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Liechtenstein Country Guide
Explore Liechtenstein in Europe
The terrain features mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third. The average density of population is approximately 213 per km². The notable climate conditions in Liechtenstein can be described as continental with cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain and cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers. Potential natural disasters are NA.
To reach someone in Liechtenstein dial +423 prior to a number. There are 19,600 installed telephones. And there are 35,000 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of 900/1800 MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".li". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of 230V - 50Hz.
About the flag and history of Liechtenstein
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 Quick-Facts
| Summary | Continent: Europe Neighbours: Switzerland, Austria Capital: Vaduz |
| Size | 160 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 61 square miles (mi² or sqmi) about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC |
| Population | 34,000 |
| Currency | Name Franc, Currency Code:CHF |
| Country Top Level Domain (cTLD) | .li |
| Telephone Country Prefix | +423 |
| Mobile Phone Connections | 35,000 |
| Landline Phone Connections | 19,600 |
Country Position in World Rankings
Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).
Geography
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 160 (sq km) | 219 |
People and Society
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 37,009 | 213 |
| Population growth rate | 0.81 (%) | 134 |
| Birth rate | 10.67 (births/1,000 population) | 182 |
| Death rate | 6.89 (deaths/1,000 population) | 134 |
| Net migration rate | 4.35 (migrant(s)/1,000 population) | 25 |
| Infant mortality rate | 4.36 (deaths/1,000 live births) | 192 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.59 (years) | 12 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.69 (children born/woman) | 171 |
| Education expenditures | 2.10 (% of GDP) | 165 |
Economy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | 3,200,000,000 | 179 |
| GDP - real growth rate | -0.50 (%) | 191 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | 89,400 | 2 |
| Labor force | 35,250 | 202 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.50 (%) | 20 |
| Taxes and other revenues | 25.20 (% of GDP) | 120 |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -1.60 (% of GDP) | 78 |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 0.20 (%) | 6 |
| Exports | 3,760,000,000 | 125 |
| Imports | 2,218,000,000 | 160 |
Communications
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | 19,600 | 191 |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | 37,000 | 203 |
| Internet hosts | 14,278 | 128 |
| Internet users | 23,000 | 189 |
Transportation
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Railways | 9 (km) | 134 |
| Roadways | 380 (km) | 201 |
| Waterways | 28 (km) | 106 |
Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases