Basic data and indicators

Last updated: October 2011

Basic Data

Population (1 000): 36.1 inhabitants (2010)
GDP at market prices: N/A
GDP per inhabitant in PPS (Purchasing Power Standards, EU-27 = 100): N/A
GDP growth rate: N/A
Inflation rate: 0.7 % (2010)
Unemployment rate: 2.6 % (2010)
Government debt/GDP: N/A
Public balance (government deficit or surplus/GDP): N/A
Source*: Department of Statistics
Source: Eurostat

Area: 160 km²
Capital city: Vaduz
Official languages: German*
Currency: Swiss franc
Source*: Portal of the Principality of Liechtenstein
Source: Europa website

Political Structure

Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy headed by its ruling prince or Fürst. The current prince is Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein. On 15 August 2004, under Art. 13 of the Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Prince Hans-Adam II appointed Hereditary Prince Alois as his permanent deputy for exercising the sovereign powers due to him, in preparation for his succession to the throne. Since then, the Hereditary Prince has been performing, the duties of Head of State of the Principality of Liechtenstein. The Prince's involvement in legislation consists of the right to take initiatives in the form of government bills and of the right to veto parliamentary proposals. The Prince has the power to enact princely decrees. Emergency princely decrees are possible when the security and welfare of the country is at stake. A countersignature by the Head of Government is, nevertheless, required. The Prince has the right to convene and adjourn Parliament and, under serious grounds, to adjourn it for 3 months or to dissolve it.

The unicameral Parliament of Liechtenstein, the Landtag (Diet), consists of 25 seats with members elected by direct, popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms. The Parliament's main task is to discuss and adopt resolutions on constitutional proposals and draft government bills. It has the additional duties of granting its assent to important international treaties; electing members of the Government, judges and board members of the Principality's institutions; setting the annual budget and approving taxes and other public charges; and finally, supervising the administration of the State. The President of Parliament and his deputy are both elected at the opening meeting of each year. The President convenes the individual meetings during the session, leads them and represents Parliament externally. The duties and working procedures of Parliament are laid down in the Constitution and in Parliament's standing orders.

The Government of Liechtenstein is a collegial body consisting of five Ministers, including the Prime Minister. Each Minister has an Alternate who takes part in the meetings of the collegial government, should the Minister be unavailable. The Reigning Prince on the recommendation of the Parliament appoints the Prime Minister, Ministers and their Alternates, and one of the Ministers as Deputy Prime Minister. Only native Liechtenstein citizens who meet the requirements for election to Parliament are eligible for election to the Government. Each of the two regions of Liechtenstein - the Upper Country ( Oberland) and the Lower Country ( Unterland) - is entitled to elect at least two Ministers. Their respective Alternates have to come from the same region. The term of office is four years. Since 25 March 2009, a coalition of two parties the Patriotic Union (VU) and the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) was entrusted with forming a Government.

Liechtenstein was admitted to the United Nations in 1990. It has since been an active member of the UN.

Head of State: Prince Hans-Adam II (since November 1989).
Head of Government: Prime Minister Dr. Klaus Tschütscher (since March 2009).

Information Society Indicators

eGovernment readiness ranking (Europe): 0.6694 (2010)
[Highest score: 0.8147, lowest score: 0.4519]
Global eGovernment readiness ranking: 23 (2010)
[Among a total of 184 countries]
Internet per 100 users: 65.08 (2010)
[Highest score: 76.10, lowest score: 0.08]
Total fixed broadband per 100 inhabitants: 39.61 (2010)
[Highest score: 39.89, lowest score: 0.08]
Internet Index: 0.5238 (2010)
[Highest score: 1.0000, lowest score: 0.0794]
Infrastructure Index: 0.5412 (2010)
[Highest score: 0.7687, lowest score: 0.0045]
eParticipation index / ranking: 0.1286 (2010)
[Highest score: 1.0000, lowest score: 0.0143]
Web Measurement assessment: 0.1781 (2010)
[An assessment of all UN Member States' online presence through their national site, as well as five predetermined ministries along with associated and integrated portals.
Highest score: 1.0000, lowest score: 0.0000]
Source: Liechtenstein, even though a member of the EEA, is not required to supply complete data to Eurostat due to special circumstances related to its small size and population. As a result, there are no values for the usual indicators contained in this factsheet; instead, similar indicators are quoted from the "UN E-Government Survey 2010".

Editorial notice: Statistical indicators referenced in this section reflect those of the sources quoted at the time the Edition is being prepared.