The landlocked Principality of Liechtenstein consists of eleven municipalities. It is located in Europe with neighboring countries Switzerland and Austria. The most important municipalities are Vaduz, Schaan and Triesen. Liechtenstein has a surface area of only 160 square kilometers and is therefore one of the smallest independent countries in Europe. Its climate is temperate with cold winters and cool summers. The terrain is dominated by the Alps with the Rhine Valley in the west.
The overall population is 38,387 people. The capital of the country is Vaduz. The most populous city however is Schaan. Liechtenstein does not have an airport and residents must travel to the nearby Zurich Airport (ZRH) in Switzerland. There are connections to the neighboring Switzerland or Austria via road or train, with many Liechtensteiner commuting between the countries regularly.
Liechtenstein’s culture is strongly influenced by its neighboring countries, Austria and Switzerland. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic. The official language is German. The legal system is the civil law influenced by Swiss, Austrian and German law. The government type is a constitutional monarchy. The chief of state is Prince Hans Adam II and the head of government is Prime Minister Daniel Risch.
The official currency of the country is the Swiss Franc (CHF) with the current exchange rate being CHF 0.93 to the USD. The country has an open economy, generating a GDP of approximately $5.3 billion. Liechtenstein is one of the smallest economies in Europe. Its citizens do however have one of the highest per capita income with $98,432. The GDP is mostly made up of 2 key sectors, which are services and industry. The economy is highly diversified with a strong expertise in the financial sector. Due to its low taxes many companies are registering their headquarters in the country, generating additional governmental income. Some of the nation’s main exports products specialty machinery, parts for motor vehicles, hardware, connectors for audio and video and dental products.
Liechtenstein is mostly known for its beautiful mountains and timid towns associated with it. A selection of the major destinations includes the capital Vaduz, the Treasure Chamber, the Art Museum, the Gutenberg Castle, the National Museum and the Ruggeller Riet Nature Reserve. Due to its location in the Alps, skiing is also possible in the ski resort town of Malbun. The nation has a total of approximately 85,300 tourists visiting every year with the majority originating from Europe and its surrounding countries.