Liechtenstein

For other uses, see Lichtenstein (disambiguation).

Principality of Liechtenstein
Fürstentum Liechtenstein (German)
Motto: "Für Gott, Fürst und Vaterland"
"For God, Prince and Fatherland"
Anthem: 
Oben am jungen Rhein
(English: "High on the Young Rhine")
Location of Liechtenstein (green) in Europe (agate grey)  –  [Legend]
Location of Liechtenstein (green)

in Europe (agate grey)  –  [Legend]

Location of Liechtenstein
CapitalVaduz
Largest municipalitySchaan
47°10′00″N 9°30′35″E / 47.16667°N 9.50972°E / 47.16667; 9.50972
Official languagesGerman
Ethnic groups
(2017)[1]
Religion
(2020)[2]
Demonym(s)Liechtensteiner
GovernmentUnitary parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy with elements of a direct democracy
• Monarch
Hans-Adam II
• Regent
Alois
Daniel Risch
LegislatureLandtag
Independence as principality
• Union between
Vaduz and
Schellenberg
23 January 1719
12 July 1806
• Separation from
German Confederation
23 August 1866
Area
• Total
160.50[3] km2 (61.97 sq mi) (190th)
• Water (%)
2.7[4]
Population
• 2023 estimate
Increase 40,015[5] (189th)
• Density
249/km2 (644.9/sq mi) (56th)
GDP (PPP)2014 estimate
• Total
$4.978 billion[6] (176th)
• Per capita
$98,432[7][8][9]
GDP (nominal)2022 estimate
• Total
Decrease $7.365 billion[10]
• Per capita
Decrease $187,267[11]
HDI (2022)Increase 0.942[12]
very high (12th)
CurrencySwiss franc (CHF)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)
UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Drives onright
Calling code+423
ISO 3166 codeLI
Internet TLD.li

Liechtenstein (/ˈlɪktənstaɪn/ LIK-tən-styne;[13] German: [ˈlɪçtn̩ʃtaɪn] ⓘ), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (German: Fürstentum Liechtenstein, [ˈfʏʁstn̩tuːm ˈlɪçtn̩ˌʃtaɪ̯n] ⓘ),[14] is a doubly landlocked German-speaking microstate in the Central European Alps, between Austria in the east and north and Switzerland in the west and south.[15] Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy headed by the prince of Liechtenstein of the House of Liechtenstein, currently led by Hans-Adam II. It is Europe's fourth-smallest country, with an area of just over 160 square kilometres (62 square miles) and a population of 40,023.[16] It is the world's smallest country to border two countries,[17] and is one of the few countries with no debt.[18]

Liechtenstein is divided into 11 municipalities. Its capital is Vaduz, and its largest municipality is Schaan. It is a member of the United Nations, the European Free Trade Association, and the Council of Europe. It is not a member state of the European Union, but it participates in both the Schengen Area and the European Economic Area. It has a customs union and a monetary union with Switzerland, with its usage of the Swiss franc. Politically, a constitutional referendum in 2003 granted the monarch greater powers, after he threatened to leave the country should the referendum fail. These powers include being able to dismiss the government, nominate judges and veto legislation.[19]

Economically, Liechtenstein has one of the highest gross domestic products per person in the world when adjusted for purchasing power parity.[20] The country has a strong financial sector centred in Vaduz. It was once known as a billionaire tax haven, culminating in a tax affair in 2008, but the principality has since made significant efforts to shed this reputation. An Alpine country, Liechtenstein is mountainous, making it a winter sport destination.

  1. ^ Bevölkerungsstatistik 2017 Llv.li, p. 7
  2. ^ "213.001d Ständige Bevölkerung nach Religion, Stichtag und Variable der Einheit". statistikportal.li. Amt Für Statistik Fürstentum Liechtenstein. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Liechtenstein in Figures 2024" (PDF). statistikportal.li. Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung [de]. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  4. ^ Raum, Umwelt und Energie Archived 12 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine Landesverwaltung Liechtenstein. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  5. ^ "Bevölkerungsstand per 31. Dezember 2023". statistikportal.li. Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung [de]. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Liechtenstein". cia.gov. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Amt für Statistik, Landesverwaltung Liechtenstein". Llv.li. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  8. ^ Key Figures for Liechtenstein Archived 17 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine Landesverwaltung Liechtenstein. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  9. ^ World Development Indicators, World Bank. Retrieved 1 July 2012. Note: "PPP conversion factor, GDP (LCU per international $)" and "Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average)" for Switzerland were used.
  10. ^ "GDP (current US$) - Liechtenstein". data.worldbank.org. World Bank. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  11. ^ "GDP per capita (current US$) - Liechtenstein". data.worldbank.org. World Bank. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Human Development Report 2023/2024" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 13 March 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Definition of 'Liechtenstein'". Collins English Dictionary.
  14. ^ Duden Aussprachewörterbuch, s.v. "Liechtenstein[er]".
  15. ^ "IGU regional conference on environment and quality of life in central Europe". GeoJournal. 28 (4): 483. 1992. Bibcode:1992GeoJo..28..483.. doi:10.1007/BF00273120. S2CID 189889904.
  16. ^ [1]. Amt für Statistik. Liechtenstein. 30 June 2019
  17. ^ "The smallest countries in the world by area". www.countries-ofthe-world.com. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  18. ^ "The World Factbook". CIA. Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  19. ^ Osborn, Andrew (17 March 2003). "European prince wins new powers". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  20. ^ CIA – The World Factbook – Country Comparison :: GDP – per capita (PPP) Archived 24 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Cia.gov. Retrieved 24 December 2011.