Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Liechtenstein (2002) - Christmas Island (2003)

Compare Liechtenstein (2002) z Christmas Island (2003)

 Liechtenstein (2002)Christmas Island (2003)
 LiechtensteinChristmas Island
Administrative divisions 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz none (territory of Australia)
Age structure 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.)
0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products NA
Airports none (2001) 1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways - total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 160 sq km


land: 160 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 135 sq km


land: 135 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Background 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. Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Birth rate 11.24 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $424.2 million


expenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Capital Vaduz The Settlement
Climate continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Coastline 0 km (doubly landlocked) 80 km
Constitution 5 October 1921 NA
Country name conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein


conventional short form: Liechtenstein


local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein


local short form: Liechtenstein
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island


conventional short form: Christmas Island
Currency Swiss franc (CHF) Australian dollar (AUD)
Death rate 6.76 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $0 (1996) (2001) $NA
Dependency status - territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US 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
none (territory of Australia)
Disputes - international Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of land in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918 none
Economic aid - recipient none $NA
Economy - overview 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 the urban areas of 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 a large number of 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 European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe. Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, slated to begin operation in 2003.
Electricity - consumption 313.45 million kWh NA kWh (2001) NA kWh
Electricity - exports NA kWh (2001) -
Electricity - imports 232.847 million kWh NA kWh (2001) -
Electricity - production - NA kWh
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: NA%


hydro: NA% 98%


nuclear: NA%


other: NA% 2% (2001)
fossil fuel: NA%


hydro: NA%


nuclear: NA%


other: NA%
Elevation extremes lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m


highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Environment - current issues NA NA
Environment - international agreements 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
-
Ethnic groups Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14% Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
Exchange rates Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.6668 (January 2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997) Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998)
Executive branch 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)


head of government: Head of Government Otmar 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 Diet is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Exports $2.47 billion (1996) $NA
Exports - commodities small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products phosphate
Exports - partners EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7% Australia, NZ
Fiscal year calendar year 1 July - 30 June
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory
GDP purchasing power parity - $730 million (1998 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA% 40%


services: NA% (1999)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $23,000 (1998 est.) purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate NA% NA%
Geographic coordinates 47 16 N, 9 32 E 10 30 S, 105 40 E
Geography - note along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
Highways total: 250 km


paved: 250 km


unpaved: 0 km
total: 240 km


paved: 30 km


unpaved: 210 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs multilateral organizations engaged in issuing international guidelines for financial sector oversight found gaps in Liechtenstein's financial services controls that made it vulnerable to money laundering, but Liechtenstein has become less attractive as a haven for illicit funds, based on implementation in 2001 of new anti-money-laundering legislation and improved mutual legal assistance cooperation with other countries -
Imports $917.3 million (1996) $NA
Imports - commodities agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles consumer goods
Imports - partners EU countries, Switzerland principally Australia
Independence 23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established; 12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman Empire none (territory of Australia)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Infant mortality rate 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1% (2001) NA%
International organization participation CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTrO none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000) 2 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force 28,783 of which 13,847 are foreigners; 8,231 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day NA
Labor force - by occupation industry, trade, and building 48%, services 51%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 1% (37256 est.) tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995)
Land boundaries total: 76 km


border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 25%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 75% (1998 est.)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100%


note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.)
Languages German (official), Alemannic dialect English (official), Chinese, Malay
Legal system local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
Legislative branch 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 February 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005)


election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 49.90%, VU 41.35%, FL 8.71%; seats by party - FBP 13, VU 11, FL 1
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)


elections: last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
Life expectancy at birth total population: 79.1 years


male: 75.47 years


female: 82.74 years (2002 est.)
total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 10 and over can read and write


total population: 100%


male: 100%


female: 100% (1981 est.)
NA
Location Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Map references Europe Southeast Asia
Maritime claims none (landlocked) contiguous zone: 12 NM


exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine - none (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Switzerland defense is the responsibility of Australia
National holiday Assumption Day, 15 August NA
Nationality noun: Liechtensteiner(s)


adjective: Liechtenstein
noun: Christmas Islander(s)


adjective: Christmas Island
Natural hazards NA the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources hydroelectric potential, arable land phosphate, beaches
Net migration rate 4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Heinz FROMMELT]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Johannes MATT]; The Free List or FL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, Karin JENNY, Rene HASLER] none
Political pressure groups and leaders NA none
Population 32,842 (July 2002 est.) 433 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.94% (2002 est.) -9% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors none Flying Fish Cove
Radio broadcast stations AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 21,000 (1997) -
Railways total: 18.5 km


standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)


note: owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways (2001)
24 km to serve phosphate mines
Religions Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002) Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Sex ratio 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.)
NA (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal -
Telephone system general assessment: automatic telephone system


domestic: NA


international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network


domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available


international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
Telephones - main lines in use 20,072 (2000) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular NA NA
Television broadcast stations NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997) NA
Terrain mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Total fertility rate 1.5 children born/woman (2002 est.) NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 1.3% (1999) NA%
Waterways none none
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.