Adjacent Words

Liechtenstein definitions

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CIA World Factbook, 2008

Background
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. 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. Shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering legislation over the past several years and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US went into effect in 2003.

Location
total: 160 sq km land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative
total: 76 km border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km

Coastline
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

Natural resources
arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (2005)

Irrigated land
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note
0-14 years: 17.1% (male 2,902/female 2,963) 15-64 years: 70% (male 11,887/female 12,101) 65 years and over: 12.8% (male 1,862/female 2,532) (2007 est.)

Median age
total: 40.1 years male: 39.5 years female: 40.5 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.979 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.982 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.735 male(s)/female total population: 0.946 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate
total: 4.58 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.13 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
total population: 79.81 years male: 76.24 years female: 83.4 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate
noun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: Liechtenstein

Ethnic groups
definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%

Country name
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein

Government type
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

Administrative divisions
chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August 2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state head of government: Head of Government Otmar HASLER (since 5 April 2001); Deputy Head of Government Klaus TSCHUETSCHER (since 21 April 2005) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition government

Legislative branch
elections: last held 11 and 13 March 2005 (next to be held by 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 48.7%, VU 38.2%, FL 13%; seats by party - FBP 12, VU 10, FL 3

Judicial branch
chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590 FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221

Diplomatic representation from the US
agriculture: 6% industry: 39% services: 55% (2001)

Labor force
agriculture: 2% industry: 47% services: 51% (31 December 2001)

Unemployment rate
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)
revenues: $424.2 million expenditures: $414.1 million (1998 est.)

Agriculture - products
general assessment: automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay

Radio broadcast stations
note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland (2006)

Roadways
total: 380 km paved: 380 km (2006)

Waterways
males age 18-49: 7,736 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49: 6,250 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49: 208 (2005 est.)

Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Switzerland

Disputes - international
none

Illicit drugs
has strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a small landlocked principality (constitutional monarchy) in central Europe located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland [syn: Liechtenstein, Principality of Liechtenstein]

Merriam Webster's

geographical name country W Europe between Switzerland & Austria bordering on the Rhine; a principality capital Vaduz area 62 square miles (161 square kilometers), population 28,877 • Liechtensteiner noun

Britannica Concise

Principality, W Europe. It is located between Switzerland and Austria. Area: 62 sq mi (160 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 31,000. Capital: Vaduz. The Liechtensteiners are descended from the Alemanni tribe that came into the region after AD 500. Languages: German (official), Alemanni dialect, Walser dialect. Religion: Roman Catholicism. Currency: Swiss franc. The E two-thirds of Liechtenstein's small territory is composed of the foothills of the Rhä tikon Massif, part of the central Alps. The W section of the country is occupied by the Rhine River floodplain. It has no natural resources of commercial value, and virtually all raw materials, incl. wood, have to be imported. Manufacturing includes metalworking, pharmaceuticals, optical lenses, electronics, and food processing. Liechtenstein, a tourist center, is also a center of banking because of its stable political situation and its absolute bank secrecy. It is a constitutional monarchy with one legislative house; its chief of state is the prince, and the head of government is the prime minister. The Rhine plain was occupied for centuries by two independent lordships of the Holy Roman Empire, Vaduz and Schellenberg. The principality of Liechtenstein, consisting of these two lordships, was founded in 1719 and remained part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was included in the German Confederation (1815-66). In 1866 it became independent, recognizing the regions of Vaduz and Schellenberg as unique regions forming separate electoral districts. In 1921 it adopted Swiss currency, and in 1923 joined the Swiss customs union. An almost 60-year ruling coalition dissolved in 1997, and the prince urged adoption of constitutional reforms.