Country Overview
Liechtenstein is a small, doubly landlocked Alpine principality between Switzerland and Austria. Formed as an imperial principality in 1719 and sovereign since 1806, it is a constitutional hereditary monarchy with democratic and parliamentary institutions. It uses the Swiss franc and maintains a customs union with Switzerland. Liechtenstein is not an EU member, but participates in the European Economic Area and Schengen area. [6]
Identity and State Formation
- Official and common names
- Principality of Liechtenstein (Fürstentum Liechtenstein); Liechtenstein
- Capital
- Vaduz; Schaan is the largest municipality by permanent population
- UN M49 classification
- Europe / Western Europe [3]
- Founding of the principality
- 1719, imperial decree united Vaduz and Schellenberg as the Principality of Liechtenstein
- Sovereign statehood
- 1806, entry into Confederation of the Rhine
- Constitutional milestones
- Constitution adopted in 1921; significant constitutional amendments entered into effect in 2003
- National day
- 15 August (Staatsfeiertag)
- ISO 3166-1 identifiers
- LI (alpha-2), LIE (alpha-3), 438 (numeric)
- Country-code top-level domain
- .li
Historical context: The ruling house acquired Schellenberg (1699) and Vaduz (1712), which became the imperial Principality of Liechtenstein in 1719. The principality attained sovereignty in 1806, joined the German Confederation in 1815 and adopted a modern constitution in 1921. The Swiss customs partnership dates to a 1923 treaty, in effect from 1924. Liechtenstein became a UN member in 1990 and an EEA member in 1995. In 2004, Prince Hans-Adam II delegated the exercise of most sovereign duties to Hereditary Prince Alois as representative. [11]
Geography and Population
- Total national territory
- Approximately 160 km² (Government of Liechtenstein) [6]
- Land area
- 160 km² (World Bank/FAO, 2024) [2]
- Permanent-resident population (31 December 2025)
- 41,228 (Office of Statistics, final figures published 25 September 2026)
- Total population including nonpermanent residents (31 December 2025)
- 41,712 (Office of Statistics)
- World Bank population comparison
- 41,024 for reference year 2025; series uses a different population definition/reference date
- Permanent-population annual change
- +0.8% during 2025, Office of Statistics
- Neighbors
- Switzerland on the west and south; Austria on the east and north
- Physical geography
- Upper Rhine valley, Rätikon and Alpine mountains; highest peak Grauspitz
- Municipalities
- 11 (including Vaduz, Schaan, Balzers, Triesen, Eschen and Mauren)
Data interpretation: Two official 2025 population concepts coexist: 41,228 permanent residents and 41,712 residents including the nonpermanent population at year-end. The World Bank series separately shows 41,024 for its 2025 reference. Use a consistent denominator when comparing economic indicators. [1]
Economy and International Trade
- Economic structure
- Highly specialized manufacturing, precision engineering, financial services, insurance and cross-border industrial production
- Nominal GDP
- US$8.91 billion (World Bank, 2024; most recent WDI value) [1]
- Nominal GDP per capita
- US$220,167 (World Bank, 2024; not personal income) [1]
- Domestic nominal GDP
- CHF 7.841 billion in 2024 (Liechtenstein Office of Statistics first estimate, released March 2026) [1]
- Nominal GDP growth
- +5.9% in 2024 in current Swiss francs; not inflation-adjusted real growth [1]
- Real GDP growth
- No recent 2024/2025 World Bank annual real-growth figure on country profile; not inferred from nominal growth [1]
- Currency
- Swiss franc (CHF), introduced in 1924; customs union with Switzerland [15]
- Reported merchandise exports
- CHF 3.052 billion in 2025, excluding trade with Switzerland (Office of Statistics)
- Major export markets in reported trade
- Germany (34.1%), United States (11.4%), Austria (11.1%) and France (6.5%) in 2025, excluding Switzerland
- Economic-statistics limitation
- An unusually high share of employees commute from neighboring countries, making GDP per resident a poor proxy for residents’ income
Principal Merchandise Export Categories (2025)
| Category | Illustrative exported products |
|---|---|
| Metal products | Processed metal products and specialist components; 19.6% of reported exports |
| Machinery | Industrial machines, specialist tools and mechanical devices; 11.7% of reported exports |
| Electrical equipment | Electrical assemblies and devices; 10.4% of reported exports |
| Motor vehicles and components | Vehicles and automotive parts; 10.2% of reported exports |
| Other specialized manufacturing | Precision components, instruments and other industrial goods |
GDP is not wages: Nominal GDP is aggregate economic output; GDP per capita divides that output by population. Neither measure represents average or median personal earnings. [1]
People and Society
- Official language
- German
- Common spoken forms
- Alemannic German dialects predominate in everyday life; other languages reflect immigration
- Religious traditions
- Roman Catholicism has a historic and constitutionally recognized position; Protestant, other religious and nonreligious communities also live in the country
- Religious affiliation, 2020 census
- Roman Catholic 69.6%, Protestant 8.1%, no religion 9.6%; figures measure stated affiliation, not religious observance [8]
- Foreign-national population
- Approximately 35% of the permanent population had foreign citizenship at 31 December 2025
- Settlement and commuting
- High international commuting from Switzerland and Austria; Vaduz and Schaan are major population and employment centers
Demographic interpretation: The permanent-resident denominator is used for the 2025 citizenship share. Nationality, religion and cross-border workers are distinct categories and should not be combined. [8]
Government and Institutions
- System
- Constitutional hereditary monarchy on a democratic and parliamentary basis; sovereignty shared between Prince and people
- Reigning Prince and representation
- Prince Hans-Adam II is the reigning monarch; Hereditary Prince Alois has exercised princely sovereign duties as his representative since 2004
- Head of government
- Prime minister leads the five-member Government, proposed by parliament and appointed by the Prince
- Legislature
- Unicameral Landtag, 25 elected members (15 from Oberland and 10 from Unterland)
- Municipal government
- 11 autonomous municipalities; extensive national referendum and initiative rights
- Constitution
- 1921 constitution with significant revisions, including amendments in 2003
- Judiciary
- Constitutionally established courts; princely, parliamentary and judicial powers are defined by national law
International Profile
- United Nations
- Member since 18 September 1990 [5]
- European Union
- Not a member [15]
- European Economic Area
- Member since 1 May 1995
- Schengen area
- Member since 19 December 2011 [15]
- Euro area
- Not a member; currency is the Swiss franc [15]
- Other organizations
- EFTA, WTO, Council of Europe, OSCE and IMF (joined 2024)
- Customs arrangements
- Customs and currency partnership with Switzerland; not a member of the EU customs union
- UNESCO World Heritage Convention
- Not a State Party to the Convention; no inscribed World Heritage properties (the UNESCO State Party list does not include Liechtenstein) [4]
- International dialing code
- +423
- Time zone
- Central European Time UTC+1; summer UTC+2
Sources and Verification
Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026. Liechtenstein headline population is national 31 December 2025 permanent residents; World Bank GDP and GDP per capita are the latest available 2024 values, not a 2025 estimate. Separate national releases and census figures have different statistical coverage and dates; figures may be updated retrospectively.
- World Bank, World Development Indicators: country profile — Latest available annual population, GDP, per-capita GDP and real-growth series, with their individual reference years.
- World Bank/FAO, land area indicator (2024) — Land area in square kilometers, excluding inland water.
- United Nations Statistics Division, UN M49 — United Nations geographic subregion.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre, World Heritage Convention State Parties — World Heritage inscriptions and Convention State Party status.
- United Nations, Member States — United Nations membership.
- Liechtenstein Government, Facts and Figures / national institutions — State history, territory, political institutions and currency.
- Liechtenstein Office of Statistics, population at 31 December 2025 — 41,228 permanent residents and 41,712 total residents, published September 2026.
- Liechtenstein Office of Statistics, 2020 census population structure — 2020 census religious self-affiliation and population structure.
- Liechtenstein Office of Statistics, Warenhandel 2025 — 2025 merchandise exports, product shares and destinations, Switzerland excluded.
- Liechtenstein Office of Statistics, GDP estimate for 2024 — 2024 GDP CHF 7.841 billion and 5.9% nominal growth, not real growth.
- Liechtenstein Embassy, History and constitutional milestones — 1719, 1806, 1921/2003, representation by Hereditary Prince.
- Liechtenstein National Administration, relations with the EU — EEA, Schengen and non-EU status.
- UNESCO World Heritage Convention, State Party list — Liechtenstein not included among States Parties.
- Council of the EU, 2011 Schengen enlargement decision — 19 December 2011 Schengen accession.
- Liechtenstein National Administration, relations with the EU — EEA, Schengen and non-EU status.
Methodology: Liechtenstein headline population uses national 31 December 2025 permanent residents (41,228); the World Bank displays a separate 2025 population series (41,024). GDP and GDP per capita are World Bank 2024 values; GDP and GDP per capita are in current U.S. dollars and real GDP growth is a volume change, not an exchange-rate change. Land area excludes inland waters under the FAO definition, whereas the country-specific total area can be a distinct national or regional surface measure. Export tables are illustrative merchandise categories, not services data or a harmonized ranking. Religious figures identify their census or survey reference year and denominator.