CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Liechtenstein


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!| Background:
 * The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. 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. Shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use of the financial institutions for money laundering. Liechtenstein has, however, implemented new anti-money-laundering legislation and recently concluded a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US.
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!| Location: !| Geographic coordinates: !| Map references: !| Area: water: 0 sq km land: 160 sq km !| Area - comparative: !| Land boundaries: border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km !| Coastline: !| Maritime claims: !| Climate: !| Terrain: !| Elevation extremes: highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m !| Natural resources: !| Land use: permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (2001) !| Irrigated land: !| Natural hazards: !| Environment - current issues: !| Environment - international agreements: signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea !| Geography - note:
 * Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
 * 47 16 N, 9 32 E
 * Europe
 * total: 160 sq km
 * about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
 * total: 76 km
 * 0 km (doubly landlocked)
 * none (landlocked)
 * continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
 * mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
 * lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
 * hydroelectric potential, arable land
 * arable land: 25%
 * NA sq km
 * NA
 * NA
 * party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
 * along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
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!| Population: !| Age structure: 15-64 years: 70.5% (male 11,745; female 11,837) 65 years and over: 11.6% (male 1,598; female 2,292) (2004 est.) !| Median age: male: 38.3 years female: 39.3 years (2004 est.) !| Population growth rate: !| Birth rate: !| Death rate: !| Net migration rate: !| Sex ratio: under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.) !| Infant mortality rate: female: 3.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births !| Life expectancy at birth: male: 75.8 years female: 83.02 years (2004 est.) !| Total fertility rate: !| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: !| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: !| HIV/AIDS - deaths: !| Nationality: adjective: Liechtenstein !| Ethnic groups: !| Religions: !| Languages: !| Literacy: total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%
 * 33,436 (July 2004 est.)
 * 0-14 years: 17.8% (male 2,950; female 3,014)
 * total: 38.8 years
 * 0.86% (2004 est.)
 * 10.65 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 6.94 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 4.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * at birth: 1 male(s)/female
 * total: 4.77 deaths/1,000 live births
 * total population: 79.4 years
 * 1.51 children born/woman (2004 est.)
 * NA
 * NA
 * NA
 * noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
 * Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%
 * Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)
 * German (official), Alemannic dialect
 * definition: age 10 and over can read and write
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!| Country name: conventional short form: Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein !| Government type: !| Capital: !| Administrative divisions: !| Independence: !| National holiday: !| Constitution: !| Legal system: !| Suffrage: !| Executive branch: elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch head of government: Head of Government Otmar HASLER (since 5 April 2001) and Deputy Head of Government Rita KIEBER-BECK (since 5 April 2001) !| Legislative branch: election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 49.90%, VU 41.35%, FL 8.71%; seats by party - FBP 13, VU 11, FL 1 elections: last held 11 February 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005) !| Judicial branch: !| Political parties and leaders: !| Political pressure groups and leaders: !| International organization participation: !| Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery: 1300 Eye Street NW, Suite 550W, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 216-0460 FAX: [1] (202) 216-0459 !| Diplomatic representation from the US: !| Flag description:
 * conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
 * hereditary constitutional monarchy on a democratic and parliamentary basis
 * Vaduz
 * 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
 * 23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
 * Assumption Day, 15 August
 * 5 October 1921
 * local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
 * 18 years of age; universal
 * chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968) note - on 15 August 2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state
 * unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
 * Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht
 * Patriotic Union (was Fatherland Union) or VU [Heinz FROMMELT]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Johannes MATT]; The Free List or FL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, Elisabeth TELLENBACH-FRICK, Adolf RITTER]
 * NA
 * CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO
 * chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
 * the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein
 * two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band
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!| Economy - overview: !| GDP: !| GDP - real growth rate: !| GDP - per capita: !| GDP - composition by sector: industry: 40% services: NA (1999) !| Population below poverty line: !| Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%: NA !| Inflation rate (consumer prices): !| Labor force: !| Labor force - by occupation: !| Unemployment rate: !| Budget: expenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1998 est.) !| Agriculture - products: !| Industries: !| Industrial production growth rate: !| Exports: !| Exports - commodities: !| Exports - partners: !| Imports: !| Imports - commodities: !| Imports - partners: !| Debt - external: !| Economic aid - recipient: !| Currency: !| Currency code: !| Exchange rates: !| Fiscal year:
 * Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and living standards on a par with its large European neighbors. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.
 * purchasing power parity - $825 million (1999 est.)
 * 11% (1999 est.)
 * purchasing power parity - $25,000 (1999 est.)
 * agriculture: NA
 * NA
 * lowest 10%: NA
 * 1% (2001)
 * 29,000 of whom 19,000 are foreigners; 13,000 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (31 December 2001)
 * agriculture 1.3%, industry 47.4%, services 51.3% (31 December 2001 est.)
 * 1.3% (September 2002)
 * revenues: $424.2 million
 * wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
 * electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments
 * NA
 * $2.47 billion (1996)
 * small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
 * EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7%
 * $917.3 million (1996)
 * agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
 * EU, Switzerland
 * $0 (2001)
 * none
 * Swiss franc (CHF)
 * CHF
 * Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999)
 * calendar year
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!| Telephones - main lines in use: !| Telephones - mobile cellular: !| Telephone system: domestic: NA international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay !| Radio broadcast stations: !| Radios: !| Television broadcast stations: !| Televisions: !| Internet country code: !| Internet hosts: !| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): !| Internet users:
 * 19,900 (2002)
 * 11,400 (2002)
 * general assessment: automatic telephone system
 * AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
 * 21,000 (1997)
 * NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
 * 12,000 (1997)
 * .li
 * 3,727 (2004)
 * 44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)
 * 20,000 (2002)
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!| Highways: paved: 250 km unpaved: 0 km !| Waterways: !| Pipelines: !| Ports and harbors: !| Airports:
 * total: 250 km
 * 28 km (2004)
 * gas 20 km (2004)
 * none
 * none (2003 est.)
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!| Military - note:
 * defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
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