Switzerland vs. Liechtenstein
Introduction
| Switzerland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two world wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
| 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. |
Geography
| Switzerland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy | Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland |
| Geographic coordinates | 47 00 N, 8 00 E | 47 16 N, 9 32 E |
| Map references | Europe | Europe |
| Area | total: 41,277 sq km land: 39,997 sq km water: 1,280 sq km | total: 160 sq km land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey | about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC |
| Land boundaries | total: 1,770 km border countries (5): Austria 158 km, France 525 km, Italy 698 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 348 km | total: 75 km border countries (2): Austria 34 km, Switzerland 41 km |
| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | 0 km (doubly landlocked) |
| Maritime claims | none (landlocked) | none (landlocked) |
| Climate | temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers | continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers |
| Terrain | mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes | mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m mean elevation: 1,350 m | highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m |
| Natural resources | hydropower potential, timber, salt | hydroelectric potential, arable land |
| Land use | agricultural land: 38.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 10.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 27.9% (2018 est.) forest: 31.5% (2018 est.) other: 29.8% (2018 est.) | 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.) |
| Irrigated land | 630 sq km (2012) | 0 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | avalanches, landslides; flash floods | avalanches, landslides |
| Environment - current issues | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from agricultural fertilizers; chemical contaminants and erosion damage the soil and limit productivity; loss of biodiversity | some air pollution generated locally, some transfered from surrounding countries |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | 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 |
| Geography - note | landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps | along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation |
| Total renewable water resources | 53.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | population distribution corresponds to elevation with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement | most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River |
Demographics
| Switzerland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,453,550 (July 2021 est.) | 39,425 (July 2021 est.) note: immigrants make up 67% of the total population, according to UN data (2019) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 15.34% (male 664,255/female 625,252) 15-24 years: 10.39% (male 446,196/female 426,708) 25-54 years: 42.05% (male 1,768,245/female 1,765,941) 55-64 years: 13.48% (male 569,717/female 563,482) 65 years and over: 18.73% (male 699,750/female 874,448) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 15.2% (male 3,259/female 2,688) 15-24 years: 11.29% (male 2,238/female 2,181) 25-54 years: 40.22% (male 7,869/female 7,872) 55-64 years: 14.41% (male 2,711/female 2,930) 65 years and over: 18.88% (male 3,403/female 3,986) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 42.7 years male: 41.7 years female: 43.7 years (2020 est.) | total: 43.7 years male: 42 years female: 45.3 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 0.65% (2021 est.) | 0.73% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 10.41 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 10.35 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 8.44 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 7.89 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | 4.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 4.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.26 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.21 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 3.64 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.49 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 83.03 years male: 80.71 years female: 85.49 years (2021 est.) | total population: 82.36 years male: 80.11 years female: 85.19 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 1.58 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 1.69 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.2% (2020) | NA |
| Nationality | noun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss | noun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: Liechtenstein |
| Ethnic groups | Swiss 69.3%, German 4.2%, Italian 3.2%, Portuguese 2.5%, French 2.1%, Kosovo 1.1%, Turkish 1%, other 16.6% (2019 est.) note: data represent permanent and non-permanent resident population by country of birth | Liechtensteiner 65.8%, Swiss 9.6%, Austrian 5.9%, German 4.4%, Italian 3.1%, other 11.2% (2019 est.) note: data represent population by nationality |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 17,000 (2020) note: estimate does not include children | NA |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 34.4%, Protestant 22.5%, other Christian 5.7%, Muslim 5.5%, other 1.6%, none 29.5%, unspecified 0.8% (2019 est.) | Roman Catholic (official) 73.4%, Protestant Reformed 6.3%, Muslim 5.9%, Christian Orthodox 1.3%, Lutheran 1.2%, other Protestant .7%, other Christian .3%, other .8%, none 7%, unspecified 3.3% (2015 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | <200 (2020) note: estimate does not include children | NA |
| Languages | German (or Swiss German) (official) 62.1%, French (official) 22.8%, Italian (official) 8%, English 5.7%, Portuguese 3.5%, Albanian 3.3%, Serbo-Croatian 2.3%, Spanish 2.3%, Romansh (official) 0.5%, other 7.9%; note - German, French, Italian, and Romansh are all national and official languages; shares sum to more than 100% because respondents could indicate more than one main language (2019 est.) major-language sample(s): Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | 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. |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 16 years male: 17 years female: 16 years (2018) | total: 15 years male: 16 years female: 14 years (2018) |
| Education expenditures | 5.1% of GDP (2017) | 2.6% of GDP (2011) |
| Urbanization | urban population: 74% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 14.5% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: total: 100% of population unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: total: 98% of population unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017) |
| Major cities - population | 1.408 million Zurich, 434,000 BERN (capital) (2021) | 5,000 VADUZ (capital) (2018) |
| Mother's mean age at first birth | 30.7 years (2019 est.) | 31.3 years (2017) |
Government
| Switzerland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: Swiss Confederation conventional short form: Switzerland local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German); Confederation Suisse (French); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian); Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh) local short form: Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera (Italian); Svizra (Romansh) abbreviation: CH etymology: name derives from the canton of Schwyz, one of the founding cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy that formed in the 14th century | conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein etymology: named after the Liechtenstein dynasty that purchased and united the counties of Schellenburg and Vaduz and that was allowed by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1719 to rename the new property after their family; the name in German means "light (bright) stone" |
| Government type | federal republic (formally a confederation) | constitutional monarchy |
| Capital | name: Bern geographic coordinates: 46 55 N, 7 28 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: origin of the name is uncertain, but may derive from a 2nd century B.C. Celtic place name, possibly "berna" meaning "cleft," that was subsequently adopted by a Roman settlement | name: Vaduz geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: may be a conflation from the Latin "vallis" (valley) and the High German "diutisk" (meaning "German") to produce "Valdutsch" (German valley), which over time simplified and came to refer specifically to Vaduz, the town |
| Administrative divisions | 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Berne/Bern, Fribourg/Freiburg, Geneve (Geneva), Glarus, Graubuenden/Grigioni/Grischun, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais/Wallis, Vaud, Zug, Zuerich note: 6 of the cantons - Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden, Obwalden - are referred to as half cantons because they elect only one member (instead of two) to the Council of States and, in popular referendums where a majority of popular votes and a majority of cantonal votes are required, these 6 cantons only have a half vote | 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz |
| Independence | 1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation) | 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 holiday | Founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291; note - since 1 August 1891 celebrated as Swiss National Day | National Day, 15 August (1940); note - a National Day was originally established in 1940 to combine celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) with those honoring the birthday of former Prince FRANZ JOSEF II (1906-1989) whose birth fell on 16 August; after the prince's death, National Day became the official national holiday by law in 1990 |
| Constitution | history: previous 1848, 1874; latest adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, effective 1 January 2000 amendments: proposed by the two houses of the Federal Assembly or by petition of at least one hundred thousand voters (called the "federal popular initiative"); passage of proposals requires majority vote in a referendum; following drafting of an amendment by the Assembly, its passage requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and approval by the majority of cantons; amended many times, last in 2018 | history: previous 1862; latest adopted 5 October 1921 amendments: proposed by Parliament, by the reigning prince (in the form of "Government" proposals), by petition of at least 1,500 qualified voters, or by at least four communes; passage requires unanimous approval of Parliament members in one sitting or three-quarters majority vote in two successive sittings; referendum required only if petitioned by at least 1,500 voters or by at least four communes; passage by referendum requires absolute majority of votes cast; amended many times, last in 2020 |
| Legal system | civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts, except for federal decrees of a general obligatory character | civil law system influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German law |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2021); Vice President Ignazio CASSIS (since 1 January 2021); note - the Federal Council, which is comprised of 7 federal councillors, constitutes the federal government of Switzerland; council members rotate the 1-year term of federal president head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2021; Vice President Ignazio CASSIS (since 1 January 2021) cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) indirectly elected by the Federal Assembly for a 4-year term elections/appointments: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term; election last held on 11 December 2019 (next to be held in December 2020) election results: Guy PARMELIN elected president; Federal Assembly vote - 192 of 205; Ignazio CASSIS elected vice president; Federal Assembly vote - 162 of 199 | chief of state: Prince HANS-ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers on 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent and Regent of Liechtenstein Prince ALOIS (son of the monarch, born 11 June 1968); note - 15 August 2004, HANS-ADAM II transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS-ADAM II retains status of chief of state head of government: Prime Minister Daniel RISCH; Deputy Prime Minister Sabine MONAUNI (both since 25 March 2021) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Parliament usually appointed the head of government by the monarch, and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition government |
| Legislative branch | description: description: bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblée Fédérale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of: Council of States or Ständerat (in German), Conseil des États (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats; members in multi-seat constituencies representing cantons and single-seat constituencies representing half cantons directly elected by simple majority vote except Jura and Neuchatel cantons which use proportional representation vote; member term governed by cantonal law) National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats; 195 members in cantons directly elected by proportional representation vote and 6 in half cantons directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms) (e.g. 2019) elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons on 20 October 2019 (each canton determines when the next election will be held) National Council - last held on 20 October 2019 (next to be held in 2023) (e.g. 2019) election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CVP 13, FDP 12, SDP 9, Green Party 5, other 1; composition - NA National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 25.6%, SP 16.8%, FDP 15.1%, Green Party 13.2%, CVP 11.4%, GLP 7.8%, other 10.1%; seats by party - SVP 53, SP 39, FDP 29, Green Party 28, CVP 25, GLP 16, other 10; composition - men 116, women 84, percent of women 42% (e.g. 2019) | description: unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members directly elected in 2 multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 7 February 2021 (next to be held in February 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 35.9%, VU 35.9%, FL 12.9%, DpL 11.1%, independent 4.2%; seats by party - FBP 10, VU 10, FL 3, DpL 2; composition - men 18, women 7, percent of women 28% |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Federal Supreme Court (consists of 38 justices and 19 deputy justices organized into 7 divisions) judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Federal Assembly for 6-year terms; note - judges are affiliated with political parties and are elected according to linguistic and regional criteria in approximate proportion to the level of party representation in the Federal Assembly subordinate courts: Federal Criminal Court (established in 2004); Federal Administrative Court (established in 2007); note - each of Switzerland's 26 cantons has its own courts | highest courts: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 5 judges); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgericht (consists of 5 judges and 5 alternates) judge selection and term of office: judges of both courts elected by the Landtag and appointed by the monarch; Supreme Court judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed for renewable 5-year terms subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Obergericht (second instance), Court of Justice (first instance), Administrative Court, county courts |
| Political parties and leaders | Free Democratic Party or FDP.The Liberals (FDP.Die Liberalen, PLR.Les Liberaux-Radicaux, PLR.I Liberali, Ils Liberals) [Petra GOESSI] Green Liberal Party (Gruenliberale Partei or GLP, Parti vert liberale or PVL, Partito Verde-Liberale or PVL, Partida Verde Liberale or PVL) [Juerg GROSSEN] Green Party (Gruene Partei der Schweiz or Gruene, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Regula RYTZ] Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SP, Parti Socialiste Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Christian LEVRAT] Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica di Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Albert ROESTI] other minor parties The Center (Die Mitte, Alleanza del Centro, Le Centre, Allianza dal Center) [Gerhard PFISTER] (merger of the Christian Democratic People's Party and the Conservative Democratic Party) | Fatherland Union (Vaterlaendische Union) or VU [Guenther FRITZ] Progressive Citizens' Party (Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei) or FBP [Thomas BANZER] The Free List (Die Freie Liste) or FL [Pepo FRICK and Conny BUECHEL BRUEHWILER] The Independents (Die Unabhaengigen) or DU [Harry QUADERER] |
| International organization participation | ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC | 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 |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Jacques PITTELOUD (since 16 September 2019) chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20007-4105 telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900 FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564 email address and website: washington@eda.admin.ch https://www.eda.admin.ch/washington consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Francisco consulate(s): Boston | chief of mission: Ambassador Kurt JAEGER (since 16 September 2016) chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590 FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221 email address and website: info@embassyli.org https://www.liechtensteinusa.org/ |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Eva Weigold SCHULTZ (since 17 January 2021) note - also accredited to Liechtenstein embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern mailing address: 5110 Bern Place, Washington DC 20521-5110 telephone: [41] (031) 357-70-11 FAX: [41] (031) 357-73-20 email address and website: https://ch.usembassy.gov/ | embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein |
| Flag description | red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag; various medieval legends purport to describe the origin of the flag; a white cross used as identification for troops of the Swiss Confederation is first attested at the Battle of Laupen (1339) note: in 1863, a newly formed international relief organization convening in Geneva, Switzerland sought to come up with an identifying flag or logo, they chose the inverse of the Swiss flag - a red cross on a white field - as their symbol; today that organization is known throughout the world as the International Red Cross | 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 |
| National anthem | lyrics/music: Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French], Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS [Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG the Swiss anthem has four names: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm) note: unofficially adopted 1961, officially 1981; the anthem has been popular in a number of Swiss cantons since its composition (in German) in 1841; translated into the other three official languages of the country (French, Italian, and Romansch), it is official in each of those languages | name: "Oben am jungen Rhein" (High Above the Young Rhine) lyrics/music: Jakob Joseph JAUCH/Josef FROMMELT note: adopted 1850, revised 1963; uses the tune of "God Save the Queen" |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| National symbol(s) | Swiss cross (white cross on red field, arms equal length); national colors: red, white | princely hat (crown); national colors: blue, red |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Switzerland dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 12 years including at least 3 of the last 5 years prior to application | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Liechtenstein; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years |
Economy
| Switzerland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | Switzerland, a country that espouses neutrality, is a prosperous and modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP among the highest in the world. Switzerland's economy benefits from a highly developed service sector, led by financial services, and a manufacturing industry that specializes in high-technology, knowledge-based production. Its economic and political stability, transparent legal system, exceptional infrastructure, efficient capital markets, and low corporate tax rates also make Switzerland one of the world's most competitive economies. The Swiss have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to gain access to the Union's Single Market and enhance the country's international competitiveness. Some trade protectionism remains, however, particularly for its small agricultural sector. The fate of the Swiss economy is tightly linked to that of its neighbors in the euro zone, which purchases half of Swiss exports. The global financial crisis of 2008 and resulting economic downturn in 2009 stalled demand for Swiss exports and put Switzerland into a recession. During this period, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) implemented a zero-interest rate policy to boost the economy, as well as to prevent appreciation of the franc, and Switzerland's economy began to recover in 2010. The sovereign debt crises unfolding in neighboring euro-zone countries, however, coupled with economic instability in Russia and other Eastern European economies drove up demand for the Swiss franc by investors seeking a safehaven currency. In January 2015, the SNB abandoned the Swiss franc's peg to the euro, roiling global currency markets and making active SNB intervention a necessary hallmark of present-day Swiss monetary policy. The independent SNB has upheld its zero interest rate policy and conducted major market interventions to prevent further appreciation of the Swiss franc, but parliamentarians have urged it to do more to weaken the currency. The franc's strength has made Swiss exports less competitive and weakened the country's growth outlook; GDP growth fell below 2% per year from 2011 through 2017. In recent years, Switzerland has responded to increasing pressure from neighboring countries and trading partners to reform its banking secrecy laws, by agreeing to conform to OECD regulations on administrative assistance in tax matters, including tax evasion. The Swiss Government has also renegotiated its double taxation agreements with numerous countries, including the US, to incorporate OECD standards. | Despite its small size and lack of natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial services sector and one of the highest per capita income levels in the world. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the services sector. Low business taxes - a flat tax of 12.5% on income is applied - and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated EU. As of 2015, 54% of Liechtenstein's workforce consisted of cross-border commuters, largely from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Since 2008, Liechtenstein has faced renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany and the US - to improve transparency in its banking and tax systems. In December 2008, Liechtenstein signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the US. Upon Liechtenstein's conclusion of 12 bilateral information-sharing agreements, the OECD in October 2009 removed the principality from its "grey list" of countries that had yet to implement the organization's Model Tax Convention. By the end of 2010, Liechtenstein had signed 25 Tax Information Exchange Agreements or Double Tax Agreements. In 2011, Liechtenstein joined the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel across 26 European countries. In 2015, Liechtenstein and the EU agreed to clamp down on tax fraud and evasion and in 2018 will start automatically exchanging information on the bank accounts of each other's residents. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $588.472 billion (2019 est.) $583.056 billion (2018 est.) $567.448 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $4.978 billion (2014 est.) $3.2 billion (2009 est.) $3.216 billion (2008 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate | 1.11% (2019 est.) 3.04% (2018 est.) 1.65% (2017 est.) | 1.8% (2012 est.) -0.5% (2011 est.) 3.1% (2007 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $68,628 (2019 est.) $68,479 (2018 est.) $67,139 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $139,100 (2009 est.) $90,100 (2008 est.) $91,300 (2007 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 0.7% (2017 est.) industry: 25.6% (2017 est.) services: 73.7% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 7% (2014) industry: 41% (2014) services: 52% (2014) |
| Population below poverty line | 16% (2018 est.) | NA |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 7.5% highest 10%: 19% (2007) | lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 0.3% (2019 est.) 0.9% (2018 est.) 0.5% (2017 est.) | -0.4% (2016 est.) -0.2% (2013) |
| Labor force | 5.067 million (2020 est.) | 38,520 (2012) (2015 est.) note: 51% of the labor force in Liechtenstein commute daily from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 3.3% industry: 19.8% services: 76.9% (2015) | agriculture: 0.8% industry: 36.9% services: 62.3% (2015) |
| Unemployment rate | 2.31% (2019 est.) 2.55% (2018 est.) | 2.4% (2015) 2.4% (2014) |
| Budget | revenues: 242.1 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 234.4 billion (2017 est.) note: includes federal, cantonal, and municipal budgets | revenues: 995.3 million (2012 est.) expenditures: 890.4 million (2011 est.) |
| Industries | machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals | electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments |
| Industrial production growth rate | 3.4% (2017 est.) | NA |
| Agriculture - products | milk, sugar beet, wheat, potatoes, pork, barley, apples, maize, beef, grapes | wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products |
| Exports | $443.997 billion (2019 est.) $444.605 billion (2018 est.) $430.129 billion (2017 est.) note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland | $3.217 billion (2015 est.) $3.774 billion (2014 est.) note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland |
| Exports - commodities | gold, packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, watches, jewelry (2019) | small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products |
| Imports | $344.477 billion (2019 est.) $344.557 billion (2018 est.) $343.367 billion (2017 est.) | $2.23 billion (2014 est.) note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland |
| Imports - commodities | gold, packaged medicines, jewelry, cars, medical cultures/vaccines (2019) | agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles |
| Debt - external | $1,909,446,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,930,819,000,000 (2018 est.) | $0 (2015 est.) note: public external debt only; private external debt unavailable |
| Exchange rates | Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 0.88995 (2020 est.) 0.98835 (2019 est.) 0.99195 (2018 est.) 0.9627 (2014 est.) 0.9152 (2013 est.) | Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 0.9875 (2017 est.) 0.9852 (2016 est.) 0.9852 (2015 est.) 0.9627 (2014 est.) 0.9152 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $731.502 billion (2019 est.) | $6.672 billion (2014 est.) |
| Credit ratings | Fitch rating: AAA (2000) Moody's rating: Aaa (1982) Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1988) | Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1996) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 76.6 (2020) Starting a Business score: 88.4 (2020) Trading score: 96.1 (2020) Enforcement score: 64.1 (2020) | Overall score: 64.8 (2020) Starting a Business score: 73 (2020) Trading score: 96.1 (2020) Enforcement score: 59.8 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 35.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 14.9% (of GDP) (2012 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | 1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 1.6% (of GDP) (2012 est.) |
Energy
| Switzerland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 59.01 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 68.43 million kWh (2015 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 58.46 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 393.6 million kWh (2015 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 30.17 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2015 est.) (2015 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 34.1 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 325.2 million kWh (2015 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) |
Telecommunications
| Switzerland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 3,102,504 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37.19 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 13,727 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35.34 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 10,829,031 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129.79 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 47,748 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122.92 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .ch | .li |
| Internet users | total: 7,437,820 percent of population: 89.69% (July 2018 est.) | total: 37,815 percent of population: 98.1% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: Switzerland emerged as a European leader for 1Gb/s fiber broadband, complemented by 5G to 97% of the population; competitive market buttressed by regulator assurances of 5G-compatible network infrastructure; although not a member of the EU, Switzerland follows the EU's telecom framework and regulations; Zurich is being developed as a smart city (2021) (2020) domestic: ranked among leading countries for fixed-line teledensity and infrastructure; fixed-line 36 per 100 and mobile-cellular subscribership 127 per 100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks (2019) international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: automatic telephone system; 44 Internet service providers in Liechtenstein and Switzerland combined; FttP (fiber to the home) penetration marketed 3rd highest in EU; fiber network reaches 3/4 of the population (2020) domestic: fixed-line 37 per 100 and mobile-cellular services 127 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 4,029,445 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48.3 (2019 est.) | total: 17,173 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44.21 (2019 est.) |
| Broadcast media | the publicly owned radio and TV broadcaster, Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SSR), operates 8 national TV networks, 3 broadcasting in German, 3 in French, and 2 in Italian; private commercial TV stations broadcast regionally and locally; TV broadcasts from stations in Germany, Italy, and France are widely available via multi-channel cable and satellite TV services; SRG/SSR operates 17 radio stations that, along with private broadcasters, provide national to local coverage ) (2019) | relies on foreign terrestrial and satellite broadcasters for most broadcast media services; first Liechtenstein-based TV station established August 2008; Radio Liechtenstein operates multiple radio stations; a Swiss-based broadcaster operates one radio station in Liechtenstein |
Transportation
| Switzerland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Railways | total: 5,690 km (includes 19 km in neighboring countries) (2015) standard gauge: 3,836 km 1.435-m gauge (3,634 km electrified) (2015) narrow gauge: 1,630 km 1.200-m gauge (2 km electrified) (includes 19 km in neighboring countries) (2015) 1188 km 1.000-m gauge (1,167.3 km electrified) 36 km 0.800-m gauge (36.4 km electrified) | total: 9 km (2018) standard gauge: 9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified) (2018) note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland |
| Roadways | total: 71,557 km (2017) paved: 71,557 km (includes 1,458 of expressways) (2017) | total: 630 km (2019) |
| Waterways | 1,292 km (there are 1,227 km of waterways on lakes and rivers for public transport and 65 km on the Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee for commercial goods transport) (2010) | 28 km (2010) |
| Pipelines | 1,800 km gas, 94 km oil (of which 60 are inactive), 17 km refined products (2017) | 434.5 km gas (2018) |
| Merchant marine | total: 28 by type: bulk carrier 21, general cargo 3, oil tanker 1, other 3 (includes Liechtenstein) (2020) | total: 28 by type: bulk carrier 21, general cargo 3, oil tanker 1, other 3 (includes Switzerland) (2020) |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | HB | HB |
Military
| Switzerland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe) (2021) | no regular military forces; the National Police is responsible for all matters relating to the safety and security of Liechtenstein (2021) |
Transnational Issues
| Switzerland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | none | none |
| Illicit drugs | a major international financial center vulnerable to the layering and integration stages of money laundering; despite significant legislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist and nonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshore entities and various intermediaries; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and Western European synthetics; domestic cannabis cultivation and limited ecstasy production | has strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector |
Environment
| Switzerland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 10.21 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 34.48 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.98 megatons (2020 est.) | carbon dioxide emissions: 0.05 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 931 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 642.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 160.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 7.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.056 million tons (2016 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,937,920 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 32% (2015 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.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
