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NAVIGATION
Principality of Liechtenstein
Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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 conclude 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. However, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use of the financial institutions for money laundering. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland |
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Geographic coordinates:
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47 16 N, 9 32 E |
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 160 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (doubly landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m |
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Natural resources:
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hydroelectric potential, arable land |
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Land use:
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arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea |
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Geography - note:
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along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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32,842 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 18.3% (male 3,003; female 3,001)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 11,530; female 11,639) 65 years and over: 11.2% (male 1,494; female 2,175) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.94% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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11.24 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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6.76 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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4.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.1 years
female: 82.74 years (2002 est.) male: 75.47 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.5 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein |
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Ethnic groups:
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Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002) |
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Languages:
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German (official), Alemannic dialect |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1981 est.) |