Principality of Liechtenstein Fürstentum Liechtenstein (German) |
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Anthem: "Für Gott, Fürst und Vaterland" (German) "For God, Prince and Fatherland" Royal anthem: "Oben am Jungen Rhein" |
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Location of Liechtenstein, between Switzerland (west and south) and Austria (east)
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Capital | Vaduz | |||||
Largest Municipality | Schaan | |||||
Official languages | German | |||||
Demonym | Liechtensteiner (male) Liechtensteinerin (female) |
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Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy | |||||
- | Prince | Hans-Adam II | ||||
- | Regent | Alois | ||||
- | Prime Minister | Adrian Hasler | ||||
Legislature | Landtag | |||||
Formation | ||||||
- | Treaty of Pressburg | 1806 | ||||
- | Separation from the German Confederation | 1866 | ||||
- | Annexation by the German Empire | 1925 | ||||
- | Independence from Germany | 1945 | ||||
Population | ||||||
- | 2014 estimate | 37,340 | ||||
Currency | Swiss franc (CHF) |
Liechtenstein (German: Liechtenstein), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (German: Fürstentum Liechtenstein) is a doubly landlocked German-speaking microstate in Central Europe. It is a constitutional monarchy with the rank of principality, headed by the Prince of Liechtenstein.
Liechtenstein is bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and Austria to the east and north. It has an area of just over 160 square kilometres (62 square miles) and an estimated population of 37,000. Divided into 11 municipalities, its capital is Vaduz and its largest municipality is Schaan.
Economically, Liechtenstein has one of the highest gross domestic products per person in the world when adjusted for purchasing power parity, and the highest when not adjusted by purchasing power parity. The unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the world at 1.5%. Liechtenstein has been known in the past as a billionaire tax haven; however, it is no longer on any blacklists of uncooperative tax haven countries (see taxation section).
An alpine country, Liechtenstein is mainly mountainous, making it a winter sport destination. Many cultivated fields and small farms are found both in the south (Oberland, upper land) and north (Unterland, lower land). The country has a strong financial sector centered in Vaduz. Liechtenstein is a member of the European Free Trade Association and the European Union. It also has a customs union and a monetary union with Switzerland.