Liechtenstein

Map of Liechtenstein

Principality of Liechtenstein

Ruler: Prince Hans Adam II (1989)

Head of Government: Adrian Hasler (2013)

Total area: 62 sq mi (161 sq km)

Population (2013 est.): 37,009 (growth rate: 0.795%); birth rate: 10.76/1000; infant mortality rate: 4.39/1000; life expectancy: 81.5

Capital and largest city (2009 est.): Vaduz, 5,000

Monetary unit: Swiss franc

National name: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein

Current government officials

Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect

Ethnicity/race: Liechtensteiner 65.6%, other 34.4% (2000 census)

Religions: Roman Catholic (official) 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)

National Holiday: Assumption Day, August 15

Literacy rate: 100%

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2009 est.): $3.2 billion; per capita $89,400 (2007). Real growth rate: -0.5 (2007)%. Inflation: 0.3% (2011). Unemployment: 2.8% (2009). Arable land: 25%. Agriculture: wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products. Labor force: 34,330 note: 51% of the labor force in Liechtenstein commute daily from Austria, Switzerland, or Germany (2010) ; industry 40.6%, services 58.6%, agriculture 0.8% (2010). Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments. Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land. Exports: $3.325 billion (2010): small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products. Imports: $1.882 billion (2010): agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles. Major trading partners: EU (Germany, Austria, France, Italy, UK), U.S., Switzerland (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 19,600 (2011); mobile cellular: 37,000 (2011). Broadcast media: 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 several radio stations in Liechtenstein (2008). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 14,278 (2012). Internet users: 23,000 (2009).

Transportation: Railways: total: 9 km; note: owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways (2008). Roadways: total: 380 km; paved: 380 km. Ports and harbors: none. Airports: none.

International disputes: none.

Major sources and definitions

Geography

Tiny Liechtenstein, not quite as large as Washington, DC, lies on the east bank of the Rhine River, south of Lake Constance, between Austria and Switzerland. It consists of low valley land and alpine peaks. Falknis (8,401 ft; 2,561 m) and Naafkopf (8,432 ft; 2,570 m) are the tallest.

Government

Hereditary constitutional monarchy.

History

The Liechtensteiners are descended from the Alemanni tribe that came into the region after A.D. 500. Founded in 1719, Liechtenstein was a member of the German Confederation from 1815 to 1866, when it became an independent principality. It abolished its army in 1868 and has managed to stay neutral and undamaged in all European wars since then. Liechtenstein still claims 1,600 sq km of Czech territory (the royal family's ancestral home) confiscated in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that restitution does not go back before Feb. 1948, when the Communists seized power.

In a referendum on July 1, 1984, male voters granted women the right to vote in national (but not local) elections.

Blacklisted in 2000 as a center for money laundering, Liechtenstein toughened its laws and made major efforts to clean up its financial practices. In 2002, the country was removed from the OECD's (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development) blacklist.

In March 2003, their people overwhelmingly voted to give its prince more power, including the right to dismiss governments and approve judicial nominees. Prince Hans Adam II had threatened to leave the country if his demands for more authority were not met, though he already possessed more power than any other European monarch.

In Aug. 2003 the prince announced that he would give up the day-to-day ruling of the country in one year's time. In Aug. 2004, his son, Prince Alois, 36, became regent of Liechtenstein, while Hans Adam II remained the official head of state.

Klaus Tschuetscher won the absolute majority in parliamentary elections in Jan. 2009. He was sworn in as prime minister in March 2009.

On February 3, 2013, the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) won parliamentary elections with 40% of the vote. Adrian Hasler, FBP's candidate for prime minister, would be sworn in March 2013.

See also Encyclopedia: Liechtenstein.
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Liechtenstein

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Lithuania