Liechtenstein

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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Geography

Location

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Geographic coordinates

47 16 N, 9 32 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total : 160 sq km

land: 160 sq km

water: 0 sq km

comparison ranking: total 219

Area – comparative

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

Land boundaries

total: 75 km

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

Coastline

0 km (doubly 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

Elevation

highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m

Natural resources

hydroelectric potential, arable land

Land use

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.)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2012)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

avalanches, landslides

Geography – note

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

People and Society

Population

total: 40,272 (2024 est.)

male: 20,072

female: 20,200

comparison rankings: total 212; female 213; male 212

Nationality

noun: Liechtensteiner(s)

adjective: Liechtenstein

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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.

German audio sample:

Religions

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.)

Age structure

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)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 56.5 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 23.9 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 32.6 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 3.1 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 44.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 42.4 years

female: 46.1 years

comparison ranking: total 30

Population growth rate

0.69% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 129

Birth rate

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

comparison ranking: 180

Death rate

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

comparison ranking: 81

Net migration rate

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

comparison ranking: 20

Population distribution

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

Urbanization

urban population: 14.6% of total population (2023)

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

Major urban areas – population

5,000 VADUZ (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

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.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

31.3 years (2017)

Infant mortality rate

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

comparison ranking: total 189

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 83 years (2024 est.)

male: 80.7 years

female: 85.8 years

comparison ranking: total population 20

Total fertility rate

1.69 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 168

Gross reproduction rate

0.75 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved:

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Physician density

1.3 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: NA

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

65.2% (2023 est.)

Education expenditure

2.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 169

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years (2021 est.)

male: 16 years (2021 est.)

female: 14 years (2021 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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

International environmental agreements

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

Climate

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

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 14.6% of total population (2023)

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

Waste and recycling

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.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Government

Country name

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”

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Capital

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 Old German dutsch (German) to produce Valdutsch (“German valley”), which was simplified over time to Vaduz

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

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

Constitution

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

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

election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party in Parliament as the head of government, and also appoints the leader of the largest minority party in Parliament as the deputy head of government if there is a coalition government

note: the prince’s successor is his son, Heir Apparent and Regent of Liechtenstein Prince ALOIS; on 15 August 2004, HANS-ADAM II transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but Prince HANS-ADAM II retains the status of chief of state

Legislative branch

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) (7); Democrats for Liechtenstein (DpL) (6); Free List (FL) (2)

percentage of women in chamber: 32%

expected date of next election: February 2029

Judicial branch

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

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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:
[email protected]

https://www.liechtensteinusa.org/

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

International organization participation

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

Independence

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

National holiday

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) on 16 August; after the prince’s death, National Day became the official national holiday in 1990

Flag description

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 used in the principality’s household in the 18th century; the prince’s crown was introduced in 1937 to distinguish it from Haiti’s flag

National symbol(s)

princely hat (crown)

National color(s)

blue, red

National coat of arms

the six motifs on the 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

National anthem(s)

title: “Oben am jungen Rhein” (High Above the Young Rhine)

lyrics/music: Jakob Joseph JAUCH/Josef FROMMELT

history: adopted 1850, revised 1963; uses the tune of the United Kingdom’s anthem, “God Save the King”

Economy

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$7.172 billion (2024 est.)
$7.031 billion (2023 est.)
$6.885 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2015 dollars

comparison ranking: 171

Real GDP per capita

$210,600 (2024 est.)
$201,200 (2023 est.)
$187,700 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2015 dollars

comparison ranking: 2

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.395 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2022 est.)
0.6% (2021 est.)
-0.7% (2020 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 84

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.2% (2022 est.)

industry: 40.6% (2022 est.)

services: 55.6% (2022 est.)

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

comparison rankings: services 119; industry 18; agriculture 199

Agricultural products

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

Industries

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

Exports

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

note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland

comparison ranking: 153

Exports – commodities

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

top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports – commodities

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

Exchange rates

Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
0.88 (2024 est.)
0.898 (2023 est.)
0.955 (2022 est.)
0.914 (2021 est.)
0.939 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

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

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 10,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 188

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 50,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 207

Broadcast media

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