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.
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
border countries (2): Austria 34 km; Switzerland 41 km
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
arable land: 18.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 43.1% (2018 est.)
other: 19.3% (2018 est.)
39,993 (2023 est.)
note: immigrants make up 67% of the total population, according to UN data (2019)
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Liechtensteiner 65.6%, Swiss 9.6%, Austrian 5.8%, German 4.5%, Italian 3.1%, other 11.4% (2021 est.)
note: data represent population by nationality
German 91.5% (official) (Alemannic is the main dialect), Italian 1.5%, Turkish 1.3%, Portuguese 1.1%, other 4.6% (2015 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
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.)
0-14 years: 15.27% (male 3,389/female 2,718)
15-64 years: 64.38% (male 12,800/female 12,947)
65 years and over: 20.35% (2023 est.) (male 3,738/female 4,401)
total dependency ratio: 50.2
youth dependency ratio: 21.8
elderly dependency ratio: 28.3
potential support ratio: 3.5 (2021)
total: 44.1 years (2023 est.)
male: 42.3 years
female: 46 years
0.7% (2023 est.)
10.3 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River
urban population: 14.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
5,000 VADUZ (capital) (2018)
at birth: 1.25 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.25 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
31.3 years (2017)
total: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
total population: 82.8 years (2023 est.)
male: 80.5 years
female: 85.6 years
1.69 children born/woman (2023 est.)
0.75 (2023 est.)
NA
improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020)
NA
NA
improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020)
NA
65.2% (2023 est.)
2.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
total: 15 years
male: 16 years
female: 14 years (2020)
some air pollution generated locally, some carried over from surrounding countries
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Law of the Sea
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
agricultural land: 37.6% (2018 est.)
arable land: 18.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 43.1% (2018 est.)
other: 19.3% (2018 est.)
urban population: 14.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
0% of GDP (2017 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.05 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.)
municipal solid waste generated annually: 32,382 tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 20,919 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 64.6% (2015 est.)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)
municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
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
$4.978 billion (2014 est.)
$3.2 billion (2009 est.)
$3.216 billion (2008 est.)
1.8% (2012 est.)
-0.5% (2011 est.)
3.1% (2007 est.)
$139,100 (2009 est.)
$90,100 (2008 est.)
$91,300 (2007 est.)
$6.672 billion (2014 est.)
-0.4% (2016 est.)
-0.2% (2013)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1996)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
agriculture: 7% (2014)
industry: 41% (2014)
services: 52% (2014)comparison rankings:
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments
NA
38,520 (2015 est.) (2012)
note: 51% of the labor force in Liechtenstein commute daily from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany
2.4% (2015)
2.4% (2014)
NA
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
revenues: $995.3 million (2012 est.)
expenditures: $890.4 million (2011 est.)
1.6% (of GDP) (2012 est.)
14.9% (of GDP) (2012 est.)
calendar year
$3.217 billion (2015 est.)
$3.774 billion (2014 est.)
note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
(2015 est.) NA
$2.23 billion (2014 est.)
note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland
agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
$0 (2015 est.)
note: public external debt only; private external debt unavailable
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.9875 (2017 est.)
0.9852 (2016 est.)
0.9852 (2015 est.)
0.9627 (2014 est.)
0.9152 (2013 est.)
electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
HB
434.5 km gas (2018)
total: 9 km (2018)
standard gauge: 9 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland
total: 630 km (2019)
paved: (2019)
28 km (2010)
total: 20 (2022)
by type: bulk carrier 16, general cargo 1, other 3 (includes Switzerland)
manyapis