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Compare Spratly Islands (2008) - Liechtenstein (2003)

Compare Spratly Islands (2008) z Liechtenstein (2003)

 Spratly Islands (2008)Liechtenstein (2003)
 Spratly IslandsLiechtenstein
Administrative divisions - 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Age structure - 0-14 years: 18.1% (male 2,979; female 3,008)


15-64 years: 70.6% (male 11,646; female 11,740)


65 years and over: 11.3% (male 1,538; female 2,234) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products - wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Airports 3 (2007) none (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
-
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
-
Area total: less than 5 sq km


land: less than 5 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea
total: 160 sq km


land: 160 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative NA about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Background The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 45 islands are occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Brunei has established a fishing zone that overlaps a southern reef but has not made any formal claim. 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. However, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use of the financial institutions for money laundering.
Birth rate - 10.92 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget - revenues: $424.2 million


expenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Capital - Vaduz
Climate tropical continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Coastline 926 km 0 km (doubly landlocked)
Constitution - 5 October 1921
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Spratly Islands
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein


conventional short form: Liechtenstein


local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein


local short form: Liechtenstein
Currency - Swiss franc (CHF)
Death rate - 6.85 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external - $0 (2001)
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
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
Disputes - international all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but has not publicly claimed the reef; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of land in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918
Economic aid - recipient - none
Economy - overview Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored. There are no reliable estimates of potential reserves. Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed. 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.
Electricity - consumption - NA kWh
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 0%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2002)
Elevation extremes lowest point: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m


highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 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%
Exchange rates - Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (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
Exports - $2.47 billion (1996)
Exports - commodities - small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
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%
Fiscal year - calendar year
Flag description - two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band
GDP - purchasing power parity - $825 million (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: NA%


industry: 40%


services: NA% (1999)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $25,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 11% (1999 est.)
Geographic coordinates 8 38 N, 111 55 E 47 16 N, 9 32 E
Geography - note strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
Heliports 3 (2007) -
Highways - total: 250 km


paved: 250 km


unpaved: 0 km
Household income or consumption by percentage share - 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)
Imports - commodities - agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Imports - partners - EU, Switzerland
Independence - 23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established; 12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman Empire
Industrial production growth rate - NA%
Industries - electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments
Infant mortality rate - total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 6.59 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 3.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 1% (2001)
International organization participation - CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)
Irrigated land 0 sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch - Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht
Labor force - 29,000 of which 19,000 are foreigners; 13,000 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (37256)
Labor force - by occupation - industry 47.4%, services 51.3%, agriculture 1.3% (37256 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 76 km


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


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2005)
arable land: 25%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 75% (1998 est.)
Languages - German (official), Alemannic dialect
Legal system - local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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
Life expectancy at birth - total population: 79.25 years


male: 75.63 years


female: 82.87 years (2003 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 10 and over can read and write


total population: 100%


male: 100%


female: 100% (1981 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Map references Southeast Asia Europe
Maritime claims NA none (landlocked)
Military - note Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
National holiday - Assumption Day, 15 August
Nationality - noun: Liechtensteiner(s)


adjective: Liechtenstein
Natural hazards typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard NA
Natural resources fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential hydroelectric potential, arable land
Net migration rate - 4.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines - gas 20 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders - Fatherland Union or VU [Oswald KRANZ]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Ernst WALCH]; The Free List or FL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, Karin JENNY, Rene HASLER]
Political pressure groups and leaders - NA
Population no indigenous inhabitants


note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states
33,145 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line - NA%
Population growth rate - 0.9% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors - none
Radio broadcast stations - AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
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 (2002)
Religions - Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)
Sex ratio - at birth: 1 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 0.99 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 (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
Telephones - main lines in use - 20,072 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular - NA
Television broadcast stations - NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Terrain flat mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Total fertility rate - 1.5 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate - 1.3% (37500)
Waterways - none
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