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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 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
have resulted in concerns about the use of the financial
institutions for money laundering. Liechtenstein has,
however, implemented new anti-money-laundering
legislation and recently concluded a Mutual Legal
Assistance Treaty with the US. |
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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
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 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% (2001) |
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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-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 |
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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 |
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Population:
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33,717
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 17.6% (male 2,938/female 3,009)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 11,795/female 11,927)
65 years and over: 12% (male 1,685/female 2,363)
(2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
39.22 years
male: 38.74 years
female: 39.68 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.82%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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10.41
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.06
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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4.8
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
4.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 79.55 years
male: 75.96 years
female: 83.16 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.51
children born/woman (2005 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% |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Principality of
Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein |
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Government type:
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hereditary constitutional monarchy on a democratic and
parliamentary basis |
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Capital:
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Vaduz
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Administrative divisions:
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11
communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers,
Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan,
Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz |
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Independence:
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23
January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein
established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy
Roman Empire) |
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National holiday:
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Assumption Day, 15 August |
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Constitution:
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5 October
1921 |
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Legal system:
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local
civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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 Ottmar
HASLER (since 5 April 2001) and Deputy Head of
Government Rita KIEBER-BECK (since 5 April 2001)
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
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are
elected by direct, popular vote under proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 and 13 March 2005 (next
to be held by NA 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 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or
Obergericht |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Patriotic
Union (was Fatherland Union) or VU [Heinz FROMMELT];
Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Johannes MATT]; The
Free List or FL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, Elisabeth
TELLENBACH-FRICK, Adolf RITTER] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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CE, EBRD,
EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
chancery: 1300 Eye Street NW, Suite 550W,
Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 216-0460
FAX: [1] (202) 216-0459 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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the US
does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US
Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to
Liechtenstein |
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Flag description:
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two equal
horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown
on the hoist side of the blue band |
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Economy - overview:
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Despite
its small size and limited natural resources,
Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly
industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital
financial service sector and living standards on a par
with its large European neighbors. The Liechtenstein
economy is widely diversified with a large number of
small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax
rate is 20% - and easy incorporation rules have induced
many holding or so-called letter box 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
(EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995. The government is
working to harmonize its economic policies with those of
an integrated Europe. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$825
million (1999 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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11% (1999
est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $25,000 (1999 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: 40%
services: NA% (1999) |
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Labor force:
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29,000 of
whom 19,000 are foreigners; 13,000 commute from Austria,
Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (31 December
2001) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 1.3%, industry 47.4%, services 51.3% (31
December 2001 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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1.3%
(September 2002) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1% (2001)
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Budget:
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revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (1998 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat,
barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products |
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Industries:
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electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products,
ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision
instruments, tourism, optical instruments |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Exports:
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$2.47
billion (1996) |
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Exports - commodities:
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small
specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video,
parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware,
prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical
products |
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Exports - partners:
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EU 62.6%
(Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%,
UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7% |
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Imports:
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$917.3
million (1996) |
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Imports - commodities:
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agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal
goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles |
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Imports - partners:
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EU,
Switzerland |
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Debt - external:
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$0 (2001)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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none |
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Currency (code):
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Swiss
franc (CHF) |
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Currency code:
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CHF |
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Exchange rates:
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Swiss
francs per US dollar - 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003),
1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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19,900
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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11,400
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 423; linked to
Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 0, FM
4, shortwave 0 (1998) |
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Radios:
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21,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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NA
(linked to Swiss networks) (1997) |
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Televisions:
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12,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.li |
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Internet hosts:
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3,727
(2004) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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44
(Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000) |
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Internet users:
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20,000
(2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
250 km
paved: 250 km
unpaved: 0 km |
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Waterways:
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28 km
(2004) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 20 km
(2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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none |
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Airports:
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none
(2004 est.) |
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Military - note:
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defense
is the responsibility of Switzerland |
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Disputes - international:
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in
February 2005, the ICJ refused to rule on the
restitution of Liechtenstein's land and property assets
in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1945 as German
property |
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Illicit drugs:
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has
strengthened money-laundering controls, but money
laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein
sophisticated offshore financial services sector |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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