)

major-language sample(s):
Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m

1.3 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

NA

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

total dependency ratio: 50.2

youth dependency ratio: 21.8

elderly dependency ratio: 28.3

potential support ratio: 3.5 (2021)

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020)

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020)

31.3 years (2017)

municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 32,382 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 20,919 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 64.6% (2015 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.05 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)

0.75 (2024 est.)

65.2% (2023 est.)

The six motifs on Liechtenstein‘s coat of arms provide a history of the royal House of Liechtenstein since 1719, when the country was founded. The small shield at the center is the royal family’s gold-and-red coat of arms, the gold-crowned eagle signifies the Silesia family, the diamond wreath represents the Kuenringer family, the red-and-silver shield is the Duchy of Troppau, the black eagle comes from the coat of arms of a family that married into the royal line, and the golden hunting horn represents the Duchy of Jägerndorf.

 

38,520 (2015 est.)

note: 51% of the labor force in Liechtenstein commute daily from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany

4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total: 44.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 42.4 years

female: 46.1 years

1.69 children born/woman (2024 est.)

2.4% (2015)
2.4% (2014)

total: 40,272 (2024 est.)

male: 20,072

female: 20,200

total : 160 sq km

land: 160 sq km

water: 0 sq km

$4.978 billion (2014 est.)

total: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total subscriptions: 50,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2022 est.)

-0.4% (2016 est.)

total: 20,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2023 est.)

8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

10.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total: 17 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 14, general cargo 1, other 2 (includes Switzerland)

NA

$2.23 billion (2014 est.)

note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland

$3.217 billion (2015 est.)
$3.774 billion (2014 est.)

note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland

2 (2025)

total subscriptions: 10,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2023 est.)

total population: 83 years (2024 est.)

male: 80.7 years

female: 85.8 years

4.3% (2014 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

agriculture: 0.2% (2021 est.)

industry: 40.2% (2021 est.)

services: 55.4% (2021 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

0% of GDP (2017 est.)

2.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

0.69% (2024 est.)