Liechtenstein

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Liechtenstein

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name Fürstentum Liechtenstein/Principality of Liechtenstein Area 160 sq km/62 sq mi Capital Vaduz Language German (official), an Alemannic dialect Religion Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 7% Time difference GMT +1 Major holidays 1, 6 January, 2 February, 19 March, 1 May, 15 August, 1 November, 8, 24–26, 31 December; variable: Ascension Thursday, Carnival, Corpus Christi, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Balzers, Schaan, Ruggell, Triesen, Eschen Physical features landlocked Alpine; includes part of Rhine Valley in west Airports the nearest international airport is at Zürich, Switzerland Railways total length: 18.5 km/11.5 mi Roads total road network: 250 km/155 mi, of which 100% paved; passenger cars: 661 per 1,000 people (1999)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state Prince Hans Adam II from 1989 Head of government Otmar Hasler from 2001 Political system liberal democracy Political executive parliamentary Administrative divisions 11 communes Political parties Patriotic Union (VU), conservative; Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), conservative; Free Voters' List (FL) Death penalty abolished in 1987 Armed forces no standing army since 1868; there is a police force of 59 men and 19 auxiliaries Conscription in an emergency Liechtensteiners under the age of 60 are liable to military service


ECONOMY

Currency Swiss franc GDP (US$) 1.14 billion (1999) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 1.5 (1999) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 38,050 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 1% (2004 est) Unemployment 1.3% (2002) Labour force 18% agriculture, 31% industry, 51% services (2004 est) Major trading partners Switzerland and other EFTA countries, EU countries Resources hydro power Industries small machinery, textiles, ceramics, chemicals, furniture, precision instruments, pharmaceutical products, heating appliances, financial services, tourism Exports machinery and transport equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, metal goods. Principal source: Austria 34.2% (2004) Imports machinery and transport equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, metal goods. Principal source: European Economic Area (EEA) 45.4% (1996) Arable land 25% (2006 est) Agricultural products maize, potatoes; cattle rearing and dairy farming


POPULATION

Population 35,300 (2006 est) Population growth rate 0.8% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 221 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 22 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 18%, 15–59 69%, 60+ 13% (2001 est) Ethnic groups indigenous population of Alemannic origin; one-third of the population are foreign-born resident workers (mainly Italian and Turkish) Life expectancy 79 (men); 84 (women) (2000–05) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 5 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 8 Literacy rate 99% (men); 99% (women) (2004 est)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Radios (per 1,000 people) 686 (1997) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 535 (2004 est)


CHRONOLOGY

c. AD 500 Settled by Germanic-speaking Alemanni tribe. 1342 Became a sovereign state. 1434 Present boundaries established. 1719 Former independent lordships of Schellenberg and Vaduz were united by Princes of Liechtenstein to form the present state. 1815–66 A member of the German Confederation. 1868 Abolished standing armed forces. 1871 Liechtenstein was the only German principality to stay outside the newly formed German Empire. 1918 Patriotic Union (VU) party founded, drawing most support from the mountainous south. 1919 Switzerland replaced Austria as the foreign representative of Liechtenstein. 1921 Adopted Swiss currency; constitution created a parliament. 1923 United with Switzerland in customs and monetary union. 1938 Prince Franz Josef II came to power. 1970 Northern-based Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) defeated VU after 42 years as dominant governing party. 1978 Joined Council of Europe. 1984 Franchise extended to women in national elections. 1989 Prince Franz Josef II died; succeeded by Hans-Adam II. 1990 Joined United Nations. 1991 Joined European Free Trade Association. 1993 Mario Frick of VU became Europe's youngest head of government, aged 28. 2001 Otmar Hasler took over as prime minister following FBP election win. 2003 Referendum approved constitutional amendments giving Prince Hans-Adam II wider powers. 2004 Prince Hans-Adam transferred day-to-day administration to son Alois, but remained head of state. 2005 Hasler's FBP formed new coalition with VU after elections.


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