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.

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

47 16 N, 9 32 E

Europe

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

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

hydroelectric potential, arable land

0 sq km (2012)

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

avalanches, landslides

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

Liechtensteiner 65.6%, Swiss 9.6%, Austrian 5.8%, German 4.5%, Italian 3.1%, other 11.4% (2021 est.)

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.)

0.68% (2025 est.)

10.31 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

8.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

4.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

5,000 VADUZ (capital) (2018)

31.3 years (2017)

1.69 children born/woman (2025 est.)

0.75 (2025 est.)

1.3 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

64.7% (2020 est.)

2.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

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

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

constitutional monarchy

11 communes (<em>Gemeinden</em>, singular - <em>Gemeinde</em>); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

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

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

Democrats for Liechtenstein (Demokraten pro Liechtenstein) or DpL <br>Fatherland Union (Vaterlaendische Union) or VU <br>Progressive Citizens' Party (Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei) or FBP <br>The Free List (Die Freie Liste) or FL <br>The Independents (Die Unabhaengigen) or DU 

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

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 Day, 15 August (1940)

<strong>description:</strong> two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red, with a gold crown on the left side of the blue band<br><br><strong>history: </strong>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

princely hat (crown)

blue, red

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&rsquo;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 J&auml;gerndorf

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

$8.395 billion (2024 est.)

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

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

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

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

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

.li

HB

2 (2025)

no regular military forces; National Police of the Principality of Liechtenstein (Landespolizei des F&uuml;rstentums Liechtenstein)