Liechtenstein

Principality of Liechtenstein

LOCATION

Background: 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.

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
Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: total: 75 km
border countries: 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% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 21.5% (2023 est.)
forest: 36.3% (2023 est.)
other: 31.4% (2023 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

Population: total: 40,547 (2025 est.)
male: 20,215
female: 20,332
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.)
Languages: 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.
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)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 57.6 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 23.9 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 33.6 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 44.4 years (2025 est.)
male: 42.4 years
female: 46.1 years
Population growth rate: 0.68% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.31 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 83 years (2024 est.)
male: 80.7 years
female: 85.8 years
Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.75 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.3 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access: improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: NA
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 64.7% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure: 2.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years (2021 est.)
male: 16 years (2021 est.)
female: 14 years (2021 est.)

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: agricultural land: 32.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 21.5% (2023 est.)
forest: 36.3% (2023 est.)
other: 31.4% (2023 est.)
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: 32,400 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 64.6% (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

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
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: washington@llv.lihttps://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)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red, with a gold crown on the left side of the blue bandhistory: 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 added 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"

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): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $7.172 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $7.031 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $6.885 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $210,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $201,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $187,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $8.395 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 0.6% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: -0.7% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.2% (2022 est.)
industry: 40.6% (2022 est.)
services: 55.6% (2022 est.)
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: Exports 2015: $3.217 billion (2015 est.)
Exports 2014: $3.774 billion (2014 est.)
Exports - commodities: small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware
Imports - commodities: agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Exchange rates: Currency: Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 0.88 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 0.898 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 0.955 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 0.914 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 0.939 (2020 est.)

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

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 10,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 51,400 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2024 est.)
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
Internet country code: .li
Internet users: percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 20,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HB
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Railways: total: 9 km (2018)
standard gauge: 9 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
Merchant marine: total: 17 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 14, general cargo 1, other 2 (includes Switzerland)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 875 (2024 est.)