Liechtenstein
Country Guide

Explore Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein with its capital Vaduz is located in Europe (Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland). It covers some 161 square kilometers (about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC) with 38,244 citizens. German is the language commonly spoken used by the people in Liechtenstein. Interesting info is sharing borders with Austria and Switzerland.

Liechtenstein is a small alpine German-speaking country doubly landlocked by Switzerland and Austria (it is landlocked by landlocked countries). Liechtenstein boasts a number of attractions that are of interest to visitors. Balzers is a beautiful church and a spectacular gothic castle. The capital (Vaduz) is the main shopping area in the country, with many souvenir stores and assorted restaurants.

Popular Destinations in Liechtenstein

Administrative regions of Liechtenstein

• Balzers
• Eschen
• Gamprin
• Mauren
• Planken
• Ruggell
• Schaan
• Schellenberg
• Triesen
• Triesenberg
• Vaduz

About the country

The landscape is mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third. The average density of population is about 239 per km². The climate in Liechtenstein can be described as continentalcold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain, cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers. Potential threats by nature are avalanches, landslides.

To reach someone Liechtenstein dial +423 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".li". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, J). The sign for the locally used currency Franc is CHF.

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.

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 Germanic 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.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 216)	160	sq km
Land (World Rank: 213)	160	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 98)	18.80	%
Comparative	about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Landborder
75
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 8)	430	m
Highest point (World Rank: 96)	2,599	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 113)	37.60	%
Arable (World Rank: 60)	18.80	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 98)	18.80	%
Map reference
Europe
Environment
Issues	- some air pollution generated locally - some transfered from surrounding countries
Agreement party	- Air Pollution - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides - Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants - Air Pollution-Sulfur 85 - Air Pollution-Sulfur 94 - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds - Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Hazardous Wastes - Ozone Layer Protection - Wetlands
Agreement signed	Law of the Sea
Hazzards	avalanches, landslides
Location
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
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

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 210)	38,244
Deathrate (World Rank: 113)	0.74	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 185)	1.04	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 130)	0.80	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 23)	0.50	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 171)	1.69	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 17)	41.70
Female (World Rank: 20)	44.50
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 211)	3,148
0 14 female (World Rank: 213)	2,689
15 24 male (World Rank: 211)	2,239
15 24 female (World Rank: 211)	2,217
25 54 male (World Rank: 211)	7,956
25 54 female (World Rank: 211)	7,969
55 64 male (World Rank: 207)	2,607
55 64 female (World Rank: 207)	2,760
65 x male (World Rank: 201)	3,058
65 x female (World Rank: 203)	3,601
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 187)	0.42	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 18)	82	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 17)	85	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 16)	80	years

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 201)	68,430,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 173)	393,600,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 86)	325,200,000	kWh

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 152)	3	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 15)	2	% of GDP
National symbol
princely hat
National colours
red
Adjective
Liechtenstein
Noun
Liechtensteiner(s)
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 Germanic 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.
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 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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 175)	4,978,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 144)	1.80	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 1)	139,100	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 111)	7.00	%
Source industry (World Rank: 20)	41.00	%
Source service (World Rank: 164)	52.00	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 197)	38,520
Products
Industries	- ceramics - dental products - electronics - food products - metal manufacturing - optical instruments - pharmaceuticals - precision instruments - tourism
Agriculture	- barley - corn - dairy products - livestock - potatoes - wheat
Exports	- connectors for audio - dental products - electronic equipment - hardware - optical products - parts for motor vehicles - prepared foodstuffs - small specialty machinery - video
Imports	- agricultural products - energy products - foodstuffs - machinery - metal goods - motor vehicles - raw materials - textiles

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 182)	16,600
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 29)	44.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 91)	116.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 198)	37,214
Population (World Rank: 5)	98.10	%

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Transport

Rail
Total length (World Rank: 136)	9.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 202)	380
Paved length (World Rank: 164)	380
Water
Total length (World Rank: 107)	28.00

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