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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 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. Shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use of the financial institutions for money laundering. Liechtenstein has, however, implemented new anti-money-laundering legislation and recently concluded a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US.
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Common Name: Liechtenstein
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Local Official Name: Liechtenstein
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Abbreviated Name: Principality of Liechtenstein
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Official Name: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
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Official Script Name: Liechtenstein
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Local Common Name: Liechtenstein
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Former Name: Liechtenstein
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Territory of: NA
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Head of State: Prince HANS ADAM II
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Government Type: constitutional monarchy
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Independence: 23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
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Constitution: 1921 October 5
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National Holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August
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International Organization Participation: CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO
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Administrative Divisions: 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
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Dependent Areas: NA
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Legal System: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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Suffrage: 18 years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: 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); note - on 15 August 2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state
head of government: Head of Government Ottmar 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 Landtag is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch
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 and 13 March 2005 (next to be held by NA 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 48.7%, VU 38.2%, FL 13%; seats by party - FBP 12, VU 10, FL 3
Judicial Branch:
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht
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Party Leaders: Patriotic Union (was Fatherland Union) or VU [Adolf HEEB]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Otmar HASLER]; The Free List or FL
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International Disputes: in February 2005, the ICJ refused to rule on the restitution of Liechtenstein's land and property assets in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1945 as German property
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Illicit Drugs: has strengthened money-laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector
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Location of Liechtenstein: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
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Continent: Europe
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Land Area Total: 160 sq km
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Region: Central Europe |
Land Area Land: 160 sq km
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Capitol City: Vaduz
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Land Area Water: 0 sq km
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Current: +1
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Latitude: 047 10 N
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Border Boundary Land: 76 km
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Longitude: 009 32 E
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Border Boundary Coastline: 0 km
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Arable Land: 25.00 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 0.00 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 2,599 m
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Location: Grauspitz
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Lowest Elevation: 430 m
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Location: Ruggeller Riet
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Largest City in Liechtenstein: Vaduz
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Vaduz Largest City Population: 7,000
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Threatened Species: 8
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Environmental Issues: NA
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Environmental Agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
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Irrigated Land: 0
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Bordering Countries: Austria 35 km, Switzerland 41 km
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Natural Resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land
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Geographical Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
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Comparative Area of Liechtenstein: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
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Liechtenstein's Geography: along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
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Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Liechtenstein.
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General Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
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Natural Hazards: NA
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Economic 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 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.
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GDP: $1,786,000,000 USD
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Currency: Swiss franc
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GDP per Capita: $25,000 USD
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Currency Code: CHF
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GDP Growth Rate: 11.00 %
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One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% CHF
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Currency Exchange Rate History: Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001)
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GDP of Agriculture: 0.00 %
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GDP of Industry: 39.00 %
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GDP of Services: 55.00 % |
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Inflation Rate: 1.00 % |
Population in Poverty: 0.00 %
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Unemployment Rate: 1.30 %
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Tourism: 60,000.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $424,200,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $414,100,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 0 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 0 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Oil Production: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
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Oil Exports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
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Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 0 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m
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External Debt: $0 USD |
Received in economic aid: $0 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
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Agricultural Products: wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
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Primary Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments
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Industrial Growth Rate: 0.00 %
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Import Amount in USD: $917,300,000 USD - agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
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Import Partners: EU, Switzerland
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Export Amount in USD: $2,470,000,000 USD - small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
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Export 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%
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GINI Index: 0.00%
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Labor Force Number of People: 29,500
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Labor Force by Occupations: agriculture: 2%, industry: 47%, services: 51%
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 4 |
Number of People with Radios: 21,000 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 0 |
Number of People with Televisions: 12,000 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 19,900 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 11,400 |
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Internet Service Providers: 7,491 |
Internet Users: 20,000 |
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Internet Country Code: .li |
Newspapers: 602 |
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Two Letter Country Code: LS |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: 423 |
Electricity Voltage: 230 Volts |
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Telephone Systems: general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay
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Highways: 380 km |
Railways: 9 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 20 km |
Waterways: 28 km
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Airports: 0 |
Heliports: 0
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Motor Vehicles: 0 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 208,000 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 0.13 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines: NA
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Ports and Harbors: NA
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Population: 33,987 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 10.21 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 200.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 7.18 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: 0.78% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 1.51 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 2,922 |
Population Female 0-14: 2,988 |
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Population Male 15-64: 11,842 |
Population Female 15-64: 12,022 |
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Population Male 65+: 1,773 |
Population Female 65+: 2,440 |
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Population 0-14: 17.40% |
Literacy Rate: 100.00% |
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Population 15-64: 70.20% |
Literacy rate of Males: 100.00% |
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Population 65+: 12.40% |
Literacy rate of Females: 100.00% |
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Population that is Male: 47.50
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Population that is Female: 52.50% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 79.68 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 4.64 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 76.10 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 83.28 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.00%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 0
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: 4.77
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Nationality: LIECHTENSTEIN
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Ethnic Groups: Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%
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Primary Language: German
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Other Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect
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Primary Religion: Roman Catholic
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Other Religions: Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2%
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Branches: defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
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Manpower Fit to Serve: NA years
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Manpower Available: 7,736 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 6,250 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 208 People per year
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Expenditures: $0 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 0.00
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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Liechtenstein Spa and Resort Directory
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